‘Heroes’

Written By: - Date published: 4:03 pm, March 17th, 2019 - 91 comments
Categories: australian politics, class war, terrorism - Tags: , , , ,

In the aftermath of the fascist attack in Christchurch, I’ve been dwelling on what it takes to be a hero.

There were definitely heroes to be found on Friday. 

The media have interviewed Abdul Aziz, who chased the terrorist out of the Linwood mosque.

In the live stream of the earlier attack on the Al Noor mosque, a man can be seen trying to tackle the terrorist. He doesn’t survive.

I’ve previously met Tarik Chenafa, who smashed a window to allow himself and many others to escape. He’s a quiet, unassuming man who did what he could in the most awful of circumstances.

There are so many individual moments of bravery; so many people who helped others at the risk of their own lives. I believe that as the stories come out, there will be many accounts of people who died sacrificing themselves to save others.

All the victims are heroes, no matter what the circumstances of their lives or their deaths. They died celebrating their faith and honouring peace, the central tenant of Islam.

Mucad Ibrahim, whose photo accompanies this post on the front page, is the littlest hero.

 

Freeze, fight and flee.

These are the common reactions to fearful incidents.

I really don’t know what I would have done had I been in a position to intervene.

I’d like to think I’d have been brave, been a hero.

I just don’t know if that’s really the case.

So I’d like to acknowledge all those who were heroic on the day; those who offered shelter to the survivors or drove victims to the hospital, public servants such as the police, fire, ambulance and medical staff who made such a difference.

I’d like to thank the teachers who kept children safe during the lockdown. They are going to have to watch their charges carefully over the next little while because if we’ve learned anything from the quake, it’s that kids know when something is bad, but they process it differently from us adults.

Thanks to to the churches of Christchurch, who have offered space for prayers to their Islamic brothers and sisters.

Thanks to everyone who has laid flowers at the cordons or who has just shared the silence with others at the many informal grieving points around the city.

Thanks to the young people who had their day of action on climate change ruined. We haven’t forgotten you and your voices will be heard.

Thanks to our politicians, too. Not just Jacinda Ardern, who has been a leader like no other, but to all of our MP’s who have put NZ’s grief ahead of their own agendas.

Thanks, too, to the people of Christchurch. The quake spirit lives on.

I’m not sure that my last mention is really a hero, but I’d like to thank Will Connolly. Though I’m a bit conflicted about doing so.

Will Connolly assaulted racist Australian Senator Fraser Anning with an egg and was then punched by the coward and choked by some of the neo-fascist’s knuckle dragging supporters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJcF1YBUOZ0

I’m not going to be hypocritical about it; Connolly was wrong to egg the egg.

However, it was at the piss taking end of the assault continuum, more dildo throwing than punch throwing, and clearly intended to ridicule Anning.

I’m not sure that the hero label really fits Connolly, but for now, I’m happy with anyone who stands up to fascism in any way they feel appropriate.

And you know, over the next little while, we are going to be subject to a lot of fightback from the right.

There are already cries of ‘false flag’ from the usual idiots (Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Tat Loo).

I’ve seen Kiwis debating whether it’s possible to drive from Riccarton to Linwood in 7 minutes (yes, it is, particularly if you’ve just killed dozens of people and the road rules are not currently top of mind).

Gun nuts will be whingeing about losing their toys. Rednecks will be triggered by images of our Prime Minister wearing a veil.

Sad sacks like the enablers at Whaleoil are already busy denying it has anything to do with them.

And to be fair, hate speech promoter and supposed lefty Chris Trotter has been sensibly silent in the last few days. It’d be lovely if his next utterance was an apology.

For those of us with a conscience, with ethics, with heart, well, we should just continue to offer kindness, solidarity, and, occasionally, an egg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

91 comments on “‘Heroes’ ”

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  1. Stuart Munro. 1
    17 March 2019 at 4:19 pm

    I’m rather fond of this short essay on heroism – used to use it with stronger students.
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/mar/09/books.guardianreview5

  2. McFlock 2
    17 March 2019 at 4:30 pm

    Jesus, every time I look TL’s gone further downhill.

    But yeah, in general nobody knows how they will act. Thank goodness for everyone who did.

    Everyone there that day was a much better person than the p.o.s. who did the shooting.

  3. Macro 3
    17 March 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Are the Queensland Police going to charge the people who assaulted Will Connolly? For their use of excessive force? The resulting reaction by those bigots and rednecks was disgusting – I would be ashamed of my countrymen if I was an Australian.
    As for that “Senator” he deserves to be egged endlessly.

  4. Macro 4
    17 March 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Great post TRP. Concur with your sentiments 100%

    • I feel love 4.1
      17 March 2019 at 5:20 pm

      Great post.

    • halfcrown 4.2
      17 March 2019 at 7:37 pm

      +100%

    • Anne 4.3
      17 March 2019 at 8:27 pm

      Me too. Thanks TRP.

    • RedLogix 4.4
      17 March 2019 at 9:17 pm

      And me. It strikes the correct balance thank you TRP. Good points when you talk about none of us knowing what we do in such circumstances.

