New Zealand Mosque Massacre
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It was so clearly only a matter of time. The only surprise is that it happened in New Zealand. I suppose, possibly, that shouldn’t entirely be a surprise, as New Zealand are renowned for their diversity. New Zealand is extraordinarily accepting of other cultures and so forth. They are, quite conceivably, considered about the safest haven refugees can find anywhere on the planet—until now.
In fairness to New Zealand, the maniac responsible is actually Australian although it appears, there will be other maniacs involved who may possibly be New Zealanders. We must await events to discover this.
Forty-nine Muslims were slaughtered at Friday prayers. Another forty-something is in hospital in various conditions.
There are, frankly, no words to describe the horror.
I might be no fan of Islam – certainly not conservative Islam which, in my view, has no place in any liberal democracy, but going around shooting them is, well, what can you say? Insane? Evil? Nuts? I suppose it’s all of those things and more.
It was, however, only a matter of time as I have said.
The far right has been growing across Europe for the last couple of years or more. That is, probably, why it has come as something of a shock that this massacre occurred in New Zealand.
As shocked and horrified as I would have been if it had happened in Germany or Belgium or, indeed, in Britain, I would have felt like I was sort of expecting it sooner or later.
The West has been somewhat preoccupied with Islamic terrorism and, perhaps, understandably so. Unfortunately, they have been so preoccupied with Islamic terrorism they seem to have ‘taken their eye off the ball’ when it comes to the rise of the far right.
I am not aware that I know anybody who would do something dreadful such as this New Zealand massacre, but, I do know several people who have —and there is no other way of putting this—just shrugged at the New Zealand massacre. They don’t seem to care.
What the hell is happening to us?
I know there is a real problem in the West with conservative Islam. It doesn’t belong here. The demand for Shariah law for a start. Excuse me? You live in Britain or elsewhere in Europe, you obey the laws that exist, you don’t start trying to replace them with Islamic laws.
Do you want Islamic laws? Cool. Go live in Saudi or Pakistan or Iran. Just leave as you aren’t wanted and you aren’t welcome.
Those are justifiable arguments. That’s what it means to be ‘us’. We argue and debate and, I suppose, ultimately, if we feel threatened enough at a governmental level, appropriate action can be taken.
This New Zealand massacre takes everything to a whole new level.
Men, women, and children gunned down for being Muslim. Gunned down for praying to their God.
The far right is rising and, not just in Europe, it seems.
Am I afraid? No. Why should the far right threaten or harm me? Islamic terrorists would, but the far right terrorists wouldn’t—would they? So why should I be afraid?
Easy.
Because, for all my faults – and boy, do I have faults – I try to be a decent human being. Decent human beings don’t go around killing other human beings for being different. Even if the differences are alien.
Decent human beings try and find some common ground. Yes, I know, that is, ultimately, unlikely with conservative Islam but, that doesn’t mean you don’t try – and it certainly doesn’t mean you go around shooting them. Besides, for all I know the murdered Muslims weren’t particularly ‘conservative’ anyway – not that it makes a difference in this case.
The worst-case scenario should be ‘sorry guys, you aren’t trying to live in a liberal western secular democracy so you’ve got to leave.’
That is the worst-case scenario.
According to what I’ve seen on the TV, the Muslim victims were actually, quite happily, living as an integral part of society in New Zealand. They were executed for being Muslim.
Yes, our authorities are quite right to focus on Islamic extremists who wish us harm but, they must also focus on far-right extremists.
The mass murder of human beings cannot be tolerated, no matter who the perpetrators are.
All over Facebook, there are people trying to justify this massacre. Justify it??? Good grief. I’ve seen posts claiming it is their own fault. What??? It is their own fault that some far-right nutter shot them? How’s that then? How is it ever anyone’s own fault when they are murdered by a nutter?
There are posts claiming that the influx of, in this case, Muslim immigrants is the cause. Excuse me? I believe Britain has let in far too many immigrants and, yes, far too many conservative Muslim immigrants. You voice your concern and you debate the rights and wrongs. What the solution to the problem is I have no idea, but you don’t go around bloody well shooting them!!!
I know far too many people who are just shrugging at events in New Zealand. Just shrugging at the deaths of innocent men, women, and children.
That frightens me more than I can say.
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Same here Glenn. Unfortunately many who claim to be combating the hate either aren’t or, actually make it worse.
In Blighty, Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn – who is failing abysmally to remove anti-semitism from his political party, said the following on his Twitter account :
After the Manchester Arena bombing by Islamists terrorists. “Terrible incident in Manchester”
After Christchurch – “Horrific terror attack”.
He claims to be someone combating hate yet refused to acknowledge the truth.
When our ‘leaders’ act like this what chance is there hate will ever dissipate?
It does seem that we’re becoming more detached from each new horror. Perhaps it’s to be expected with the obsessive media and social media coverage. In addition we seem not to want to do more than carry on with our pet solutions or the talking points of those who argue for us. I haven’t heard any good suggestions of late and there’s a long line at the grindstone.
But in this case the internet is bringing together the birds of an ugly feather and making them much more united against decency and humanism. Hate speech has power. I’d really like to see a way of tempering or eliminating the hate.