All hell broke loose in paradise. A picturesque country, New Zealand was literally a paradise until Friday's carnage in two mosques -Majsjid al Noor and Lindwood Masjid. New Zealanders were stunned to know that such an attack could be carried on people in their prayer -no matter if the devotees are of a different faith. In a world riven by neo-jingoism, the radicals of different hues in most countries have been gaining grounds. New Zealand has resisted strong pressure from its neighbour across the Tasman Sea to get into any pact against militancy. The idyllic country wanted to steer clear off any military and security alliance with other countries. Its objective was to pursue social and international peace by all means.
Now that the gunman from Australia boasting his Scottish roots has killed as many as 50 people including four Bangladeshis and wounded dozens more in the two Christchurch mosques, the country will no longer remain the same. Its social paradigm shift will be beyond measure. Christchurch or for that matter entire New Zealand is now reeling from the carnage and this will continue to haunt the New Zealanders like the original sin when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit at the insistence of Satan.
The insane killer reportedly wanted to give the world the most nauseous message that no place on earth can remain an island of peace. Men of his vicious ilk will turn any safe haven for immigrants from third or second world a dangerous place. New Zealand was a safe haven for all because the country did not discriminate against colours, race, religion and gender. The Nazis turned the world in to a hell during the World War II. Now the neo-Nazis are all out to upset the world order on what they consider a perceived threat from migrants from Asia and Africa.
How deranged the mentality of some people in the West can go is shown by the madman from Australia who calls immigrants invaders. His choice of mosques and Friday's prayer is deliberate. He has been successful in striking terror in the hearts of the New Zealanders and also painting that the country on the other side of the Tasman Sea is as unsafe as any other country in the West. Attacks in a Paris concert hall, driving trucks through large crowds and similar other attacks in Germany on festival days have exposed the sickening psychology of one kind and this latest attack seems to be a retaliatory response.
Although in both attacks the targets are innocent people, the messages perpetrators want to issue are different. If zealotry drives some to do the most heinous act, racism or jingoism drives the other to such mass murder. How can people harbour so much hatred against people whose government may have done wrong to societies elsewhere or those who have chosen a life away from the countries of their origin!
If societies are not on course of a disproportionate clash, some of the derailed elements at least try to make the worse to happen. Thank God, there are still sane people whose number is definitely greater than the pathological. Yet these social minorities are the Achilles' heel for civilisation. What is a cause for concern is that the outrageously disparate living standards are not finding a meeting point. All because wealth distribution is discriminatory in the first place and poverty and plenty are getting further widened. If life is not worth living for a people for generations, rising discontent is bound to wreak havoc. Economists and sociologists should come up with measures equal to the challenge. Humanity cannot thrive on hatred as demonstrated by radical attackers.
Once again thank God, the Bangladesh cricket team is coming home unhurt. For them it was a matter of life or death by just a whisker. Had there been no delay of just three to five minutes, the unthinkable could happen to the entire team; for members of the team were supposed to pray at the Masjid al Noor right at the moment the attackers opened fire on the devotees in the mosque. All praises be to the Almighty for the mercy.