      I had to laugh a bit at TL’s latest speculation; there always was going to be someone who was going to say this out loud. To be fair he does say it is speculation, and as long as people are honest in saying this is what they’re doing, I don’t mind a bit of ‘out there’ guessing. After all he called Trump’s election correctly, even if it did terminally piss off a lot of people here.

      I’d put it in the 95% unlikely category, given none of us are in the position to refute it with direct evidence just yet.

  6. marty mars 6
    17 March 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Thank you TRP for focusing on the victims and the heroes. And on all the people who have supported the people targeted in this atrocity.

  7. WILD KATIPO 7
    17 March 2019 at 5:26 pm

    ————————————————

    ” And to be fair, hate speech promoter and supposed lefty Chris Trotter has been sensibly silent in the last few days. It’d be lovely if his next utterance was an apology ”

    ———————————————–

    Is that why you no longer write for The Daily Blog? I wondered why your tenure there was brief. I recall at the time you got kicked off or had a beef with The Standard so posted for TDB for a bit… what gives , mate?

    Don’t get me wrong, I quite like much of what you post,… but don’t even try to bullshit the roses, mate. Left or Right, I don’t give a shit.

    ———————————————

    ” Gun nuts will be whingeing about losing their toys. Rednecks will be triggered by images of our Prime Minister wearing a veil.”

    ——————————————–

    The hell with gun nuts. They take their cue from the law , not their little shoot em ups down on the gun range. Olympic shooters never seem to have a problem with the govt ,- what does that say about the gun lobby ?

    As for rednecks being ‘triggered’ by Adern wearing a head scarf… I’m a little wary of bullshit when I attended a memorial service for a fellow security officer in Te Atatu, … Helen Kelly was there and , as I was stand offish as most in the security industry were… she had a wide smile and beckoned me over. I took my place with Joe Carolan … but observed Phil Goff putting his hands together in prayer when the prayers were conducted in Hindi.

    Phil Goff is an atheist.

    I’ll make allowances for Jacinda.

    I can see her warmth and compassion and empathy is evident. It rankled me slightly because she is not a Muslim but also endeared me more. She was empathizing .She is a leader and a good one. And I hope and know she will get rid of semi automatics from civilian use. Shes one of the best leaders we’ve ever had.

    • greywarshark 7.1
      17 March 2019 at 6:20 pm

      Calm yourself and breathe through your nose WK.

      • WILD KATIPO 7.1.1
        18 March 2019 at 2:25 am

        Quite calm , quite relaxed. But I’m not going to just let emotive statements and comments in these forums go on about far right white supremacists without reminding people that murder is , unfortunately a universal a human condition. Common to all races . And I don’t care how much shit people want to throw , ALL human beings are capable of murder for whatever reason, or political persuasion.

        This is a tragic time and largely it seems committed by one central character. Enabled by our loose firearms laws and criminal intent by the perp. So in peoples zeal to find an answer to what is , an age old problem of race based murder, it would be nice to focus on and remember, that this character was at the end of the day just another in an endless line of murderous individuals stretching right back through history.

        Sympathy and empathy to the victims and their family’s.

        So called far right and far left , religious or non religious alike have committed just these sorts of acts throughout history. At the end if the day they are just murderers, nothing more. We would do well to keep that front and foremost.

    • te reo putake 7.2
      17 March 2019 at 8:15 pm

      As far as I know, I’m still welcome at Martyn’s place and I remain grateful that he gave me an outlet at that time. TDB is an important contributor to NZ politics and I routinely re-tweet posts from the blog because they are almost always good value.

      However, I’m not a fan of the catch and release comment system, which takes away the immediacy of the conversations. In short, I missed the argy bargy we’re used to here.

    • Gabby 7.3
      18 March 2019 at 12:31 am

      If goffoffloffle’s an atheist he was just putting his hands together.

    • Saintarnuad 7.4
      18 March 2019 at 6:17 am

      Interesting that the very thing you preach about, is the very thing you actually embody…HATE
      Your brief rant was simply hate filled, calling names and vilifying others in the community.
      People like you, and indeed many who also post here are ill. Often resorting to vulgar language, the most abhorrent forms of hate speech, and generally the most ugly side of humanity.
      How are you any different from the alleged Christchurch terrorist….in truth you’re no different, the same dark hearted mantra expressed in words, different yet exactly the same.
      And while you see our PM as some beautiful warm hearted person, I see her as a cynical photo opportunist. Would she still have been donning Muslim head scarf and hugging victims families if there were no tv cameras and journalists about.
      We are all free to express our views, just some of us have the rational capacity to express them with hatred.

      • WILD KATIPO 7.4.1
        18 March 2019 at 6:29 am

        Sigh.

        Just another emotive high pitched squeaking screamer who just wont/cant listen to reason.

        David Fisher wrote an article that explains more or less the sentiment I was getting at.

        Spies warned of gaps in our security and came up with a plan to keep …
        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213585

        Read that and get off your sanctimonious preachy high horse just long enough to have some reality drummed into you. You might just get past your emotional tirade to see the origins of this country’s deadliest mass murder.

        But I doubt it.

        • Saintarnuad 7.4.1.1
          18 March 2019 at 6:57 am

          Won’t listen to reason…
          I’m guessing that’s your version of “reason” only, which clearly must be correct.

