Is it you, or is it me?
I guess you’ve all heard about the recent attack on a couple of mosques in New Zealand. All decent people agree that it was a terrible thing. There’s been an outpouring of sympathy towards the Muslim community in New Zealand and here in Australia. (We consider the Kiwis to be our cousins. Mess with NZ and you mess with Oz.)
It’s certainly been heartwarming to see that most people condemn the actions of the terrorists. Many Christian churches have sent public letters of sympathy, and those who live near the mosques have brought flowers and food to the grieving community. Of course, there’s always the few who agree with the killers but then there’s never a shortage of racist, bigotted eedjits in this world.
Reading the newspapers and watching the TV coverage, one would think that Muslims are the only people who are targetted with bigotry and violence. And, the countries with a Christian/Judeo foundation are bending over backwards to ensure that Muslims feel welcomed and accepted in our society. As they should.
What bemuses me, however, is that meanwhile Christians in Nigeria are being slaughtered on a much bigger scale. We’re talking, thousands being killed and a high percentage are women and children. In the Philippines, just this past weekend, Christian churches were bombed, with over a hundred dead. ISIS has recently burnt alive a group of children, aged between 8 and 13, because their parents were Christians. A couple of buses of Coptic Christians (Egypt) who were on a trip to a remote monastery, were attacked with most of the passengers killed.
As far as I can tell, there was no coverage on any major news outlet. There were no flowers laid at the sight of these massacres by concerned citizens, other than relatives of the deceased, making their stand with the victims. There was no outpouring of sympathy from the Islamic communities towards the survivors and the Christians in their town.
Surely a terrorist act is a terrorist act, regardless of who commits it and who the victims are? It’s vigilantism on a grand scale. It’s not acceptable. In fact, it’s wicked.
And then there are the recent attacks on Jewish synagogues, and the Hindi community in New South Wales … You know, it’s as if every community of faith is under attack.
We need to broaden our horizons. We need to see the bigger picture. It’s not just Muslims under attack. Nor is it just Christians. If we think like that, then we will be more inclined to take revenge on our perceived enemy, rather than deal with the true perpetrators of this violence. If we allow these things to further divide us, then we are letting the terrorists win.
Everyone who has faith in something outside themselves; who believes in the brotherhood of man; who teaches that we must forgive and love and care for each other – we are all under attack. We must support each other, stand with each other (even though we don’t agree theologically) against the forces of darkness.
Be informed. Stay alert and nip bigotry in the bud before it grows into a hanging tree.
I agree Wendy. I have been appalled at the carry on etc re the NZ situation when other attacks overseas have been ignored. Not that I am not appalled at the NZ attack! I have stayed mostly silent because of my fear of not expressing myself in the right way as you have done here. I do believe that most Muslims are peaceable people but I also believe that the media and our Governments need to report fairly. I also believe our enemy is the foe against God and that we as Christians need to remember that He is in control and seek a loving response but also stand for Him and not be weak. I feel deeply for the Christians who die overseas as martyrs to the faith. Here in Australia so far we are free and must make a stand.
We certainly have to be considered and prayerful in how we take that stand. Unfortunately, Christians are often perceived as anti-everyone else. Every life matters to God and therefore should matter to us.
It is difficult to really know what is going on in our world. It seems decent people of whatever, or of no faith, are under attack. Racism, intolerance, greed and hatred seem to be on the rise. I feel this is not true on an individual level, but nationally. I feel we must have the courage to speak out against the above wherever we encounter it. Why is terrorism not reported when implemented against other faiths? A relevant and important question, Wendy. Personally, I am coming to believe the media is controlled by people with an agenda. Perhaps in the situations you mention above there has been no official response such as that by PM Jacinda Arden. Let’s hope & pray good will overcome . ( such a long post, sorry)!
I have a t-shirt that says, ‘When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.’ There are always good people in the midst of the most awful circumstances, helping, comforting and defending. When I see one of the helpers, it gives me hope.
Right on, Wen. We have to become more aware of what and who we really are.
God bless you for trying.
Thanks, Sam.
I read your books Wendy and I love them but the backstory about it is like the attack. People being attacked and whatnot. But thanks for standing up for them.