They Are Us

Who are we?  Angels?  Devils?  Who is to blame?  Should we be concerned about something that happened half a world away?


If they haven't come for you, yet, they will try, which is why we must treat what happened yesterday in New Zealand with the utmost attention.  Hatred knows no bounds.  This is not a movement of a few individuals.  The movement of hate towards "the other" is growing daily.

It's impossible to know the pain the people of Christchurch, New Zealand, are experiencing today, whether or not they were in the two mosques that were attacked, or members of the families, or friends, of the 49 killed for no other reason than being Muslims at prayer on a Friday.

All I can do is reach out, as a member of a community which, on April 3, 2009, faced its own horror - a mass shooting in a classroom for immigrants in our community, which left 14 dead.   We are coming up on the 10th anniversary of that shooting, which was not a terrorist attack, but, rather, was due to an immigrant who had received services there blaming the organization for his subsequent troubles.  But still.  The memories may fade, but they will never disappear.  I don't send thoughts and prayers.  I just send a few words, which will ripple and disappear in the sea that is the Internet.

I am also the member of a minority religion, one that these same terrorists would target without a moment's hesitation.

A year ago, I visited the mosque in Johnson City, New York during an open house.  It was a most interesting experience, one that I haven't blogged about yet, but I should.  It was quite informative.

Several things stood out, one of which I will mention today.

On a table were some educational pamphlets, free for the taking.  Most explained one or more facet of Islam.  The people were were asking questions, all (in my earshot) respectful, wanting to learn more about their neighbors.  But some of the pamphlets addressed the fear - the fear of the "other".

So, I thought of that when I heard the remarks of New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.  To paraphrase her, she said, of the victims.  “Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities—New Zealand is their home—they are us."

They are us.

This time, it was Muslims.  Just as, in our recent history of shootings or bombings in religious institutions carried out by domestic terrorists of the United States, it has been Jews, Sikhs, and even Christians targeted by a white supremacist.

I disagree strongly with Trump's belief that white nationalism is not a rising problem.

If you think you are immune because you are not a member of one of their targeted groups, guess again.  These people are us.  They can be our neighbors.  Our employers.  Our customers.

Will we welcome immigrants and "the other"? Or will we continue down the path we have embarked upon?

New Zealand is making its choice.  But what about the rest of the world, including us?