Time for introspection following slaughter of innocents in Christchurch

SIR,

As if the seismic acts of God and post-quake aftershocks at the end of the first decade of this century were not enough to trouble the garden city of Christchurch, those from this latest manmade event will continue to reverberate around the world for much longer.

To all intents and purposes, this place at the uttermost end of the earth offers a tranquil window through which to view life’s happenings but it is shattered now after the slaughter of innocents at prayer on the ides day of march in two of Christchurch’s three mosques – a day in the roman calendar when debts are settled.

A veil of innocence has been stripped away to reveal questionable undertones in our society and it heralds the coming of a new age of introspection, both here and probably elsewhere.

My first learnings of the event in my home at the top of the Port Hills were from the radio, then from the television and finally from the ever pervasive internet. Everywhere the stories are the same, acts of heroism coupled with love and a concern to minimise suffering, much as after the quakes.

There has been a coming together of otherwise disparate souls on the religious spectrum, emotions are still raw and grief is moving quickly to the next rung on its ladder, anger.

How on earth could it have happened? In such a small community it is difficult to escape the aftermath of catastrophes. Politicians here, as in other places, are largely reactive when they should have been proactive and this time is no exception.

All of a sudden, there are proposals in the pipeline to close the stable door and effect greater gun control, long after the favourite has bolted. Such gun laws as exist in this country would not pass muster in any other western democracy and it is timely that they be changed, despite the knee jerk responses from those addicted.

I travel into Christchurch most days for recreation and coffee and only a few days before this I was kicking a soccer ball about with a step grandson in Hagley Park, directly opposite the mosque where most were killed. It is hard to imagine the different perspective there now.

The other mosque, where fewer were killed, is in an area where I shop for groceries and it is now yet another place on my daily routine to remind me of death and destruction.

Recriminations will occur elsewhere in the world, possibly here too, but a good start to the healing process will be served by the sport of rugby.

One such local team battles under the name tag ‘ The Crusaders’ and that will likely change now to something less divisive following this massacre of Saracens.

Ironically, the occasion has allowed for some to grieve via a rendition of The Haka, a violent and war like chant.

In all, it’s been a terrible few days, a genie has left the bottle and we are looking still for a stopper, Sincerely,

John D. Mahony,

5 Bluewater View, Christchurch, New Zealand

John D is a twin son of Jeremiah O’Mahony (RIP), a Kerryman from Barr Na Sraide, Garranebane, Cahersiveen who read avidly and regularly The Kerryman.