Like the rest of the world I woke up to the heartbreaking news that the siege in Martin Place had ended in tragedy
I write this post this morning to remind people that hate is not an emotion. Its is a disease that eats you alive from within
I just cant imagine what it would be like to have family and friends directly involved in a life threatening situation like the Martin Place siege and my heart bleeds for them
But I have seen the way Australians are talking and thinking about people who follow the Muslim faith change over the last 12 months and it truly saddens me.
Like everyone I have access to a plethora of background information on the man behind the siege and until anybody can prove otherwise I will remain firm in my commitment that the siege is not the work of an organised terrorist group.
“This is a one-off random individual. It’s not a concerted terrorism event or act. It’s a damaged-goods individual who’s done something outrageous.” Source
Lets all remember no matter what religious affiliations we have every religion has its fanatics who will use their beliefs to help justify barbaric acts
As I thought about the community yesterday and how this would be impacting on our day to day lives I am so proud of Rachel Jacobs who initiated the #illridewithyou campaign and our fellow Australians who followed her lead.
Read the Rachel Jacob’s story behind the #hashtag here How #illridewithyou began with Rachael Jacobs’ experience on a Brisbane train
Lets remember when we reflect on this tragedy. Hate is not an emotion, it is a disease that eats you alive from within.
Some reflections that have also moved me
This post on the Lindt Facebook site
This reflection by a year 9 class in this post If Martin Bryant was a Muslim
Today’s reporting of the incident in Martin Place exemplifies what the students identified. We will always be afraid of terrorists if we keep making them. This lone gunman in Martin Place is a psychopath, the media made him a terrorist.
