A dreadful event in Christchurch

NANA WILSON is in Christchurch x

Criticising the use of the word ‘madman’ is not nitpicking. There are occasional acts of violence which are the result of severe mental illness ( often the physical harm is to the poor person themselves) but terrorist acts like this are that - terrorist acts. This particular one was well planned and very successful - although could have been more successful if the car bombs had exploded. Characterising it as madness is nonsense. How words are used actually matters if the aim is adult logical discourse. And how childish and nasty is it to characterise janea’s post as virtue signalling/ PC.

So very sad. My thoughts are with the families of those innocent people that have been killed and injured. What is this world coming to!

How words are used actually matters if the aim is adult logical discourse.

Well that has sounded the death knell for opinion forums all over the world, hasn't it?

Perhaps you'll write a tome and tell us just how we can word the sentences we use Maryeliza.

Most of us are old enough to appreciate the word 'mad' is not offensive unless someone picks up on it and scolds another for using it.

That was inappropriate admonition too, remember. PC guilt tripping is rife. (We all have to feel awful about ourselves, always, and uber-aware that someone, somewhere will be offended!)

Back to the topic - there can be no excuse for murder. It's a form of madness by the perpetrator to believe such despicable acts can ever be justified.

Thank you maryeliza.

It's beyond my understanding that anyone can think it's a good thing to kill someone for being different to themselves. Humans can be so inhumane. I'm so sad for everyone that has been affected by this awful incident.

Elegran : I will blame the Devil. Everyone has free choice to believe in whatever they wish. The Passion is coming up at Easter when Christ died on the Cross for ALL of us.
If you have other beliefs than you are entitled to them, as is everyone, as God gave us all free will.
However, it makes me sad when so many cannot see that the loveliest trick of the Devil is to persuade you that he does not exist!"
The devil, you see, is that friend who never stays with us to the end. It is he who is the author of confusion and lies.

This is so sad and deeply shocking, to murder people as they engage in act of worship......words fail me

Some people are being very shy about using the word ‘terrorist’. It reminds me of the Homer Simpson cartoon where the authorities determine whether you are a terroist or not by holding up a skin colour chart to your face

Obviously the supplier of the weapons etc resides in NZ because you can't enter another country with such, which means there are more of these terrorists in-situ in NZ. How did they get them ?

What sort of a person watches atrocities as they happen, or atrocities anyway ? Again, this sort of material should be banned on the internet. Games showing violence should also be incinerated .

What are you talking about Maryeliza ? A terrorist is a terrorist regardless of colour.

Oh I rather think it does - otherwise why so shy about using the word in this context

Such tragic news, so sad that terror has reached New Zealand, the wonderful friendly, non judgemental beautiful country.This deranged person must be punished and sent somewhere he cant spread his evils any more. My heart and prayers go to Christchurch and everyone in New Zealand.

It's a shame this thread is becoming so heated. Let's try to remember that yet another atrocity has been perpetrated on innocent people by individuals with a very warped sense of what they think is right, and woe betide anyone who doesn't fit their sickening ideology. Whatever their creed, colour, faith or none, anyone who does these wicked acts is evil - I would hope we can all agree on that!

I hope you all were as equally shocked and horrified when the 'white Europeans' went to New Zealand and took it off the Maoris in the first place.

Until recently, I thought we were winning the war on racism. My DH said the same today after we talked about the atrocities in N.Z.

I was brought up in an environment where it was rife. When I was very small I heard elderly relatives using words I can’t repeat on here.

My father, however (long dead) wasn’t racist. Which was unusual in working class S.E. London back then. I grew up with black kids as friends. One of whom lives in the U.S. and has visited over the years. And my sons have brought lots of kids back to our home, black, white, Asian. We’ve all sat around the dinner table. All have been welcome in our home and theirs.

I really thought (until recently) that, if we stopped the blame (unless blame was very much needed. i.e. racism happening now) and we looked to the future. Stopped even noticing colour. That we would almost be there.

After the comments on the thread regarding Stacey Dooley and David Lammy the other day, however, I held my head in despair. It seems it will never end. So many angry people. People who want payback, not equality.

The atrocities in N.Z. today are shocking as it seems it was white people with the belief they are ‘fighting back’. We all know ISIS is an evil organisation that wants nothing but death to all who do not believe. But to wipe out innocents? Retribution?

I wondered a while ago (around the time of the Brexit vote) whether there would be some sort of backlash regarding race in this country. It seems it’s not just here.

Why can’t we all live together. The hatred is soul destroying.

People, regardless of race, religion or anything else can be so wicked. Why. I really do not know. It breaks my heart.

quizqueen I doubt anyone posting here were around when white Europeans took the land from the Maories .

quizqueen What matters NOW is the shock and horror of what the white supremacists are capable of NOW.

I was about to add that, Anniebach. Time travel would be useful, to go back and stop past exploitation. Sadly, it has not yet been perfected.

MaryEliza The word "terrorist" may not have been specifically posted, but the concept is there. Terrorists come in all colours, creeds and nationalities, their only common qualification is the use of terror to try to achieve their aims or express their hates. No-one is ignorant of that, or shy of saying it, they just moved past the fact to speak of their horror at the specific deed.

Funny how madman was preferred but the minute it’s anything to do with Islam out comes the t word - which has a very specific legal meaning btw cf madman.

Got it in a nutshell Elegran.

The sniping and backbiting from some posters on this thread is very upsetting. What's happened today in New Zealand is bad enough with adding more ill feeling and anger to the situation.

And the language used to conceptualise the horror is very relevant to how people perceive the horror ( see thread on Boris re attitude to a problem and language and also the SB thread)

You've made your point maryeliza. We've heard you loud and clear now.

Funny * Chew* how you never signed those comments at EV I do do wonder why ?