How We Deal with Hate

Fifty people were killed by an attacker and over dozens wounded. Reason. He hated the community. So wanted to kill anyone belonged to it.

Its been a week for the attack on Christchurch and Al-Noor mosque on March 15, 2019 in New Zealand...and there’s no end to the tributaries, stories of bravery, love, compassion, solidarity, support, and inclusion.

During the times, when the world is dealing with terrorism, refugees killings, racism, anti-immigrant populism, Islamophobia, white supremacism, bigotry, and hatred in all forms possible, the reactions are really breather.

Social media is flooded with videos, pictures and news with how New Zealand stands together with the victims, immigrants, and Moslems.

Here what is especially noteworthy, is the leadership of the country - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who has taken those steps, which her counterparts in other countries where such terror attacks have had happened never took. She has not shed the rhetoric saga of slogans or shouts to populism but a show of empathy, sympathy and careful action in the time of grief – a more humane way of the leadership and handling hate and terror.

The attacker is an Australian, but no hate for Australia. He had a religion but no hate for the religion. He is ‘White’ but no hate for ‘White’. He has a lineage but no hate for his lineage.

Its only the hate for what he did and why he did.

Here’s a lesson to be learnt by all. How we deal with hate.

Hate will only return hate. Give more hate, in return you receive more hate!

The words by the victim of Christchurch ‘...I lost my wife, but I don’t hate the killer. But I’m sorry I cannot support what he did, but I think somewhere along in his life maybe he was hurt but he could not translate that hurt in a positive manner.’...has just too much to think about and to find out...

He refused to harbour hatred…Punish for the crime but don’t make it another reason for the next terror act.

Finally, for you and me sitting in some distant country witnessing terror attacks, lynching, riots, killings and hate,  … rethink how we react, what we speak…guide yourself, the rest will follow automatically and its surely not going to be 'hate'.

Nishat Paiker, 22 March, 2019