HOPE & LOVE
LOVED ONES ARE BURIED, THE LAWS AROUND assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons are changing, everyone from the Prime Minister to the Police Commissioner and people in positions of responsibility have stepped up and kept us informed, we have learnt more about the Muslim faith than ever before, we have seen a real sense of community in action, there have been haka, singing, prayers, lots of prayers, flowers, special signs and drawings made but still I feel incredibly sad.
Like you, I have felt angry and disappointed, frustrated and incredibly lost with what has happened in Christchurch. I feel inadequate to add my voice to many others with an opinion that is only based on what I have seen and read, what I have watched and the chat among colleagues.
We have run so many different stories over the years at MiNDFOOD about people from different cultures and backgrounds with unique and engaging life experiences. We have learnt much about different races and ideology and at the same time, we have learnt much about ourselves along the way.
What happened in Christchurch has made me feel completely lost. I don’t have a benchmark to gauge what I’m feeling. I struggle to find the right words in discussing what happened on 15 March. I feel uncomfortable when conversations go on too long about it, I feel uneasy. I actually just want to cry.
That afternoon when the horror played out I’d been in a meeting and was walking out, heading to the airport when someone said there has been a terrorist attack in the city of Christchurch.
Poor Christchurch, I thought. As if they needed anything else to happen to them after the tragedy of the earthquakes. I just had a feeling of disbelief. My wife, Michelle rang and was in tears. I texted family who live in Christchurch. One was in lockdown hiding under her desk at work, the others were told to go home and remain there. One of the things I struggle most with is that the safety and sanctuary of praying within a building of worship was attacked, that people were murdered while praying, as they took time in their day to reflect and come together as a community in what our fellow brothers and sisters from within our community believe in. Even now I feel woefully inadequate to write about what has happened and how it has affected me, and the team here at MiNDFOOD.
There have been tears and sadness and much thinking. I think we get so used to dramatic headlines and scenes in the media showing injustice and bloodshed that at times we become immune to the reporting. Any one of us could have been caught up in what happened on that day in Christchurch. All those faces of so many families, of mums and dads, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and young kids taken is devastating. Those families affected are part of us. As time goes on and we live our daily lives, we must never forget those most affected by this heinous crime.
Our community has changed forever. There is much to consider and at times it is difficult not to feel hopeless, confused, and angry. It’s okay to not know what to say, or to stumble when trying to find the right words, or to have your thinking moved and changed – perhaps forever. We have been shaken and our basic principles in life challenged.
Our resolve must be to learn from this, to listen to each other and build on perhaps new thinking within our community. We are not alone, we have each other and now we must question, discuss and heal.
One thing is certain. There is no room for absolute evil in any community. This is a moment in time when we can continue to believe and search out the good of our fellow man, and live a life full of love, hope and acceptance.
“I texted family who live in the city. One was in lockdown hiding under her desk.”