Fotograf: Barbara Einhorn/Paul Oestreicher
Ein Text von Dr. Paul Oestreicher und seiner Frau Barbara Einhorn aus Neuseeland. Beide waren als Referenten und zu Gast beim 10.Abrahamsfest in Marl 2010, Paul Oestreicher referierte damals in der Marler Fatih-Moschee. Paul Oestreicher war 2010 Laudator auf den Tschelebi-Friedenspreisträger Pfr. Donald Reeves von „Soul of Europe“, London. (Siehe auch Wikipedia).
Yesterday – 15.3.19, the Ides of March – will go into the records as Christchurch’s third dark day ‚one of New Zealand’s darkest days‘ according to the Prime Minister. The two deadly earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 were a sign of how vulnerable life can be on our small planet. Our deep sadness at the deliberate slaying – with pride – of at least 49 of our New Zealand neighbours is much more frightening. It is a reminder of the darkness in the human soul that overshadowed so much of the 20th century, through which we have lived. No place, not even what Kiwis have long called ‚God’s own country‘, beautiful Aotearoa, is immune from our capacity to destroy each other through hatred. When it happens, we are rightly shocked and left with no choice but to imprison the deluded. In this one humanity, thank God we no longer kill them. Loving our enemies is the hardest of all challenges.
‚Do not be overcome by evil, but defeat it with goodness‘ wrote Paul of Tarsus a long time ago. It is still true. We are not hardwired to hate. Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s remarkable young Prime Minister, has shown over the last 24 hours that light will overcome the darkness, love surrounds the wounded community. ‚They are us‘, said Jacinda to the nation, of the Muslim worshippers who were so cruelly targeted. Many, many tv pictures, many embraces, convey the message way beyond New Zealand. The ‚Others‘ are always us, whoever they may be. ‚We are a country of welcome, compassion and kindness‘, the PM added.
We are writing this in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, where Barbara was born. Today, ‚the day after‘, was to be Wellington Pride. It has been cancelled, as a sign of mourning and solidarity by another once ostracized community. Many sporting and other events have also been cancelled. In the inner city and way beyond, all is quiet. We are glad to be here, sharing the pain. We have just been out for a bowl of Chinese food, and the city centre is already plastered with posters and graffiti like those attached.
To you, from Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, our love in the language of the original Maori people: Arohanui
Paul and Barbara