          • WILD KATIPO 7.4.1.1.1
            18 March 2019 at 7:07 am

            Put it this way.

            When the day comes when you can do better than the above in isolating and identifying a lone wolf, who uses a small mobile group to stay under the radar and say all the right things to Police he knows they want to hear in granting a category A firearms license , …leading a grey mans existence that arouses no suspicion , and then quietly plots out a course to commit genocidal massacres is the day that :

            A / I’ll concede your better than them. – And ,…

            B / I might , – JUST MIGHT , – join all the other faux over emotive types coming on these forums using this for political capitol and singling out just one form of security threat in the form of far right wing white supremacists.

            Until then I will not join your stampeding myopic herd and continue to realize and maintain that security threats come in ALL political , religious and non religious guises. And at the end of the day , that ALL of these groups have individuals with the potential to commit wholesale murder.

            Because that is what those individuals are .

            Just murderers.

            Nothing more and no exceptions.

      • patricia bremner 7.4.2
        18 March 2019 at 8:20 am

        Saintarnauad, What hypocrisy. Our PM is doing her job with grace and empathy.

        She is representing us, (even you) letting these people know we all want to hug them. To say she is there for the cameras is in your head, nothing to do with the reality and horror. 50 people died nearly as many injured, and countless numbers traumatized. All you can say is she is using this. You need an egg.

        Where is your moment of reflection, of compassion? Missing that is where.
        None of us is perfect, all of us have hurt others, but the cruel calm planned slaughter of people at prayer is something most find they want to react to.

        Some let off steam, some look to blame, sadly we know there are people like this man out there. Most times hate is hidden, but we know it is there bubbling away.
        You also have a lash at WK. You infer he is sick.

        Do some reflection. As Te Reo Putake says, we don’t know if we would behave well. When faced with a life threatening situation I froze. Luckily it was the lifesaving action. I learned I am no hero.

  8. greywarshark 8
    17 March 2019 at 6:19 pm

    Tat Loo isn’t always wrong. He doesn’t seem in Russ Lindbaugh territory.

    Thank you for this post Te Reo Putake. And also thanks to those who have helped and I think we must make an effort to be if not perfectly kind then to at least hold back from really nasty sharp comments and rejoinders. I think we are all shocked, anxious and stressed, some despairing that despite our best efforts we have ‘vipers in our bosoms’ whether male or female.

    I don’t find an egg if not hardboiled, that’s a step too far, at Anning was out of place at the time. But now think about helping the victims. That is the right thing to do for them. They came in peace and a sicko couldn’t allow that, We will support them and watch out that there is not a mini epidemic of such people waiting to show they can be hard.

    • mauī 8.1
      17 March 2019 at 7:53 pm

      Thank you grey. Now is a time to welcome diversity and welcome back voices that have been purged such as Tat’s.

      • Muttonbird 8.1.1
        17 March 2019 at 9:25 pm

        Tat Loo is a sad, sad man. Too busy looking for horror in the wrong places.

        • marty mars 8.1.1.1
          17 March 2019 at 10:30 pm

          + 1 yep

        • greywarshark 8.1.1.2
          18 March 2019 at 12:10 pm

          So are a lot of people Muttonbird. And perhaps we are also – looking in the wrong places. Certainly I feel that is the case here quite often, as I look down the long post of doubtfully sane comments. Tat Loo was like Ed though, often right but so uncompromising about everything and obsessed, and he couldn’t shut up and leave FTTT. And he would put tl:dr against my comments so he had to go.

  9. alwyn 9
    17 March 2019 at 7:10 pm

    We might have had a truly dreadful person come here from Australia.
    However we have also had an enormously brave one.
    The courage of Abdul Aziz,, knowing that the gunman had already killed people at the second mosque, but taking him on with an eftpos machine is truly incredible.
    I can’t even conceive of displaying that kind of courage.
    If there is a public vote for a New Zealander of the year he has my vote.

  10. reason 10
    17 March 2019 at 7:18 pm

    https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ … a hero I only discovered today ….. seems to be the best coverage of our tragedy that I’ve seen anywhere on the net … Qasim Rashid, esq

    Speaking as he does in the usa he really is a hero …. the NRA now headed by Oliver death squad North … has millions of gun hoarding paranoid freaks thinking some MUSLIM is after their white christian guarding recreational military assault weapons.

    Our ‘gutsy’ little politicians …. who play the dirty games behind unnecessary illegal wars of aggression …. should be humbled and ashamed.

    • Saintarnuad 10.1
      18 March 2019 at 6:27 am

      Seek professional medical assistance, your hatred and paranoia is simply unhealthy, Posting here to gain mob rule positive reinforcement of your hate filled derogatory words on others, simply reflects the depth of your illness.
      So all persons having firearms or holding Christian beliefs are to blame for last Friday’s tragic events by your perverse logic. No a single individual with a dark heart was responsible.

      • reason 10.1.1
        19 March 2019 at 7:43 am

        It’s far easier for me not to take your idiots advice … than try to visit a doctor with a referral from an illiterate fool… Saint semen stains.

