Find peace and comfort
MOURNING WITH CHRISTCHURCH
LIKE most Australians, I send my sincere condolences to the people of New Zealand. May those affected find peace and comfort. I have travelled to this beautiful country and been amazed by the landscape and friendly locals. Australian politicians with extreme Right-wing views are the ones who encourage these sort of individuals to think they are justified in carrying out violent acts and crimes of this nature. The same applies to extreme Leftwing ideologies, the likes of communistled governments with dictators at the helm, for example the goings-on in Venezuela. We must take stock of our security and look at social media. China bans Facebook and we should look at a level of containment to at least pick up on anti-social behaviour and ban those concerned. We need forever vigilance in a dangerous world. New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has shown what a remarkable and decisive leader she is by the way she has sensitively expressed herself at this sad time. We need more like her in politics. the feelings of others; and emotional skills such as understanding and managing your own feelings, and becoming more resilient to deal with life’s ups and downs can be learnt and therefore can be taught. Congratulations to those already making an effort to ensure children and young people are assisted to become adults who will not be filled with strong feelings they cannot manage except through hate and trying to make themselves feel better by trying to damage and exert power over others.
Guidance for all
THE shooting at two New Zealand mosques is utterly shocking not for just Muslims but for all. This is something I, as an Ahmadi Muslim, definitely stand against for several reasons, one being, the Holy Quran mentions that if you kill one person, it is as if you killed the whole humanity. Hence, be it a Muslim or anyone who is being attacked, the holy guidance stays the same for all. Giving terror a name, religion or any sort of identity is just unfair to people who associate themselves with that identity. Pray for those affected.
Making mileage
WE mourn with our friends in New Zealand, for their immense loss and for the ugliness that has desecrated a beautiful country that puts kindness and compassion as their greatest attributes. We are shamed by the fact the perpetrator is an Australian, but even more by the tawdry Talking Point: Bid to ease housing scandal fails as government drifts (Greg Barns) Contrast how TasUni addressed the issue of student accommodation shortage with the way the State Government have addressed the issue of homelessness. One jumps into the issue tooth and nail, while the other crawls. behaviour of our politicians and media that give encouragement and permission for such acts. To make political mileage by labelling legitimate asylum-seekers “illegals” and “rapists and paedophiles” is to give tacit approval for hate to flourish.
Love and compassion
ON Sunday I attended a candlelit vigil to show our support for the people of Christchurch and the Muslim community. It was heartening to see so many, considering the short notice. How amazing if we could all take a leaf out of New Zealand’s book. They have shown love and compassion to tMuslim immigrants and neighbours. It would be wonderful if the whole world could behave as New Zealanders have done but sadly it seems it takes a tragedy of gigantic proportions to bring us together. Forget religion and think of people as human beings.
Sickening comments
QUEENSLAND Senator Fraser Anning is to be roundly condemned for his sickening comments that have blamed the Islamic community for the massacre. To suggest New Zealand’s immigration policy has contributed to the murderous rampage by a hateful white supremacist is beyond the pale. The sooner this political figure is confined to the footnotes of parliamentary history the better for all of us.
Wish for a leader like that
I WISH we had a leader half as good as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
Scream louder
THE climate strike story wasn’t about students missing schools or about the trouble they might get into, it wasn’t about a massive 8000-strong matching in Hobart, it was about a million or more marching all over the world together. All screaming together to stop climate change. All united in the one thing they have in common – a future on this planet. Keep it up kids, don’t stop, scream louder.
Treasury warning
NOTICE to all developers interested in the tender for the Treasury Buildings. Whatever the project it will have no social licence. Development will be difficult if not impossible and the hurdles will be many and convoluted. Simply not worth it. Philanthropists however may submit proposals provided the asset remains in public hands and is accessible.
Low-flying choppers
HELICOPTERS have been flying so low in the northern suburbs that you can see the colour of the pilots’ hair. Why?