NZ terror attack: peace not war shall be our boast

Here's a blog I had hoped I would never be writing. I suspected it would happen at some point, that eventually there would be a terrorist attack in New Zealand. I certainly didn't think it would happen in Christchurch of all places.

I was at work when the news started coming in. A friend sent me a message on Facebook saying: "Shooting in CHCH at the Mosque. 6 dead. Check stuff".

When I read that phrase I was shocked and immediately check the news. Given I am a writer and studied journalism at university I always like to verify information.

Anyway, it was true. There was an unfolding situation at a Mosque in CHCH. That ended up being much worse than first suspected. I listened to the radio all day for updates while working.

Throughout the day the death toll kept on rising and then around 6pm, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed a death toll of 40. That number would later rise to 49 where it has been for the last few hours, however there are still 48 in hospital.

Newstalk ZB's coverage was brilliant today and it is very clear that New Zealanders are feeling the pain today over this terrorist attack. It's the worst terrorist attack to ever happen in NZ. To put it into context, 49 dying in NZ in a terrorist attack is the equivalent of 2600 in America. That means it's the equivalent of the 9/11 twin tower attacks.

The really sad part is that it was an Australian who carried out this senseless attack on innocent people. Nobody has the right to take another person's life and nobody has the right to get violent with other people. The Australian who allegedly carried out these attacks released a manifesto online stating the reasons and the basic gist is that they wanted to stop invasion of Western nations.

I don't want to focus on them too much but it seems hypocritical because they went to New Zealand specifically to carry out this henious terrorist attack against innocent people. While details have not yet been released, children are amongst the dead.

Instead, what I want to focus on in this blog is how to stop terrorist attacks in the future because nobody should ever feel unsafe where they live, let alone in a place of worship. They should feel safe to go about their daily business.

Hate is what caused this crime and to prevent further crimes, hate is not the answer despite what some people are saying on social media. The best answer to prevent crime is to show compassion and love towards other people. Tolerance will stop these attacks.

Terrorists, regardless of what side they represent want to create division but instead, people need to all stand together and unite. They need to show they won't be broken and that they will not perpetuate hate.

Anyone who is suffering mental health issues (sociopathy and psychopathy included) needs to receive help for their issues and they need help so that they don't senselessly murder people, although this is much worse than murder. This was outright terrorism.

Another question that has to be asked is how the assailants got the guns to carry out these crimes. NZ is supposed to be like Australia, with tough gun laws yet somehow the assailant was able to get enough guns and ammunition to kill innocent people.

What's even more confusing is why the assailant has only been charged with murder. This crime extended beyond murder and was a terrorist attack.

I don't believe in the death penalty. I never will believe in the death penalty. I have however said previously that when it comes to treason and terrorism I make an exception and I stand by that. In this particular case, the assailant, whether they acted alone or with others, does not deserve to live. According to media reports, four suspects are in police custody.

The attack was senseless and served absolutely no purpose.

The really sad part is that New Zealanders and Australians are supposed to be family and yet an Australian specifically targeted New Zealand. They specifically targeted a quiet city that's already been through a lot with the Christchurch earthquakes from which it hasn't yet recovered and I can only hope that Cantabrians will be offered emotional and mental health support.

The attack doesn't make sense. That's not to say that all Australians are like this because they're not. The vast majority of Australians are friendly, welcoming, peaceful and would never carry out a terrorist attack. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the attack, as has NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and NZ Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Mr Peters has also indicated that NZ's national security will be looked at in due course.

It would be so easy to blame all white people for this attack, but I have to raise the point, when a Muslim carries out a terrorist attack that's exactly what happens, some people blame all Muslims but the reality there are only a small minority of Muslims who are terrorists.

It would also be so easy to blame all white Christians for this attack but the vast majority have also condemned this senseless attack.

I've read part of the assailant's manifesto (I couldn't read the rest because it was too disturbing) and the general gist was that they hated Muslims, hated immigration and wanted to reclaim their land (hypocritical given they targeted a country they're not even from) which indicates fear. A culture of fear does not help anyone.

Fear is what terrorists want.

The best answer and the best response to terrorist attacks is simply to be tolerant of other people. If someone isn't hurting you, what do their beliefs actually matter? It's not like they're actually hurting you.

So I would have to draw words from the NZ National Anthem because it feels appropriate today.

In the bonds of love we meet.
Hear our voices, we entreat.

Men of every creed and race
Gather here before Thy face
Asking thee to bless this place

From dissension, envy, hate,
and corruption guard our state

Peace, not war, shall be our boast
But should foes assail our coast
Make us then a mighty host

Instead of hating Australians, white Christians, Muslims, immigration etc, people need to come together to keep the peace and be more tolerant.

Hate, anger and fear is what caused this attack. Love is the antedote to it. Only when we treat others with respect will senseless terrorist attacks stop.

And to close this blog, I'm going to leave you with the extended version of the New Zealand National Anthem.