For us New Zealanders. For us of the world. Though sad, the word, is not enough. Outrage. I feel sick. It was all about hating immigrants. Hating those with another faith. Fearing that which we do not understand. Blind hate that could have been cured by honest ordinary curiosity. People used as cannons fueled with evil words.
And I have no good words. It is all too medieval. Too awful. My head is down in shame at what has happened in my own home country. My cousins and nephews and nieces having to hide inside their homes and locked down in their schools quick dialing me across the world that there are shots, we are ok.
But may the Gods have mercy on us all.
I am so sorry for us all. And for what will come next. If someone had shot my family in their house of worship while they were on their knees in prayer … I dread to think of my response.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
40 responses to “A SAD DAY”
I hadn’t been listening to radio or on social media today, so your words are all that more shocking. Why is “do unto others” such a difficult thing to understand? Although written in many different languages, it is the common thread that ties all religions together… If they would just listen. Ignorance is the enemy. Love conquers all. So please, show your love to others; not just today, but especially today and all days.
Hate and prejudice are as old as time-when will the human race learn to rise above it? So sad
Horrible many times over.
We didn’t hear about this until just now. Very sad for the “human “ race.
Will this insanity ever end?? There are haters loose all over the world. It hurts my heart too. But you did not do this or condone it. You brought your children up to love and be kind. We will all keep trying to bring peace back into the world. I just don’t know how other than to be that.
Unbelievable news. New Zealand is so beautiful and peaceful. Thinking of those poor families dealing with their loss and some … not even knowing if their family member is okay.
And how many Christians and Jews have been killed by Muslims? This is not about immigrants, This is a war between Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Something has/is happening in this world where hate is growing exponentially and it breaks my heart. It’s so sad.
I am so sorry and also ashamed that our world has come to this.
Our own family through marriage has Chinese, Iranian and Serbian. It’s so marvellous that this Italian immigrant of the 50s hmnow has such a rich heritage.
My heart goes out to you and your family. I am praying for you and all New Zealanders.
Peace and well being,
Diana
What is it about humans that they cannot stop slaughtering each other? I have no words…
Yes, Cee we are reeling from the shock of this happening in our peaceful corner of the world. I am glad that your family is safe as are my two grandsons both of whom live in Christchurch. There is no place here for folk to be locked down in their offices for hours on end. Jacinda Ardern had it right when she said this is not who we are.
Your last line is so very poignant, people targeted, killed, injured, terrified… were someone’s family, and fellow human beings going about life on this earth.
This man-made catastrophe tears my heart. It’s times like these that make you want to gather your children and grandchildren about you, hold them close and protect them while you make some sense out of this chaos. My heart aches for those who have been so aversely affected by this – that means All of Humanity!
I can not accept the level of hatred all these acts of murder, terror and horror show. I keep hearing it’s about “race” except there is NO GENETIC basis for race, it was invented to enforce the superiority of “white Christians” and has been beaten into the cultures and societies of this sorry world that “race” is a true fact. It is the insistance that what is different is more important that what is shared. We all are related, we homo sapiens, but refuse to be the Wise Knowing Man we’re named for. I’ve heard it since I was little. That person is DIFFERENT. They don’t believe what you do, they don’t look the same as you, their hair is light, dark, straight, fuzzy, their skin is lighter, darker, they are a threat to you and yours, they’ll take your place, your food, make you change what you believe. It is so wrong, it’s a lie which has been told so often it’s believed as truth. We are killing our cousins, members of our families. This latest horror is just another example of the lie being believed and innocent human beings died for the maddness of another human being. The media will whip this as far as they can, churn the hatred, reinforce the differences, and it won’t solve anything. In some ways the access to a worldwide audience has only exacerbated these kind of actions. I can only try and remind those I know that the lie really is a lie, that we should accept other people as they are, that they really are not a threat to us in any way, that we should treat others as we would like to be treated, that we should love them as the family members they actually are as we are all members of the human family.
The farmy residents in the photographs, worried and confused as I am, are looking for answers. Like them, we can they stay close to each other and hope.