In My Own Voice: Killings at Christchurch

This week, the world was shell-shocked by the grisly massacre at Christchurch, New Zealand. By now, 51 people have been killed, with several others grievously injured. Mass killings have become too frequent, but this shoot-out is starkly different; the killer live-streamed the killing on Facebook and also posted a 72-page Manifesto of his beliefs on the internet.

Mass killings of innocent people – in no way connected to anything but their humble, daily lives – have tragically become a form of communicating a message and can be construed as a symbolic action in which the killer is saying something. In this case, once overpowered and arrested and brought to court, the killer smiled at the cameras and also gave an okay sign. But he cannot be dismissed as an individual gripped with delusion. While this horrific act of violence is strongly condemnable, since this form of communication is becoming much too frequent, it is necessary to analyse the message that the killer is posting.

The shooter, Brenton Tarrant, 28, writes that he “hopes to be released and be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize”. He writes, “I am an Ethno-nationalist, Eco fascist.” He clarifies, “The environment is being destroyed by over-population.” And later, “We Europeans are not over populating the world”. Then he states, “Kill the invaders, kill the over-population and by doing so, save the environment.”

He sent this manifesto to New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden’s office nine minutes before the shooting. I have not been able to locate his complete manifesto, uploaded on ‘8chan’ which is being called a ‘dark internet site’ but what is coming out is that Tarrant is a white man who believes that white culture and population is being overtaken by the immigrants. He chose to attack Muslims because, “this attack receives the greatest level of support” but he clearly has a phobia of all non-whites.

If Tarrant was an isolated, deluded individual, one could condemn the killings and ignore him, but unfortunately his views are something that are gaining some level of currency in the world. There have been attacks against immigrants in Germany and except for Canada where the local population came to welcome refugees from Syria, most countries have not opened their borders to immigration but are increasing regulation as the world changes due to conflict, war and climate change.

US President Donald Trump’s desire to build a wall at the US border, his executive order, ‘Buy American, Hire American’ and his tightening of green card and H4 visa regulations, disallowing spouses to work, is leading to a situation where the goods of the Western world deluge the markets of the third world but where the movement of people in search of a living is anathema.

One doesn’t expect the killer to know history, but surely leaders must and should know that it was the white population that invaded and settled in Australia, New Zealand and the US. The aboriginal tribes were decimated by arms, diseases – the native Indian’s were gifted blankets infected by small pox – and the aboriginals in Australia had their children taken away and raised elsewhere giving rise to the term, ‘lost generation’. Surely, we can put that aside. Today the attempt by Right-wing leaders to win elections across the world by stoking fears about the ‘other’ -- which is always the minority community – is what is kindling these mindless acts of violence.

In contrast, the New Zealand Prime Minister has said the right thing:  she has worn a black head scarf and expressed deep grief, she has hugged the minorities, addressed the students at Cashmere school who lost two students and one former student, paid for the burials, asked for arms control, all that a sympathetic leader should do.

Her wisdom and soothing words should be applauded, but unless leaders across the world in the US, Turkey, India, China, North Korea speak words of reconciliation and not hate, the tribe of fundamentalists will increase. If immigration laws and the response to the international community is lukewarm to downright rejection while free trade practices are promoted, where on earth are the coloured people to go?

Also read: In My Own Voice: Grief Has No Borders

As the whites ruled India, China and large parts of Africa and Asia, self-determination and decolonisation was the cry of the 20th century. If indeed, the 21st century is to be a global village, there cannot be a strident call for hyper-nationalism; instead accept the people of the earth who have suffered the brunt of colonisation. ‘Live and let live’ that can only come about by words and actions of peace and a truly rainbow society.

Today, the words of one of the victim’s husband, Fariduddin, are so poignant: “I forgive him and will pray for him. I lost my wife, but I do not hate this man.”  He adds, “He probably got hurt during his childhood but he could not translate that hurt in a positive manner… I am praying for him,” he says.

We need to bring up our children with inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogues and beliefs, because societies can only survive on love not hate. Tarrant sadly lacked that.

Here is a poem for the children of Cashmere school - who lost their students and are stricken with anguish- that I wrote years ago, but it seems relevant today.

A Walk With The Moon And The Sun

Last  night  I couldn’t get a wink of sleep,

So I slid out, from under my sheet,

And went for a walk

 in the park nearby.

I saw the full moon up

in the sky so high,

I could swear it followed me,

Like a balloon without a string,

A luminous lollipop,

A most amazing thing.

I found the squirrels asleep,

So were the deer,

There was the occasional hoot

of the owl, just near,

But the birds were asleep

Under their wing,

Except for the night sounds

Of the crickets,

No one did sing.

But the moon shined its luminous glow,

And I just moved on, so.

I walked across the temple,

All was quiet;

No bells clanged,

No chants filled the air;

And the moon shed its moonlight

Over all the pilgrims

Who slept over there.

Then across the corner

Was an old mosque,

And as I stepped on the cool, mosaic floor,

I saw the moon watching

High above the arched door.

It was bestowing its benign light

To all those who slept within,

It was such a cool and peaceful sight

And a gentle breeze

Blew in the night.

I moved along to the gurudwara

Where the Sikhs lay asleep,

By their sacred book,

And to each the moon

Gave a gentle, peaceful look.

It shed light on the kirpan that glittered,

And went on its way, to the

Path that was littered,

With garbage and refuse.

It saw the poor in their shacks,

And blessed them a peaceful night of rest,

For ahead was a heavy work-load

In the days that lay abreast.

Then in the very same sky,

He went behind a cloud edged with lace,

And I saw emerging

A blushing, bridal pink face.

I saw the early morning sun

Give its rays to everyone,

Including the smallest leaf

And the tallest tree.

It gave its energy and its light, so free,

To both big and small,

Tall and strong,

Rich and poor,

Without differentiating

Between anyone at all.

It was universal love;

And I saw the sun

Climb, higher and higher,

And I heard the screech of tyres

As people rushed to work

They broke out into a sweat,

No one knew he was bestowing his energy,

Without breaking for a single breath.

Just everyone got his light

And I knew before the night,

He would have bestowed

To all his radiance;

And in the approaching twilight,

The birds hummed to a cadence.

I just knew,

Like the moon and the sun,

I was born to give,

To love, to serve,

And be a friend

To every single one,

Before my day was done.  

Also read: In My Own Voice: Circle of Unreason