        As a civilized antidote to gun gimps like Saintretard ….Once more I recommend Qasim Rashid, esq … https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ ….. he has some of the best coverage, links, Attitude and advice … regarding our mass murder terrorist crime …

        From Qasim Rashid, Esq. …. “I’m getting emotional watching this b/c it seems like eternity since we saw a public servant respond to tragedy with such sincere compassion & love

        The world’s politicians could learn much from watching PM @jacindaardern & her consuming love for humanity ” .

        “1987 England Mass Shooting prompts new gun laws •0 Mass Shootings since
        1995 Australia MS prompts new gun laws •0 MS since
        1996 Scotland MS prompts new gun laws •0 MS since
        2009 Germany MS prompts new gun laws •1 MS since
        1999 America MS prompts zilch •5000+ MS since ”

        https://twitter.com/i/moments/1107276131873497090

        • te reo putake 10.1.1.1
          19 March 2019 at 8:12 am

          Thanks, Reason. St Arnuad has been asked to substantiate some of his wilder claims and he won’t be returning until he either does that or apologises for wasting people’s time. He won’t be able to do the former, because he was bullshitting, so the latter remains his only option if he wants to post again.

  11. Pat 11
    17 March 2019 at 7:27 pm

    “And to be fair, hate speech promoter and supposed lefty Chris Trotter has been sensibly silent in the last few days. It’d be lovely if his next utterance was an apology.”

    Unnecessary and ruined an otherwise good post

    • te reo putake 11.1
      17 March 2019 at 8:00 pm

      Yeah? Not a peep from Chris since this happened, Pat.

      Not. One. Word.

        • te reo putake 11.1.1.1
          17 March 2019 at 8:19 pm

          Oh, cool. Two days and a few hours later, and doesn’t touch on his own enabling behaviour. Underwhelmed.

          • RedLogix 11.1.1.1.1
            17 March 2019 at 9:31 pm

            Both your post and Trotters are excellent in their own way, both considered after allowing some time to let the craziness of the day die down, and both make many well crafted points.

            And yet there will be things both you and Trotter have not said, which I don’t think speaks to any dishonesty … just that you are both different people with different temperaments and different experiences. It would entirely astounding if indeed you had both written the same essay.

            You know what does hurt me? When I see people whom I both respect, unable to see the good in each other.

            • Muttonbird 11.1.1.1.1.1
              17 March 2019 at 9:37 pm

              What hurts me is when someone I respect sees the good in someone when it is clearly absent.

            • te reo putake 11.1.1.1.1.2
              17 March 2019 at 9:41 pm

              Thanks, Red. There may well be similarities between us, but I know which side I’m on. Trotter, on the other hand, chose to promote fascists.

              • Sam …
                17 March 2019 at 10:11 pm

                The anti-free speech team which judging by the blogs that you, TRP produced on the subject, was brutally defeated during the great Southern & Molyneux wars. Using the events of the Mosque massacres can not repair your tattered credibility.

                • Muttonbird …
                  17 March 2019 at 10:17 pm

                  Southern and Molyneux are complicit in the murders of Friday afternoon. And all that condone and support their speech are complicit too.

                  That is fact.

                  • Sam …
                    17 March 2019 at 10:23 pm

                    Prove it. You a use me of such things, now prove it or concede.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:28 pm

                      Are you conceding you are a supporter of Southern and Molyneux, and their hate speech?

                    • Sam …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:34 pm

                      Quote me

                    • Muttonbird …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:35 pm

                      No thanks, arsehole.

                    • Sam …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:37 pm

                      Whining is lose.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:40 pm

                      Let us know when you can construct a sentence properly.

                      In your own time…

                    • Sam …
                      17 March 2019 at 10:57 pm

                      You stated that “Southern and Molyneux are complicity in the murders of Friday afternoon.” As far as I know Southern and Molynuex left New Zealand with out contacting or encouraging Bennet to terrorise Muslim worshippers. So you are carry a huge burden around with you to prove the connection and that I am in some way involved as well. You are the one who wanted to throw serous accusations around now prove it.

                • Incognito …
                  17 March 2019 at 10:50 pm

                  What are you on about, “tattered credibility”, credibility as or for what exactly?

                  Judge the OP, and comments for that matter, on its own merit without playing the man.

                  • Sam …
                    17 March 2019 at 11:07 pm

                    Repairing TRPs tattered reputations by supporting his statement and I quote : “Trotter, on the other hand, choose to promote fascists.”

                    In fact any blog title that mentions Southern or Molyneux that Trotter has aurthorded that you’d care to mention is in fact defending free speech. I am such a person that will die in a ditch for free speech. You how ever are scum.

                    • Incognito …
                      17 March 2019 at 11:22 pm

                      I see, you took umbrage with the Trotter sentence in the OP and because Trotter is defending free speech and TRP is not, apparently, Trotter is your buddy, TRP is not and I am scum.

                      Did I get that right? It would be such a waste of free speech here on TS if we were to misunderstand each other, wouldn’t it?

                      I think TRP will be over the moon that you are trying to repair his “tattered reputations” [sic] – I thought it was his credibility that was in tatters!? – by supporting his statement. Can I have your number for when I need reputational repairs?

                    • Sam …
                      17 March 2019 at 11:29 pm

                      TRP produced at least one blog targeted at Trotter that Iv seen that was totally out of line and now this character assassination. It’s not surprising given printers incoherent ramblings towards myself that this place is mostly a collection of trash.

