Jacinda Ardern, Donald Trump and confronting hate in New Zealand mosque attack
I spent my childhood in Christchurch, New Zealand, and my reaction has been visceral to the deadly terrorist attack on Muslims in the city I love. How to reconcile what I know of this beautiful, peaceful city and its wonderful people with such an act of savagery?
I listened to the words of New Zealand’s prime minister and compared them with the rhetoric of Donald Trump, and I was both inspired and revulsed. The contrast could not be more stark.
On the one hand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emphatically condemned and rejected the ideology that fueled the attack. She passionately reminded the world of New Zealand’s values of diversity, kindness and compassion. Speaking of immigrants, she stated, “They are us.” But from the Oval Office, Trump once again refused to denounce white nationalism. Nor did he reject the attacker’s reference to him as “a symbol of renewed white identity and purpose.” Then, in defending his veto of Congress’ vote against his emergency declaration to build a southern border wall, Trump ranted against immigrants and referred to them as criminals and undesirables. He never wavers from a modus operandi of stoking fear and anger.
Christchurch has the will to recover. I saw firsthand the resilience and determination of the city after the devastating earthquake of 2011, when the city adapted the Maori slogan “Kia Kaha,” for “stay strong.” This city of magnificent parks and meandering rivers, home to people who represent the best of New Zealand values, will come back stronger. To all the people of New Zealand, I say “Kia Kaha.”
Madeleine Felix, Evanston