New Zealand in Crisis

Police officers inspect the shooting site as a victim is seen on the ground behind of the car in front of Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand [Anadolu Agency]

Sirens blare as streets are taped off. Manhunts ensue. People of multiple ethnic backgrounds talk to first responders, their clothing stained with splotches of blood. Chaos, despair, and fear fills the air – along with a media firestorm that quickly begins to assess the situation and grasp for clues, some to quickly assign blame to those they view as “complicit”. Who was he? Where was he from and from which cultural, religious or ethnic background? Social media services scramble to remove profiles and videos. Investigators comb the bowels of the internet to ferret out the dark pathways and rabbit holes associated with the suspects, looking for clues for motives, networks, affiliations, and possibly other dangerous plots.

Like a rogue cancer, this scenario plays out far too often across the globe, shocking communities that once felt safe but suddenly find themselves thrust in front of news crews in disbelief.  Officials blink back tears on camera, trying to express their horror of how their safe and quiet community was targeted. Beautiful lives lost, families devastated, children traumatized. It is really too much for anyone to comprehend, especially those who experience something like this first hand.

In the case of the Christchurch shooter, the 28-year-old self-proclaimed terrorist was, in his own words, of “European descent”, claiming to be from Australia. Like others before him, he left a “manifesto” – a snapshot into his dark and twisted mind justifying his atrocious acts of violence (even toward children), along with an wicked invitation to others to join his “cause”. It was the internet, he proclaimed, that “enlightened” him to follow a course of hate that led to the destruction of real, precious human lives in an act of mass murder.

Such terrorists are not simply mentally ill, unstable individuals who just randomly snap. Under their evil mindset is a cold, calculating intelligence, with well-researched ideologies . Some have university training. Each resolve to commit their acts for what they deemed to be for “a greater good”, which accounts for the calm, cold, and callous ways they speak about certain people as insects that needed to be exterminated. Each one has an underlying ideology that suffers from what some professionals call dichotomous thinking, also known as “black or white thinking.”

This dichotomous thinking, coupled with ideologies that feed it (written by others suffering from the same dichotomous thinking), can create a dangerous echo chamber where thoughts and ideas solidify and then become magnified. The “enemy” they seek to defeat, can be something as abstract as a nation, a group of nations, a certain ethnic group or groups, or pretty much any person or group of people that might not fit there self-defined ideal. They see their “resistance” or “struggle” in terms of a broader, bigger picture of their ideal future – and those who oppose that future are deemed enemies of their utopian ideals.

The Christchurch shooter saw himself as a “freedom fighter” who was trying to rid New Zealand of “foreign invaders” (Islamic immigrants). In his demented, purist way of thinking, diversity could never be complimentary and was to be eliminated at all costs. Using cold, hard statistics and historical examples, he reasoning that only “pure” cultures, tied to their own lands, are worthy of existence. Dichotomous thinking doesn’t allow for any coloring outside of the lines. Either/or, but never both. This binary thinking forms the basis for every act of terror on the planet – for radical ideologies never allow for concessions, compromise, or possibilities of cooperation with mutually beneficial outcomes.

Terrorists see all of humanity engaged in a battle for terra firma and conquest. The powerful win, the weak lose. Majorities win, minorities lose. Therefore, thoughts of becoming a minority in the future, suffering at the hands of those who they believes are from an inferior culture, is utterly frightening and unacceptable. To the terrorist, globalization is enemy number one; and this justifies the use of force to stop the marching tide of ethnic diversity upon their shores (whatever their idealistic shores happen to be).

The problem, of course, is that one can view the same data (both historical and current trends) and come to vastly different conclusions. Diversity, in my opinion (which I also share with millions of others), is precious; and part of what makes countries like Australia, New Zealand, and America (among many others) very amazing, beautiful, and prosperous. What this shooter viewed as a cancer, I see as a gift from God – the One who made all people in His image and likeness. In the book of Revelation, John has a vision of people from every tribe, nation and language praising God in one voice and with one heart – together. As a Bible Translator who has worked and lived in very diverse communities around the world, I can spot this real enemy:  Supremacist, dichotomous thinking that speaks of diversity is an enemy to be conquered rather than a blessing to be welcomed.

I see the word “resist” a lot lately. We see this word used in religion, politics, on bumper stickers, and in headlines. Behind this word is someone’s ideology, and all ideologies are not created equal.  Individuals seeking to build or strengthen their own ideological foundations can now do so in some of the worst online ideological cesspools imaginable – from the comfort of their own basements.

What is the antidote? To celebrate the very people the shooter in New Zealand attacked! We need the very people who were so grievously treated. We desperately need diversity to pull us out of echo chambers so we can view all humanity as equally valuable, worthy of respect, and with the same needs as we all have: Community, family, peace, love, acceptance, freedom, prosperity, opportunity, resources, justice and safety. Is there competition for all these things? Of course. But it is not a competition in which the “winners take all” at the expense of all others. Rather we need to become more like a team in an obstacle course in which we can all help each other over the toughest challenges to reach new heights together.

The real resistance falls on the peacemakers. Who will bring diverse thoughts and people and platforms and ideologies to the table and have real conversations that can break down barriers and walls of fear, hatred, and injustice? This shooter thought it was too late for diplomatic solutions and believed the only way to solve the world’s problems was by brute force, taking matters into his own hands. He couldn’t be more wrong.

As a Christian, I believe the exact opposite. God sent His Son into a world bent on hate and segregation to unite the human race into One Family – not by brute force, but through the vulnerable form of His only Son – full of grace, love and truth. His mantra?: Love your neighbor. When asked the question “who is my neighbor”, Jesus made it clear that “your neighbor” included your enemies!  He did this by telling His most famous parable, The Good Samaritan. That famous story of a despised foreigner from Samaria taking pity on and helping a “native” Israelite breaks all supremacist ideologies into pieces and throws them into a bin labeled “refuse” (and, yes, you can use either word meaning).

When an ideology become more valuable than people, the ideology is worthless, and finds itself on the wrong side of history. May we mourn with those who mourn over what has happened. Many prayers are already going out and I hope practical help will be the way as result of those who express their care and support. May we also find the courage to bridge the chasms of division that keeps many from having real conversations that can bring people together. Unity in diversity can, does, and will happen. It must for the sake of all our communities, our families, and our children. There is no “Us and Them”, but only “We” – Human beings in the image of our Creator. Let us find the courage to live this truth, speak this truth, become this truth.

Rocky Dede, 2019