                    • Gabby …
                      18 March 2019 at 12:26 am

                      Prove it sambam.

                    • Sam …
                      18 March 2019 at 2:29 am

                      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/07/12/cough-cough-umm-te-reo-putake-about-your-attack-on-chris-trotter/

                      Why? I always catch you fuckers supporting this sick shit. Using a dead meme to repair TRP’s anti free speech agenda is sickening.

                      Above^^^ yeah up there is a good old link to Martyn Bradbury’s rebuttal of TRP’s putrid attack on Chris’s Trotter and of course, here’s a quote:

                      >”…I mean apart from the fact I think you (TRP) are being extremely unfair and a bit spiteful towards Chris, whose history of political commentary and left wing history makes him a taonga to our cause, it’s odd  that you have attacked him over freedom of speech because you blogged over here on The Daily Blog after you were banned from The Standard for breaching their rules on freedom of speech…”

                      Well that was basic. So now I won’t really be talking because having a conversation with you assumes that you support the Anti Free Speech Community so this is going to be more of a rant. So this is talking about the Standard community lead by printer, TRP, and some others I’v criticised who I’m sure desire to profess how little they are in pain and how great they feel, people who make conversational content really don’t do the fool. But there’s people with in the standard community that make sensationalist content of no value who’s clear objective is to swop people who are beta orbiting around there famine charms. Or they’re click bait or sensationalist content as I said. There are people that make reviews that just copy a Facebook video link into a blog and post it as an article on here with a single or one paragraph sentence pretty much saying discuss now. And that constitutes the bulk of what the authors around here do. Then there are people who react to entire blogs and make producers of film and actual content hate the left for stealing there fucking work and all they’re doing is going OH DAMMMMMmMmMMMmMmMMMM to everything that sub standard Authors produce.

                      Or they’re just sounding clever because some authors live on “recruit difficulty.” Or The Standard community talk about click bait things that clearly didn’t happen and then try and meme those that point out the facts like saying that a male with a penis is a male and not a woman. And then these same people in The Standard community claim that people who study applicable philosophy, science, debate, and writing consistency and narrative are the problem. So people who require an intelligent critique are a problem to the Standard Community. And pro probably a bit more research than just putting on a bit of editing and a thumbnail about stupid shit. So robust debate is a problem for The Standard Community and that’s a problem for many fucking reasons and most of them do it out a contrarian because I’ll admit it, if kind of made negative stigma for The Standard Authors because I’m not Disney enough, okay and you can check retired author Bills rat breath in this link: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11112017/#comment-1413002

                      So a lot of people get that negative stigma and they’re like fuck facts and down with white peoples and still like facts don’t care about your feelings at all, I don’t give a fuck about what you think about you feelings, I just care about the facts behind the matter and I want to slap every one of these sceptic-pseudo intellectual contrarians on this matter, I’m going to obliterate them, I’m going to be calling them out and many, many weird scandalous things they like to do because people are reaching out to me over at The Daily Blog saying shit this is ridiculous, how did robust debate get such a bad rap, why are people misinterpreting what it really means so I’m going to be calling that out so just sit back, and watch the carnage. These little bitches won’t be able to handle it. There like already trying to ban me and shit, Incognito the first thing he says to me after my permanent ban, yeah I said permanent ban, WEKA perm a banned me, and some one over turned it behind her back like a little bitch. So The Standard moderators don’t mean anything because they’re unreliable.

              • marty mars …
                17 March 2019 at 10:29 pm

                Yep + 1 trp

              • In Vino …
                17 March 2019 at 10:44 pm

                Sorry TRP, but I think you are writing utter bollocks. Trotter and you are a world apart because he has a huge grasp of history, and shows it in his writings. You, on the other hand, adopt certain attitudes which you revile Trotter for contradicting.
                You are but a child compared to Trotter.

            • greywarshark 11.1.1.1.1.3
              18 March 2019 at 12:18 pm

              RL
              You make a good point. Uncompromising dislike. Full of hubris oneself.
              You know what does hurt me? When I see people whom I both respect, unable to see the good in each other.

              That hurts everyone. For how can we make changes from the unsatisfactory present unless we can discuss how things are, where they can be improved, whether they are due for a complete overhaul, by whom and why are they suitable or not, and under what rules? And how will things look and go forward after the changes?

              Will they just be up-ended and then a period of chaos and anarchy to settle down as unsatisfactory again but with less remedies?

              It really is necessary to listen and learn from people who are sincere in wanting change for the better, and see if they have a point and are suitably knowledgable and balanced to be a large player in the process.

          • SHG 11.1.1.1.2
            18 March 2019 at 1:21 am

            Trotter’s main criticism of Ardern is that she talks a good talk (and I’d add “makes sure she’s wearing the right things”) but doesn’t have a track record of actually, you know, doing anything.

            This is her big opportunity. She has spoken eloquently and touchingly, and represented the nation well to the world through words and images. In moments like this leaders have carte blanche to push through legislation – what will she do?

            Ardern leads the country at the pleasure of New Zealand First. In case we’ve all forgotten, that’s the Racist White People Party. Is she prepared to go against them?

