Australians All

Sept 11, Five Years On

Gary Bouma

A speech delivered at The Sunshine Mosque, Victoria, 10 Sept 2006

The 21st Century has been a century of overreactions. It saddens me to see the response of anger, hatred and violence to these incidences of anger, hatred and violence. We remember all those who have suffered as a result.

We gather to remember those who died five years ago, those who continue to suffer as a result of these and other attacks and all those who have died and suffer as a result of the responses made to the attacks. Rabbi Morgan reminded us that one response to violence is to retaliate in violence and that this response does not lead to healing or peace, but more violence. The 21st Century has been a century of overreactions. It saddens me to see the response of anger, hatred and violence to these incidences of anger, hatred and violence. We remember all those who have suffered as a result.

The 21st Century has also been a century of interfaith initiatives and bridge building. I salute you who have come out today to this event. I salute the Australian Intercultural Society and in particular Orhan Cicek and Emre Celik as well as the leaders of this mosque, in particular its President Ibrahim Dellal. I am pleased that the American and Indonesian Consuls are present again on this third multi-faith event marking Sept 11, 2001.

Inter-faith gatherings like today underscore the fact that in so far as religion is part of the problem, and it is, it must also be part of the solution. We each have to admit that in each of our traditions there are those who use our faith to promote violence and to undermine peaceful and production inter-faith and intercultural relations. The problems that most best the world have religious dimensions which if ignored render the problems unsolvable. We affirm and by our presence here make real the fact that at the core of our religious traditions are powerful beliefs and practices that produce reconciliation, harmony and peace.

Some may be disappointed that the crowd today is smaller than last year in Carlton or the year before that here in Sunshine. The reason is simple. It is not that Australians are less interested in coming together in multi-faith gatherings to mark important events or just enjoy each others’ company and learn about each other. The reason is that today there are many alternatives, many multi-faith gatherings among which to choose. Today there are events in the city, at the Town Hall; suburbs and other places. Three years ago this was the only show in town, leading the way, showing a new direction for Australians.

Multi-faith organisations and events are sprouting around Australia like mushrooms. These are very local initiatives and my research assistant has found it nearly impossible to enumerate them all. Part of what has happened is that the fact that our Prime Minister is clearly uncomfortable with multiculturalism and multi-faith activities his lack of support has driven the energy that is there down to the grass roots. Ordinary Australians are aware that their most senior leaders are not engaging in this activity. They must do it for themselves, and they are.

The Prime Minister appears to oppose a particular understanding of multiculturalism – that which argues for giving special privileges or benefits to particular groups which he sees as impeding their integration into society. But there is a more fundamental core to multiculturalism – respecting each other person and group and being open to work together in harmony. Unfortunately, much of the Prime Minister’s recent comments on Australian Muslims appears disrespectful and to treat them in a special, in this case, a negative way, in comparison with other groups in Australia who have had similar experiences.

We live in a multicultural and multi-faith society. What is interesting to me is how deeply that is imbedded in the Australian soul. After all, this land has been multi-faith and multicultural for over 40,000 years. Indigenous Australia was and is richly diverse. Only when viewed through the diversity denying lens of the West does it appear otherwise. Diversity is not new to Australia. Images of cultural singularity in Australia are but a passing blip, a passing aberration on an otherwise profoundly diverse and rich screen.

My recent research has also revealed that a positive orientation to working in harmony with people of diverse backgrounds is shared by many Australians both urban and suburban, and in small towns that have recently become newly diverse. The willingness to ‘give’em a go’ is part of the Australian way of respect for others, all others.

We stand together in our diversity. Together we mark the suffering due to terrorist attack and condemn those who plan and perpetrate them. We affirm our commitment to relate to each other first from respect and compassion. We affirm that we each draw on the deep wells of our distinct traditions to find strength to hope, to work together and to enjoy each other.