Condemn hatred and bigotry
Sadly, ever so sadly, it is becoming evident that the gunmen in Christchurch were acting with the tacit support and approval of people who live among us. Those who won’t pull the trigger but who by their vitriol and hate give licence to those who will.
If you look at the profiles of people expressing their satisfaction and justification for the tragedy on social media you will see a cross section from nanas and grandads to teenagers and their parents. They look like you and me. They don’t have monster tattooed on their heads.
The agony and anguish of the victims, their family and their community mean nothing to them. They lack empathy and love. They are damaged individuals. They are an anathema to our way of life and being. How do we deal with this cancer of bigotry and hate? How do we stop this disease infecting and destabilising others?
I think we deprive it of oxygen in any circumstance. I think we don’t laugh, don’t argue, don’t ignore. Condemn it outright as abhorrent and disengage.
Margette Campbell, Waihi Beach.
Violent films
Maybe it is time for people who actually care about their communities and the real live people who live in them to boycott films and other media that feature and glorify weapons-based violence. Seeing people shot and blown up in so-called “entertainment” has become so commonplace that it is normalised and even expected by viewers.
We need to re-learn the stark difference between fantasy and reality. Refusing to watch weapon-based violence for “fun” is a great start to reminding ourselves that many people have such atrocities inflicted on them for real and find not one iota of entertainment in the experience.
Maria Carbines, Hillsborough.
Scarf signal
I support Pamela Henderson’s call for us to wear scarves this Friday in honour and memory of all who have suffered in this shameful terrorist event. Men can wear scarves too. And I respectfully ask that the Aotearoa New Zealand representatives of the Queen, the Pope and President Trump follow suit. Janet Charman, Avondale.
Not innocent
New Zealand has lost its complacency, not its innocence. You can’t allow people who despise religion to speak for New Zealand secularism over a period of years and then claim innocence. You can’t allow academics, educators, policy makers and the media to impose divisive identity politics on everyone and then claim innocence. Let’s not kid ourselves.
Gavan O’Farrell, Lower Hutt.
Suspend gun applications
Until proposed gun laws are revised and better checks and procedures are in place it seems to me it would be wise that all applications for gun licences should be put on hold so that granting such licences is more thorough. I have seen several men holding papers for gun licence applications which they are helping each other to fill in.
Surely we do not want to see guns being part of most families’ household essentials. Far better to return to having local police stationed in local neighbourhoods who know the local people and are accessible. Let’s fund our police, border and security forces to the level that is needed rather than finding ordinary citizens having to resort to arming themselves.
Gillian Dance, Mount Albert.
Out of date
Guns, and even more deadly (in casualties) cigarettes, persist because the profiteers can afford myriads of lobbyists. Greed rules. Little hope for the exploited common suckers in the firing line, like you and me. New Zealand doesn’t have even one dangerous animal, guns are now an anachronism, and will eventually be totally unavailable to the general public. Why delay the inevitable? Deer culling and rabbit-shooting should be licensed occupations, with camera-fitted gun cabinets having remote police-controlled locks. The wild colonial times are over, now it’s a small small world.
Jim Carlyle, Te Atatu Peninsula.
Just do this
Twenty-two years ago, in 1997, Justice Tom Thorp recommended a series of thoughtfully articulated gun law reforms. So we don’t need to reinvent the wheel or placate a minority gun lobby of less than 250,000 licence holders. Let’s “just do this” as the slogan says.
Tony Kaye, Hamilton.
Asleep at the wheel
It seems undeniable, that our security agencies have been asleep at the wheel. With eyes wide shut, the many pleas of the Muslim community for action to safeguard their safety were effectively ignored. Their clearly expressed worst fears have been realised. Just another case, albeit with tragic consequences, of our public servants failing to do their jobs.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.
PM’s leadership
We are a democracy and our media and our citizens can and do hold our leaders to account, often with a healthy degree of irreverence. However, after the leadership shown by the Prime Minister over this terrible weekend, an inspiring mixture of toughness, competence and, above all, compassion, nobody any longer has the right to refer to her in such demeaning, misogynistic terms as Tinkerbell and Jacinderella.
Leo Kelly, Stanley Point.
Made us proud
When countries are faced with a tragedy, as ours was last Friday, our emergency services come into force and the people come together to enclose in protective arms those who are hurting. And then the world watches. To announce to the country and the world of the shock and horror of a massacre on your own soil requires from any leader an ability to stand up, show insight, compassion and understanding and anger.
Our country has that leader. From the moment she faced the cameras she took our sadness for the people and sent it out for all to hear. Powerful language she used was picked up and repeated throughout the world. Her ability to stand by those suffering while at a distance, gave sincerity to her message. Everything she did she did for her people, not for political purposes. I thank her for that.
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
Debate allowed
In the wake of the appalling attacks in Christchurch, there has been much said about the influence hate had on the attack. In light of this, it is poignant that we remember that hate is not defined by skin colour but by ideologies that teach intolerance, hatred and divisiveness. Debating the merits of ideas and opinions is an essential element in pushing back on hateful ideologies.
Calling for the death of entire groups of people is straight out hatred and should be banned. Honest and factual criticism of any ideology however should not be confused as hate speech. All ideology demands that it be debated. The very word ideology implies an idea and all ideas should be open to debate.
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
Keep him here
I don’t think we should be handing the Christchurch mosque gunman to anyone, regardless of nationality. By handing him back to Australia we will be putting him close to any family or support he may have there including possible like-minded friends. He needs to be kept here so that if, God forbid, there be any parole release hearings anytime in the future the victims’ relatives have the ability to fight it.
Also, he must be held in solitary confinement as he could spread his hate further. I couldn’t think of anything worse for him than a lifetime alone.
Geoff Minchin, Kawakawa.
Social covenant
I live in rural South Auckland close to a newly-developed subdivision. Purchasers of sections are required to agree to a covenant which states the purchaser: shall not sell, lease, let or grant any right of occupation in the property to Housing New Zealand Ltd, the Housing Corporation of New Zealand or any other Government or quasi-government department or agency or local authority where the property may be occupied by tenants or occupants selected by that corporation, department, agency of legal authority.
As a result of the recent events in Christchurch the view that we see ourselves as one people has been clearly articulated. Such covenanting for social exclusion does not fit with this view of New Zealand. Janet Hogan, RD Papakura.