            • Saintarnuad 11.1.1.1.2.1
              18 March 2019 at 6:36 am

              Racist White Peoples Party ???
              You sure hold some perverse hate filled views on others.
              Considering what you’ve written, it’s actually you that’s the racist, but I seriously doubt you have sufficient intellectual capacity to realise as much.

          • WILD KATIPO 11.1.1.1.3
            18 March 2019 at 2:43 am

            That’s pretty unfair.

            If you will have noticed over the years, Trotter has never been one to rush to the public at the drop of a hat to express his views. He tends to be far more measured than that.

            ——————————————

            … ” What happened at the Linwood and Al Noor mosques was horrific, but it wasn’t our doing. As we begin the long journey towards recovery, it is vitally important that we keep that fact squarely before us. New Zealand is a good place. New Zealanders are good people. We are not responsible for Brenton Tarrant’s dreadful crime. This is not us” …

            Chris Trotter.

            ——————————————

            I don’t think he is displaying any untoward’s bias at all.

            • WeTheBleeple 11.1.1.1.3.1
              18 March 2019 at 7:37 am

              ” Trotter has never been one to rush to the public at the drop of a hat to express his views. He tends to be far more measured than that.”

              Sounds like an example I might learn from. So sick of being knee jerk reactionary it comes with the mental health territory but still – I have huge admiration for men who breathe before they speak.

              Everyone get’s stuff wrong constantly. A lot of times thing’s are simply out of context. It’s the learning and moving on that is important.

              Eggboy’s nemesis has > 1 000 000 signatures for his removal. Though the Australian Govt can’t actually sack Fraser his political career is all but over. He’s an international joke – thanks Eggboy.

              Searching Arabic newspapers globally Eggboy is already a folk hero. And rightly so. While some think egging is a violent act and wish to point this out, I think it was the least that could have been done, and hope to see eggs in the public debate more often.

              An egg for Trump, Soper, Hosking, and the clown who thinks the wording of the Quran is the problem.

              “Does anyone still dispute the link between my dumb fucken head and a free range egg” – Fraser Anning.

              • WeTheBleeple …
                18 March 2019 at 7:51 am

                Credit where it’s due (I think this was the Author)

                “Does anyone still dispute the link between my dumb fucken head and a free range egg” – Fraser Anning. (Tom Tanuki).

  12. mauī 12
    17 March 2019 at 7:40 pm

    Abdul Aziz is a true hero, he almost single handedly stopped this without any training or weapons.

    • alwyn 12.1
      17 March 2019 at 8:45 pm

      On that I totally agree.
      If the story really is as incredible as the reports describe I think that the DPMC should be looking at awarding the very rare New Zealand Cross.
      And if they do they shouldn’t be as petty as the last female PM was when Willie Apiata received his VC.
      This time invite the Leader of the Opposition to the ceremony.

      • Muttonbird 12.1.1
        17 March 2019 at 8:57 pm

        But the leader of the opposition attacked the government for signing the UN migration compact and whipped up hysteria among their followers.

        The mass murderer reference the UN migration compact by scrawling it upon the murder weapons.

        I’d say the leader of the opposition should publicly renounce the National Party’s opposition to inclusive society before he’s invited to any award ceremonies for actual heroes.

        • alwyn 12.1.1.1
          17 March 2019 at 10:58 pm

          Oh well. Why am I not surprised that the fuel oil soaked seagull is as small minded as the PM we had in 2007?
          You really are a bitter little turd aren’t you?

          • Muttonbird 12.1.1.1.1
            17 March 2019 at 11:02 pm

            But Bridges’ thinking on the global migration pact and Tarrant’s thinking on the global migration pact are the same.

            The point is that ordinary right wing thought and extreme white supremacist thought are not that different. This is why we must ensure the National Party never holds power again.

            • RedLogix 12.1.1.1.1.1
              18 March 2019 at 12:10 am

              The point is that ordinary right wing thought and extreme white supremacist thought are not that different.

              Ordinary moderate left wingers and extreme marxist left wingers share a common interest in many things, gross inequality being an obvious one. Yet I bet you can pretty easily see this does not make us the same at all.

              This is why we must ensure the National Party never holds power again.

              And here would be one really obvious difference; as a moderate I fully embrace our democratic system and understand that if it is to work at all, then both the left and right will form governments according to the will of the people.

              You on the other hand have unambiguously declared that you want to ‘ensure’ that left wing governments remain in power indefinitely. And bugger any elections or accountability to the people it would seem.

              It’s much the same on the right, moderates and extremists share some sentiments, but there is a boundary.

              Having said that, it’s my observation that while extreme racist righties are prone to believing in their racial superiority, radical leftie types are very much absorbed by imaginings of their intellectual superiority and moral virtue. Very different on the surface, but both entangled in the same totalitarian mire under the surface.

        • Saintarnuad 12.1.1.2
          18 March 2019 at 6:41 am

          So “inclusive society” in your opinion, is only people who subscribe to your point of view.
          How very inclusive (not)

          • greywarshark 12.1.1.2.1
            18 March 2019 at 12:24 pm

            Saint not
            You haven’t been coming here for long I think. But all you seem to write is sneer stuff, fault finding, putting others down. Top of the mind stuff about other commenters. You aren’t adding much to the discussion. Are you going to get better or be just one of the blowflies buzzing around making a lot of noise. And who welcomes blowflies.

