The Christchurch Atrocity

How do we stop atrocities such as occurred in Christchurch today from happening. We can start by changing the way we think about race, religion and migrants.

We need to base our thinking upon evidence and our opinions upon defending human rights.

All the scientific evidence points to there being only one human race; from a genetic point of view we are all almost identical. The colour of your skin cannot define you as part of one race or another any more than the colour of your eyes. Possibly the Neanderthals were members of the same species, Homo sapiens, as us, but they were a separate "race". They died out 30,00 years ago to leave just one human race : us. It really is ignorant to believe that your neighbour could be a member of a separate race from you. There can be no white supremacy or black supremacy. Every child at school should be educated to believe that there is only one human race based upon the scientific evidence.

The constitution of the republic of France has been amended to delete all reference to race, to recognise the scientific evidence, but of course the constitution recognises that every citizen deserves the equality of treatment by law.

Human beings originated somewhere in Africa and subsequently spread across the world. This means that every American is an African American by descent and skin colour has nothing to do with this African heritage. Early human beings spread across the world therefore we are all the descendants of migrants, we are all the sons and daughters of immigrants.

To distinguish between individuals based upon the false view of race or immigration status is both irrational and immoral and further more it is dangerous. Let every child be taught this at school and by their parents.

Religion has been with us since humans existed. However, you are not born a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu or Buddhist. Children were being born before any of these religions existed. You are educated and encouraged by the society that you live in to follow a religion. It is, however, a matter of personal choice. You can be forced to show the outward signs of a religious faith but you cannot be forced to believe. There is no doubt that some people can lose their faith and belief. And there has probably been an atheist Pope who was feeling too physically comfortable to resign.

It is your human right to believe in whatever religion you want and to practise that religion. It is your human right not to be persecuted or murdered for your faith. Equally, it is your human right to be a non-believer and it is your right not to be persecuted. It should be your human right not to be punished or persecuted for changing your religion or to become an open apostate. It should be your right to be treated equally to every one else if you are a homosexual.

I am not a believer in any religion but I respect others rights to believe. Sometimes, I go into churches for family occasions and weddings etc. : just for cultural reasons. I am certain that some Muslims and Jews feel the same way as me. In fact I know that they do, I have worked with " Muslims", "Jews" and "Christians" who are atheists but hide it from their families; who am I to expose them.

Most of the worshippers in the mosques in Christchurch were praying for peace and a good life. They were harmless and good people and citizens. Some of the attendees could have been atheists and agnostics but were in the mosque for friendship and solidarity reasons. No one has the right to harm them in a hate filled attack whatever their reasons for being in a place of worship.

Every human being has the right to live in peace, whatever their background, migration status, religion, sexuality or skin colour.

If all of us do not recognise this, there will always be some crazed individual who will ignore the science and the value of human rights, and who will commit atrocities.

Lets  change the world and lead our  lives according to the scientific evidence and the recognition of human rights.