Australia's Heartfelt Response To Hostage Situation
I’ll Ride With You
As you’re probably already aware, there is a current hostage
situation in Australia where a gunman is holding hostages within a Lindt coffee
shop.
 |
| dailymail.co.uk |
During the siege, a black Islamic flag was stuck to the
window. The flag is one often associated with terror groups and ISIS, though it
is not the flag that ISIS currently uses.
During times where we face issues such as these, some people
will unfortunately blindly blame entire races and religions for the misdeeds of
a few.
Fearing this backlash however, Australians have banded
together to keep their community safe with the I’ll Ride With You hashtag.
With the hashtag, people are calling out to Muslims and all
those who would fear for their safety when they travel following on from this
hostage situation. This is due to certain people feeling it necessary to attack
anyone with any racial or religious relation to the gunman in a revenge act.
Not the smartest move, no. But I don’t think people who feel that this is an
answer really have a shred of wide thinking.
This is the right responses when faced with these issues. It’s
very important to remember that extremists only ever speak for themselves in
the most violent and selfish ways. No one should ever be held accountable for
what these people claim to represent.
Take a look at some of the #illridewithyou tweets here:
I refuse to blame a whole community for the actions of one extremist. Here in Melbourne #illridewithyou #sydneysiege
— Lauren Halstead (@LaurenStardust) December 15, 2014
#youcanridwithme I can drive any Muslim sister anywhere in Sydney tomorrow (also have carseat) #illridewithyou
— Dame Maureen Chuck (@Dame_hohohchuck) December 15, 2014
Practical thing: I've made a temporary sticker for my bag so people who need me can spot me #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/aVldEn9wVU
— Kristen Boschma (@Kristen_Boschma) December 15, 2014
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was ‘profoundly shocking
that people were being held hostage by an armed person claiming political
motivation.’
He went on to say that: ‘Australia is a peaceful, open and
generous society - nothing should ever change that and that's why I would urge
all Australians today to go about their business as usual.’
At the time of writing this article, some hostages have
escaped but many are still being held.
Police negotiators say that they have made contact with the
gunman but no news has come concerning his agenda.
The Australian Muslim community released a statement condemning the gunman.
'His eminence the Grand Mufti, the Australian National Imams Council and the Muslim community express their full support and solidarity with the victims and their families and aspire to a peaceful resolve to this calamity.'
The statement went on to say that: 'The Arabic inscription on the black flag is not representative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguide individuals that represent no one but themselves.'
Australia stands united. Just as any nation should in the face of such adversities. Their statements of peace should be followed by all.
The Australian Muslim community released a statement condemning the gunman.
'His eminence the Grand Mufti, the Australian National Imams Council and the Muslim community express their full support and solidarity with the victims and their families and aspire to a peaceful resolve to this calamity.'
The statement went on to say that: 'The Arabic inscription on the black flag is not representative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguide individuals that represent no one but themselves.'
Australia stands united. Just as any nation should in the face of such adversities. Their statements of peace should be followed by all.
For now, let’s just hope for the safety of the hostages.
#illridewithyou
Tom has just graduated from University of East London in Creative and Professional Writing. He loves writing and is currently interning as a content writer hoping to go further. His other loves include Arnold Schwarzenegger films and his dog. Follow him @TomAtSMF
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/.
Australia's Heartfelt Response To Hostage Situation
![]()
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, December 15, 2014
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.