      • Gabby 12.1.2
        18 March 2019 at 12:43 pm

        Had to sneak in a little dig there wally?

        • alwyn 12.1.2.1
          18 March 2019 at 12:50 pm

          “sneak in”?
          No Grubby. When someone comes out with the sort of crap that Muttonbird just did I will tell him (her) (it) to their face.

  13. reason 13
    17 March 2019 at 7:57 pm

    An unsung hero of mine i sJared Israel ….who showed up our disgusting Karle du frense … http://www.tenc.net/letters/dufresne.htm

    Despite admitting to racism …..du frense got a free pass from our race and hate speech gate keepers.

    Apparently this was not hate speech in NZ

    du frense ” I have to plead guilty to that second form of racism: ”antagonism towards other races”.

    To be more precise, I have to plead guilty to it in respect of one specific racial group. I refer to the people of Serbia.”

    [Jared Israel comments:

    Aside from the fact that modern genetics rejects the old claim that humans are divided into races, even if races did exist, Serbs would not constitute one as distinct from other southern Slavs. (‘Yugoslavia’ means ‘land of the southern Slavs.’) The Serbs are a national group, that is they do have a distinct culture and history, but they are physically identical to Slavic Muslims (for example, Bosnian Muslims) and Croats for the very good reason that Serbs, Croats and Slavic Muslims represent religious divisions within not-very-distant common ancestors. (They all even speak the same language, contrary to the Western media; it’s called Serbo-Croatian.) Du Fresne’s reference to a Serbian ‘race’ proclaims his ignorance, which is not a crime unless of course an ignorant person were to write newspaper columns inciting hatred of some national group.

    Jared’s comments end here]

    du frense “The events of the past few years in the Balkans have produced in me a deep detestation of all things Serbian. I don’t take any pride in this, but neither do I apologise for it. Humanity demands that we are repelled by the vile acts carried out in recent years in the name of Serbian nationalism.”

    [Jared Israel comments:

    In the article that “so offended” du Fresne, I contrasted two speeches. One was Milosevic’s speech at Kosovo Field in 1989. There are three important things about this speech:

    * First, what it boasts about, namely Serbian cultural tolerance as evinced in the fact that Serbia was (and still is) 40% non-Serb;

    * Second, what it does not do, namely it does not attack any other national or ethnic group; indeed, Milosevic says it is a very positive thing that many non-Serbian ethnic groups reside in Serbia;

    *And third, what it warns of, namely that Yugoslavs are tragically allowing the great powers to divide them using nationalism, as if they had learned nothing from the past. You can read it at http://www.tenc.net/milo/milosaid.html

    du frense ” I am forced reluctantly to the conclusion that they are fundamentally a deeply unattractive people, brutal and malignant. And though it’s probably a technical breach of the Race Relations Act to admit publicly to such feelings, since it could be construed as inciting hatred and contempt for a particular racial group, I’m sure of one thing: most New Zealanders feel exactly the same, whether or not they care to come clean about it.”

    Fisk…. heroic in his honesty ……….. https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/07/13/will-those-killed-by-nato-19-years-ago-in-serbia-ever-get-justice/

  14. reason 14
    17 March 2019 at 10:17 pm

    https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11/14/izzeldin-abuelaishs-three-daughters-were-killed-in-gaza-but-he-still-clings-to-hope-for-the-middle-east/

    “izzeldin Abuelaish is an associate professor of global health, born in the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, but the 63-year-old gynaecologist still mops his eyes when he comes to this point in our conversation almost 10 years later. I do not bring up the terrible ironies. I do not refer to his wife, who died of cancer only four months before the Israelis killed the three young women and Izzeldin’s niece. ”

    Now if Jeremy Corbin were to talk to this heroic man ….. some villain would portray it as somehow anti Semitic … eh james? ‘

    For despite the fact that he vainly took the Israelis to court for his family’s slaughter – first they claimed that there were snipers in the Abuelaish house, then that militants were hiding there, then that the shells which killed the daughters and niece came from Hamas (all disproved) – he founded the “Daughters for Life” Foundation to provide scholarships for young women to study at universities in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Syria. He wrote a book called I Shall Not Hate. Now a Canadian citizen, Abuelaish is much honoured, with human rights awards and a degree from Simon Fraser University.”

    Never heard of this hero here in NZ ???

    Well Just think ….if izzeldin Abuelaish was present in the afghan village when New Zealand SAS did that horribly botched revenge raid ….

    Sir John Key would have ordered his murder …. and then wayne mapp would tell us he was a Taliban fighter for year and years afterwards … go figure on that .

    While I can acknowledge the knighthood bestowed upon Key for his guts and courage, ///his staunchly sticking with mates when the chips are down and all that …

    … but perhaps wayne mapp could explain the type of bravery key is tapping into when he orders the killings of others at no possible risk to himself ??

    that sort of courage seems to be written in racist yellow from my view.

  15. corodale 15
    17 March 2019 at 11:32 pm

    The shoe, it’s still day one. Day two, the hero arrives.

  16. The Al1en 16
    17 March 2019 at 11:33 pm

    So that’s the line Tat’s handlers are currently pushing.
    Should be easy to spot the fake news coming up these next few weeks, then.

