Yesterday there was a siege in the centre of Sydney. Media reports included headlines about the hostage taker displaying an Islamic flag, and emergency services being on a 'terrorist attack footing' before even noting other details about the event.
I was concerned for those involved in the siege, but also for the thousands of innocent Muslim men, and especially women, who would likely be the victims of yet more Islamophobia. It turns out, I wasn't alone.
A lady called Rachael Jacobs posted a story on Facebook about how the lady next to her on the train had removed her hijab as news broke - presumably afraid of becoming a target. Another lady, @sirtessa, upset by the story posted on Twitter that she'd be happy to accompany anyone who felt unsafe travelling alone and shared her bus times, moments letter adding the hashtag #illridewithyou.
Within hours over 100000 people joined in, standing in solidarity with those who might feel threatened. The hashtag was trending Worldwide (and still is, almost 24 hours later). The siege ended overnight (sadly two hostages were killed in the siege, in addition to the hostage taker). RIP Tori Johnson & Katrina Dawson.
I don't often take public transport, but I put a badge on my bag today before I got the train, just in case anyone needed me.
Something good has come out of this horrible situation. Evil thrives when good people do nothing. Right now, good people are doing something - and there are a lot of them. For a while, at least, my faith in humanity is restored.
Some reports about the siege/hashtag (warning - if you're anything like me, you might need tissues!):
This is good news to me. I like how the common people responded to this atrocious act. My country, a very small island in the middle of the Mediterranean with almost no defences and almost surrounded by Arab countries is so vulnerable to attacks like this.
It's been so awful and so sad for everyone involved but this is a great reaction by so many Australians to the crisis. It really is like that Martin Luther King quote being displayed a lot in the last couple of days that one "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." I kind of feel like this is the love.
How sad about the 2 hostages. That's heartbreaking. What a great movement that got started though. It definitely shows there is some humanity left in the world.
Have hear and seen this sad story on the news. So sorry for the innocent victims. I always say, and think, a believe/fait have n`t a claim on killing. In our small country, where no arms are allowed , every day there is one
This brought tears to my eyes - not only for the tragedy but for the way Aussies stand up against adversity and how who they are - not being defeated by fear and loathing but standing together in mateship
You are spot on when you say, "Evil thrives when good people do nothing." My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost a loved one in this situation- all of them. And hooray for you in joining the cause to do good.
December 19th, 2014
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