I was invited to the VIP tent for the opening evening of a local major community event. A celebration of multiculturalism, Parramasala’s name draws on the name of the city, Parramatta.
Yummy morsels were offered in the VIP tent with a front row view of the colourful parade.
The strong, broad Aussie, Westie even, accents coming from people in traditional costume was funny and heartening. No matter the clothes and music and skin colour, if they’re not all Aussies, their children will be.
Despite the colour and sound and celebration, tears welled up. I couldn’t help but think of Christchurch. How someone cannot see the common humanity of others – their love of children, families, partners; their desire to seek safety and freedom, to practice religious worship.
New Zealand is the last place anyone would think there’d be a terrorist attack, a mass shooting.
It is so peaceful. Kiwis are so friendly. It’s a much nicer place than Australia. With the total population of NZ being less than Sydney, it’s like it just doesn’t suffer from the effects of crowding people together. There’s a deep feeling of civic pride. And much less consumerism and avarice that exists in Sydney.
Of course the shooter had to be an Australian. Just further proves we are growing more hatred and racism and intolerance here.
The enemy isn’t Muslim immigration, it’s extreme right-wing fascists, and mad men.
By artist Rebel Challenger on Instagram
lucinda sans 