March 15th, 2019
The terrorism attack against the Muslim community in Christchurch is horrifying. It was horrifying and heartbreaking when I went to bed hearing reports of 9 casualties, and it was even more devastating to wake up to the news of 49 innocent lives lost. The world is a terrifying place, and it makes me worried for Abdel and his family. Melbourne may be slightly more "international" than other parts of Australia, but the kind of racist speech I have previously seen on the account of an otherwise sweet, older Australian woman directed at people like them is terrifying. They have been like second parents to me, and I do not doubt that when they say they think of me as a daughter, they mean it wholeheartedly. To know their community is being targeted like this is beyond words.