Solidarity

Through your columns please allow me to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the relatives and friends of all those who tragically died in the Bali bombing. It must, though, be consoling to all that, despite the horror of this dreadful atrocity, few are baying for blood in revenge.

Mingled with the shock of what has happened is a sense of solidarity that this is not just a crime against Australians and other Western expatriates, but a crime against all of us: Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians alike.

While the perpetrators of this horror may have considered the nightspots of Bali frequented by foreigners an easy soft-target, this time their strategy to polarize the world will be thwarted. Thousands of Australians have a real affection for Bali and its people, which may go to explain why little anger or animosity has been expressed. There is only deep shock, grief and sadness and it is shared by us all. It is this empathetic commonality of humanity that represents the greatest threat to terrorism rather than the warmongering of our politicians.

If this tragedy reminds us that the loss of innocent lives, whether in Bali, Afghanistan, New York, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, etc., is a crime against all humanity collectively, the real fight against terrorism will have begun in earnest and the tide of violence will start to turn.

FRANK RICHARDSON

Tangerang, Banten