Compassion inspires awe
Thanks Alex Johnson (‘‘Love each other, says teenager’’, News, March 17), your opinion brings hope in the future for New Zealand.
Young people like yourself lead by example. As an older member of society I believe with young people like you, and all those young people who protested in regard to climate change, New Zealand is in safe hands. Thanks too for encouraging us all to love each other in the face of the devastation in Christchurch. And words cannot express the awe I have for the compassion expressed by Farid Ahmed who says he does not hate the terror suspect. May God give you comfort and peace.
Teresa Homan, Upper Hutt
I have been following Jacinda Ardern’s leadership and her comments since the Christchurch mosque massacre and I must say that she has proved to be a real human being, a mother, a socialist, a peacemaker and keeper, a true New Zealander who has understood, digested and has been successfully exercising the founding philosophy of New Zealand as an ordinary citizen and a stateswoman.
As a Turk, I must say that our ancestors did not die and lie side by side in Gallipoli for nothing. At least they have taught us the true value of freedom and peace.
If she happens to visit Turkey one day, I would be happy to host her here in this fishermen’s cafe in Gundogan/Bodrum and offer a cup of Turkish coffee, as we Turks believe that a friendly coffee has 40 years of solidarity, friendship and respect. Selahattin Tumer, Turkey
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s talk on measures to protect us from terrorism omitted inequalities in our society which breed resentment, anger, and hostility. These emotions help fuel hatred and terrorism, directed against the state or groups perceived as different or those who benefit from our low-wage economy.
Historically those of us from British culture were brought up to believe we are the most advanced and best civilisation. This promotes cultural intolerance of other nations outside of Europe and the Empire.
Let’s acknowledge that it will take more than improved mental health services and gun control to produce security and safety in New Zealand. Those of us living secure lives are part of the problem.
Caroline Mabry, Auckland
Who is to blame for what took place in Christchurch? Most of us. How many people, who have been so loving and caring in their support, can honestly say they haven’t said at some time, ‘‘Those bloody Asians’’, or ‘‘Why should the Ma¯ ori get more than us’’ and other such remarks? It might have been just a remark at the time. But if said enough times it builds and the remarks become stronger and more forceful.
Many of us will now welcome the very people we have moaned about and perhaps the horrific act has stirred a few consciences. Keith Leggett, Whangaparaoa
Friday, March 15 is a sad day in our history and it seems we will now be sucked deeper into the madness of Orwellian surveillance and all it implies.
The outpouring of love and sympathy toward the Muslim community in Christchurch and around New Zealand has been wonderful to behold. Let us also spare a thought for the grief and suffering of the Muslim people in the lands where they came from. It is easy to ignore the daily suffering of those in far-off places, resulting from the incessant bombing of their territory by the US and other global powers.
It is easy to denounce evildoers, be they lone rangers or militant groups. It is far more difficult to understand them. Michael Barnett, Carterton
In the aftermath of the Christchurch murders we will see the authorities carry out a series of actions to prevent a recurrence. They will be able to justify all these actions. Most of them will be sensible and rational, some will be knee-jerks that will mean little but will result in unexpected, for the public, consequences.
The Government needs to dig deeper into the true causes of such crime. Dig deep enough to understand that the drivers are rooted in the consequences of political processes. Politics that seek to preserve and protect wealth, power and privilege, create social and economic division through targeting racial groups for any reason, for creating political messages that say it is OK to identify people by their ethnic, religious, or cultural background.
Our politicians need to understand the true responsibility lies with them for creating division.
Murray Shaw, Whanganui
Self-flagellation is pretty much a default setting for New Zealand media, but I didn’t expect it to penetrate as far back in the paper as the Sport section.
‘‘Crusader name change called for’’ (March 17), goes barmily overboard and suggests that the name could be offensive to local Muslims, because of events in 1096. Even the most sketchy knowledge of that era shows that the Crusades were a belated response to Islamic incursions into the West and not the cause of them.
The British rugby club Saracens is named after the Islamic horde, but I don’t recall