Sydney Siege: Protestor or Terrorist or Mentally Ill?
The first place I go when there are issues of conflict and abuse is to do The Work www.thework.com by Byron Katie (worksheet) to question my fearful thoughts and find my inner truth rather than looking outside myself. For the thought of terrorism actually is residing in my mind as imagined. It is a thought that others have thought up but I am told it is something to be personally scared of. So for me terrorism exists in my mind as it is not in my actual reality or experience. People become fearful and anxious as they imagine if they were there, they get emotional and feel the trauma. Therefore, I have to question my fearful thoughts for my own truth – is it reality for me now? This is the true freedom that will set people free. It has nothing to do with external security arrangements. As our thoughts change our world changes? Is that true? You decide.
The Work is 4 questions and turnarounds. The fearful belief: Terrorism has come to Australia? 1) Is it True (yes/no)? 2) Can you be absolutely sure it is true that terrorism has come to Australia? (yes/no) 3) How do you feel how do you react when you believe this thought? eg. frightened, unsafe, muslims are enemies, I could die, lost innocence, scared to go out and so on. Who would you be without the thought ‘terror has come to Australia’? safe, life goes on, peaceful.
Now let’s look at turning around the thought (investigating projection).
Terrorism has come to Australia. So turning it around to the opposite – terrorism has not come to Australia. (find 3 reasons that are equally true). There are no attacks outside, there are no bomb blasts, I feel safe walking down the road. Another turnaround: I am in terror in Australia. I keep thinking about terrorism, I feel scared and look at people differently, I imagine terrorism all the time, I don’t feel safe in Australia. The interesting aspect of The Work is that it explores reality (now). What is happening now in my own reality, not the one made on television or by other people’s thoughts. If I hadn’t turned on the television would I fear terrorism? In my case, no. Terrorism comes to Australia when we live in in our fearful minds. That is where it starts, tensions begin and suspicion breeds fear and we start to see it, we may persecute people believing they are dangerous, paranoia sets in and so on. We live in fear of something that may or may not happen in our lives, we live in terror, we fear the world. We give our power away in exchange for security. Yet the real security is in not fearing, it is in finding possibilities to build understanding, trust and dialogue. There are so many options.
Yet if we question our thinking in this moment terror has not come into my home (perhaps through TV as a projected image it has), In reality I am safe right now, it is in my mind I don’t feel safe, yet the reality is safe around me. Then I can keep my mind calm and observe events that are happening. Rather than getting on a hate bandwagon I can think, what can I do to create unity? What can I do to talk to Muslims? What can I do to understand the issue from both sides (democracy)? How do we resolve conflict together? Are there ways that the violence could have been de-escalated? How could we help the person involved to be steered away from violence? Disputes have to be resolved quickly and if possible to guide a violent person to learn about peaceful behaviour, conflict resolution and how to question negative thoughts (as posed above). If people are trained to question negative thoughts and turn them around, I am sure our world would be kinder and safer. Instead what typically happens is that the media gets on the bandwagon, myths and speculation are rife and fear and anxiety rises in the community which sets a context for more fear and possible violence. It is very important in violent situations that a community discussion from all perspectives is started so people can feel empowered and gain a grasp of the facts from a range of viewpoints so they can understand the problem first. As Steven Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) asserts 1) seek first to understand. If we go into judge and jury we are adding wood to the fire and likely to escalate the dispute. It was clear from the media, the government and various other commentators that fear was escalated. If there are agendas of discrimination, hatred, security controls and intolerance then it is important that balance is restored to public discourse to ensure the peace.
Questions open the mind to possibilities without condemning or judging. Perhaps the best way to address such a problem is to be open to asking questions.There are often many sides. I learned that as a research analyst. I will place a couple of links of perceptions of both sides then a video by Russell Brand who demonstrates critical thinking and freedom of speech. It is very important to question what really happened, what are the agendas and does it actually promote peace or heighten division? How do we heal divisions? How do we resolve conflict effectively? Those are my questions. As a researcher I always look at the source of links and if media if they are right wing or left wing or neutral. I look to see if the links unbiased. I can never be completely sure but I can gain a feel for balance. It is important to question and freedom of speech is critical to gain a perspective from many views, so lessons can be learned. This is how democracy works. Trial by media is not justice.
Russell Brand made the point that it is important that people come together, to ask what can we do to have a peaceful outcome? Those are wise questions and build unity.
Do the research yourself with an intent for truth and decide what is true for you. Then decide are you going to live in fear or peace. The latter will inspire dialogue, campaigns to ride with others, events to bring Muslims and others together, more freedom of speech (not less) and to live the democracy we believe in. When looking over articles – look at language – how does it label? does it divide or unify? how do you know it is true (sources)?, what information does it provide? how do you feel when reading (stressed or calm)? can you verify the facts? Is the article providing both sides? Is it using language that demeans or frightens? and so on. This is critical thinking which is aware that the truth sets all free.
Some versions reported were that:
Man Haron Monis was a terrorist with ISIL? A lone Wolf? An Islamic extremist? A protestor in conflict with the Seven Network Sunrise Program? A violent man with a criminal record? A mentally ill person who is unstable? A murderer? A criminal – sexual assaults? and so on.
Here are some links to investigate from a range of perspectives. Again really look at the language is it neutral or inflammatory?:
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Haron_Monis
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/sydney-siege-gunman-two-hostages-dead/5969162
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/hamad-sydney-siege-confronting-our-anti-islam-backlash/5969636
Other important questions – what are the outcomes from this event? Unity or division? Fear or love?