  17. reason 17
    18 March 2019 at 12:28 am

    these next few weeks should give an Alian time
    to swot up on a concept they dont understand …

    Some friggin humanity ….

    BM soiled the bar with his demented ‘socialism’ posts the other day … wearing his hostility and dont touch my semi auto anger on his sleeve

    But Casual indifference to new zealands worst crime ever is just another shade of NZs character … that needs fixing

    https://twitter.com/hashtag/50lives?src=hash

    For ‘normal ‘ NZers ,,,,take small bites as the true scale of this crime can overwhelm one with despair at what was stolen from New Zealand …

  18. Jenny - How to get there? 18
    18 March 2019 at 6:51 am

    A hero acts when others won’t.

    Words are cheap.

    People, particularly leaders, have to decide which side they are on, when someone acts
    .
    Egg Boy

    USA Today reports that “Australian premier sides with teen who cracked egg on senator who blamed Muslims for New Zealand attack”

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/17/sen-fraser-anning-australian-premier-sides-egg-boy/3193563002/

    Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday took Connolly’s side, telling reporters: “The full force of the law should be applied to Sen. Anning.”…..

    Obviously, Scott Morrison would have never made this comment if Will Connolly had not taken the action that he had.

    Generally I am against any sort of violent attack. I did not approve of the Dildo attack on Steven Joyce or the mud thrown at Don Brash. But in my opinion Morrison and the Australian government were slow to take action to censure Anning for his pro-fascist statements. That they didn’t gave Connolly his cue to act.

    As someone said on Twitter

    If only some brave person splatted an egg on Mussolini’s head when he was young, or on Hitler’s while he was ranting in some Beerhall

    https://splinternews.com/eggboy-seen-as-a-hero-after-smashing-an-egg-on-racist-1833348620

  19. Tibor 19
    18 March 2019 at 8:39 am

    We will walk among them always
    They will curl upon us with our innocence
    Taken but not left behind
    We will hold on to those that held them last

    We have always cried over horrors far away
    Now they have come in close, into home
    They are no different for being there, or here
    Alike they are the savagery of men

    Today we will get up, and we will welcome again
    Everyone who seeks shelter and our humanity
    We won’t think of vicious boys with hatred and guns
    Instead we will learn the names of those who died
    Gather them with us and see the smiles in the eyes
    Of those that were taken by fear and shame
    And we will always remember them

    Tomorrow we wear the memory of all this
    When we are old, we will cry and go quiet
    Never will we have forgotten
    those who today have passed

    • greywarshark 19.1
      18 March 2019 at 12:27 pm

      Thank you Tibor. I think that those are the exact right words that we should be reading and thinking about today. I will do so now.

      This is a post captioned Heroes. I note that we sink into abuse and dislike and our own petty feelings. Instead I honour all those who tried to do their best for the attacked people, at the time and after. That is important to keep in my mind.

  20. Rosemary McDonald 20
    18 March 2019 at 11:33 am

    This young woman most definitely a ‘hero’.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/111358227/you-failed-to-incite-hatred-the-heartfelt-message-after-christchurch-shooting

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218721134481607&set=a.2019832617571&type=3

    ” Appreciate that you made countless New Zealanders come out of their homes to visit the mosques nearest to them with flowers and beautiful messages of peace and love.

    You have broken many many hearts and you have made the world weep. You have left a huge void.

    But what you also have done have brought us closer together. And it has strengthened our faith and resolve.

    In the coming weeks, more people will turn up in the Mosques, a place you hate so much, fortified by the strength in their faith, and inspired by their fallen brothers and sisters.

    In the coming weeks, more non Muslims will turn up at the gates of mosques with fresh flowers and beautifully handwritten notes. They may not have known where the mosques in their area was. But now, they do. All because of you.

    You may have achieved your aim of intended destruction, but I guess you failed to incite hatred, fear and despair in all of us.

    And while I understand that it may have been your objective, I hate to say that after all of that elaborate planning, and the perverse and wretched efforts on your part, you still failed to drive a divide among the the Muslims and non-Muslims in the world.”

  21. mosa 21
    18 March 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Wonderful insightful post TRP.
    Thank you to The Standard for providing this and other important posts.

  22. Jenny - How to get there? 22
    18 March 2019 at 6:55 pm

    ‘Egg boy’ says he will give most of the bulk of the $40 thousand raised for his legal defence to the victims of the Christchurch terror attack.

    https://www.9news.com.au/2019/03/17/18/40/egg-boy-fraser-anning-video-fundraiser

    An online fundraiser for the Melbourne teen who egged Senator Fraser Anning is closing in on $40,000…..

    ….The funding page was initially created to pay for “legal fees and more eggs,” but an update from the page’s founder has confirmed that after speaking to Mr Connolly, “he is committed to sending a majority of the money to the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack.”

    Close to 2000 people have taken to the place to donate, with the goal of $2000 quickly surpassed.

  23. Jenny - How to get there? 23
    18 March 2019 at 10:06 pm

    The biggest online petition in Australian history calls for Frazer Anning’s suspension from parliament.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2019/03/more-than-one-million-sign-petition-to-remove-fraser-anning-from-australian-parliament.html

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