A reflection on the sad events at the Lindt Cafe...

Below is an excerpt from a thoughtful and well-reasoned article in New Matilda yesterday.  
Please go here to read the article in its entirety.

OPINION

16 Dec 2014

The Narrative Must Shift: Randa Abdel-Fattah On The Need For A New Conversation

By Randa Abdel-Fattah

Keywords: 

isis

lindt cafe

siege

muslims

islam

tony abbott

media

The exploitation by media and some in our community of the events of the Lindt Cafe siege compel a different response, writes Randa Abdel-Fattah. 

It’s an ISIS flag. No it’s not. It’s a flag with Islamic writing. Wait Islamic isn’t a language. Sydney is under siege. Well, actually a man has taken hostages in a chocolate cafe in Sydney. The police are working on the situation. No Ray Hadley is… no the police are… no Ray Hadley… Devices have been planted around the city. We’re not sure how we know this because no contact has been made with the gunman but let’s whip people into a frenzied panic anyway. People have evacuated nearby buildings… except for those who were taking selfies one hundred metres from the café and posting them on social media.

Unlike people, heartache doesn't discriminate ...

"Insha Allah [God willing], it may pass like a bad dream." Pic by @bridgeyb in Martin Place. More on PM #SydneySiege pic.twitter.com/72prkAmQsH
— ABC Current Affairs (@amworldtodaypm) December 16, 2014

Words are insufficient to express our sadness - but, Sydney, we are with you

BALLARAT INTERFAITH NETWORK

 MOURNS WITH

SYDNEY 

TO-DAY

We are one but we are many and #illridewithyou

We are one - But we are many 

And from all the lands on earth we come 

We'll share a dream - And sing with one voice 

I am, you are, we are Australian

#illridewithyou is trending as a show of support for Muslim Australians after #sydneysiege http://t.co/zcDEvgFHkI pic.twitter.com/57RlfV1Ir7
— ABC News (@abcnews) December 15, 2014

Read this below and then go to the original article:

With hostages still in danger and central Sydney in lockdown, residents have turned to social media to spread a message of tolerance.

Locals have became concerned about the potential for rising intolerance or aggression towards people wearing religious dress.

One woman started what soon blossomed into a social media campaign to stand in solidarity with the city’s Muslims.

Tessa Kum, a TV content editor and writer living in Sydney, told Guardian Australia she acted after seeing a tweet from Michael James.  She then posted offering her company to anyone in religious attire on her route.

— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa)December 15, 2014

Maybe start a hashtag? What’s in #illridewithyou?

Fellow Twitter users swiftly joined in, offering their support.

— Lisa Donaldson APD (@Lise_Simpson)December 15, 2014

#illridewithyou radiates the beauty of Australian mateship. We are many, but together we are one. #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/cmJonDi7Lc

Others picked a broader context to reinforce the statement.  And, much like the #putoutyourbats tribute to Phillip Hughes, the idea has caught on.

Comprehending the message: The difference between the Shahada and the ISIS flag

 The Shahada on black background on the left.

The Islamic State (ISIS) flag on the right.

The flag held in #Sydney cafe window is a Shahadah flag (left) not an ISIS flag (right) #MartinPlace #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/lwbbGBRUW1

— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) December 15, 2014

What Is the Shahada?

The Shahada (also spelled “Shahadah”) is the Islamic Creed,

one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The word “Shahada” comes from the verb shahida,

meaning “he testifies” or “he bears witness.”

In reciting the Shahada, a Muslim bears witness

 that Allah is the only true god,

and that Muhammad is Allah’s prophet.

The shortest form of the Shahada would be translated:

“There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

Longer versions are common, especially those beginning with

 “I bear witness” or “I testify,” e.g.:

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

The question then is:

Are sympathisers with Islamic State appropriating the Testimony

for purposes which endanger human lives?
Postscript 2014-12-16
The Sydney Siege ended at 2 a.m,
The answer to the question above is:
A resounding yes.

A thoughtful post script from The Conversation 
T

Youth for Human Rights Australia previews an anti-bullying initiative on United Nations Human Rights Day

The 160th Anniversary of Eureka will be celebrated at historic St Paul's on Bakery Hill - details below.

 

Father Constantine Osuchukwu is pleased to welcome you

to a very different celebration of Eureka

- at St Paul's we are celebrating humanity:

the international people of Ballarat 160 years ago

and the multicultural city that Ballarat is to-day.

There will be music, poetry, spirituality - and supper.

PS: Father Constantine is a member of Ballarat Interfaith Network 

and is the Interfaith Officer for the 

Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council

This week - on Wednesday December 3 - 

the 160th Anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion

will be commemorated and celebrated in Ballarat.  

Please go here to see all that is happening at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka.

and there is

Commemorating Radical Eureka Events

And this year there is a new - and somewhat different - event 

on the Eureka Calendar - at St Paul's Bakery Hill in Ballarat.
St Paul's is the site of the establishment of the Ballarat Reform League.

Ballarat Community Garden is hosting a Multicultural Lunch: Sunday 16 November

Ballarat Community Garden
has a special occasion planned -
a Multicultural Lunch.
The garden is located on the corner of Dyte Pde and Queen St., Ballarat, 3350
Enter from Dyte Pde.
What a good way to make new friends!

Peace, harmony, inclusion! Happening in Ballarat on 8/9 November at the One Voice Fair

Read about The Tree of Life Project

An invitation to participate in "One Voice"

Ministers of Religion and leaders in faith organisations: The Working With Children Check briefing on changes to the Working With Children Act 2005.

The letter and the attached poster have come to the B.I.N. email box this week and the B.I.N. social media editor is publishing the documents here to provide easy and public access for Ministers of Religion and leaders within faith organisations to whom the Working With Children Check applies. The information poster can be read from this blogpost or downloaded and printed direct from the blogpost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Martin.West@justice.vic.gov.au	22 Oct (3 days ago)
to me

Good afternoon,

I am writing to invite you, or other representatives of your organisation, to an education session about recent changes to the Working with Children Act 2005. These changes broaden the legal obligation for ministers of religion to have a Working with Children (WWC) Check.

From 26 October 2014, all ordained or appointed religious leaders in Victoria (lay or ordained, paid or volunteer) are required to have the WWC Check, unless their contact with children is only occasional and incidental. 

The details of the education sessions are:

Date:	Wednesday 5 November
Times:	11:00am – 12:00pm and 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location:	Herring Room Heritage on Lydiard 115 Lydiard Street North Ballarat 3350 Light refreshments will be provided.

We would be grateful if you could promote these education sessions with members of your network.

Please be aware there are penalties for non-compliance with the Working with Children Act 2005. For individuals, there are fines of up to $35,426.00 and / or up to 2 year imprisonment. For organisations there are fines of up to $177,132.00.

To register interest for these education sessions, please emailmartin.west@justice.vic.gov.au or call 03 8803 8574.

Kind regards,

Martin West
Public Interface Officer
Working with Children Check Unit
Community Operations and Strategy
Department of Justice
GPO Box 1915 MELBOURNE  VIC  3001
 
( 03 8803 8574  Ê (03) 8803 8504  
 
W: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au