Changing the Story from Fear to Love

Disaster and chaos can provide openings for change.  The anti-Muslim rhetoric in the US and the horrible shootings of men praying in a mosque in Quebec last week have disrupted the anti-Muslim rhetoric that Stephen Harper used in the last federal Canadian election.

As Canadians reacted to the US ban on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries which was supposed to protect Americans from ``Islamic terrorists`` the story was turned upside down by a French-Canadian man who committed an act of terrorism on Muslims at prayer. This disrupted the narrative that talked about people in Canada being afraid of Muslim terrorists since this terrorist was non-Muslim.  The story changed to Muslim Canadians who have already been threatened by hate crimes, now being afraid of Canadian terrorists.

Canadian politicians were quick to stand with the Muslim community and distance themselves from the rhetoric that feeds such acts of violence.  On social media, all kinds of Canadians showed support for the Muslim community including donations for the families left behind.  Tens of thousands showed up for vigils and gatherings in the days that followed..  The CBC website listed acts if kindness following the attack. For instance, Grace United Church in Dartmouth which recently sponsored a Syrian family changed their sign to read: “We preach love and respect for all.  Today we are Muslim.”  Someone else left roses and a condolence card outside of a mosque in Dorval, Quebec. which has been threatened in the past.  A Toronto high school teacher asked his class to write letters to the local Islamic  Information and Dawah Centre.  Grade 4 students at the elementary school in St. Foy near the mosque where the attack took place placed cards in the snow outside under a banner which read “All United”.  And a Muslim-Jewish couple set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the families.

On Friday, there were remembrance ceremonies and prayers in mosques all across Canada to which people of all faiths were invited.  People that had never been in a mosque before attended and were warmly welcomed. On the website of the mosque in the city where I live, was posted a thank you message.  It read:  "Thank you all again.  We are deeply touched!  Visitation on Friday Feb. 3, 2017 by so many persons/organizations whom we knew before and those not known before.  This affirms the Unity, Care & Unconditional Support of our Community of Barrie/Simcoe at large."

in Toronto, Rabbi Yael Splansky organized “rings of peace” where Jewish and Christian congregations physically surrounded six Toronto area mosques so that those inside would feel safe while they prayed on the first Friday since the attack.  She got the idea from about a thousand Muslims who surrounded an Oslo synagogue which such a “ring of peace” in 2015 following a string of anti-Semitic attacks in Europe. You can see pictures of the Toronto ring here. 

The need for sympathy to turn into action was highlighted in call-in-shows following the tragedy.  The importance of educators in educating themselves and their students about respect for all people was repeated.  

On the Tuesday following the massacre, I read in the Metro newspaper, advice from Amal Rona, a Vancouver based Musilim poet, educator and community organizer on three practical ways to ``show you won`t stand for Islamophobia – that you care.``  Entitled Be a Good Neighbour, she recommended: 

                 Ask – Across the country, it`s time to start `hard conversations`around              dinner tables and in classrooms.  Talk one-on-one about the real-life                  experience of Islamophobia and the negative stereotypes people hold                about Islam.

          Create Safety – Talk to local business owners about making your                      neighbourhood coffee shop, corner store or restaurant into a "safer zone"          where people know they can take shelter if they’re feeling harassed..                               Check in – Look in on your Muslin neighbours and see if there`s anything        they need: some company, a walk to school or work, or a hand with the            kids.  This week of terrible news has been deeply traumatic Rana said,              and trauma tends to be isolating.  Being a friend can lighten the load.

I also saw on facebook, a post called A Bystanders Guide to Standing up Against Islamophobic Harassment (And Other Types of Harassment, Too) by Maddy Mers.  You can view it here.

It basically describes what to do if you witnessed a man being verbally abusive to a woman wearing a hijab on the bus or subway.  Maddy recommends going to sit beside the woman and say hello, trying to look calm.  Then start talking about a random subject such as the weather, that you like something they`re wearing, etc.  Keep eye contact with the woman and ignore the attacker the whole time.  A lack of response will encourage him to go away.  Stay with the woman until the attacker leaves and then escort her to a safe place.

I heard over and over again that although there are some individuals who do not want to live peacefully with their neighbours, the majority of people do want to live in communities that show respect, understanding that we are stronger because of our differences.  It really seems to be a time when this majority needs to not only speak up, but to show in actions that this is true.  The steps that many of us took this week can be followed by others.  As we empower ourselves to live our truth, our communities will be stronger, more loving and open for all of us.  This could be our chance to tell a new story.