{"id":4246,"date":"2019-04-24T14:30:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T02:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/israelinstitute.nz\/?p=4246"},"modified":"2019-05-19T15:00:51","modified_gmt":"2019-05-19T03:00:51","slug":"comparing-the-outrage-beyond-christchurch-and-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/israelinstitute.nz\/2019\/04\/comparing-the-outrage-beyond-christchurch-and-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing the outrage: Beyond Christchurch and Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"
A number of high-profile commentators \u2013 from\u00a0Ben Shapiro<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Maajid Nawaz<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 have looked at the Twitter accounts of world leaders like Theresa May, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. The commentators have made some uncomfortable comparisons about the language used to condemn the terror attacks in Sri Lanka and those in Christchurch.<\/p>\n The language used to condemn the massacre of Muslims in Christchurch does seem more specific with regard to the victims and terrorist and more strident than the condemnation of the slaughter of Christians in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n While these are possibly important observations that hint at a certain bias among the political elite (to downplay Islamist attacks and to play up White supremacist attacks), the comparisons raise a more important and concerning issue.<\/p>\n New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern was remarkable in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch terror attacks. She showed compassion and grace. She has also\u00a0made a strong comment<\/a>\u00a0about the Sri Lanka attacks, saying \u201cNew Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n What stands out is the lack of Ministerial response to the Pittsburgh terror attack, where eleven Jews were murdered while praying in a synagogue. The New Zealand Prime Minister referred citizens to the Minister of Foreign Affairs when asked.<\/p>\n