Just more thoughts on the Sydney tragedy in Stuff

Man, when something like this occurs, it really throws me, for at least a couple of days afterward. Ergh. I’m so empathetic and sympathetic it’s crazy.

I didn’t realize there were demand videos sent via social media via the hostages from the gunman, until I saw the news reports. Apparently he wanted to speak to our Prime Minister on the phone.
Not that anyone heard a peep out of our PM…

I’d somehow managed to go to sleep after staying up watching the live events unfold. I do remember having some really weird dreams, one involving my mother saying I still looked skinny.
So yeah, just weird dreams, not really to do with the shooting but they were still negative in a way.

I read an article that really annoyed me. It was basically saying how the manager of the Lindt cafe was a gay man whom had been with his partner for 14 years, and the article basically finished up by saying this man had his rights denied due to our Prime Minister not allowing a gay marriage vote.

Now, sure, it’s an issue, but it took the fucking high-horse-editor of this article less than 24 hours to bring up an entirely different issue, rather than focus on the fact this poor man had just been killed.
Yeah, okay, I didn’t realize Tori was gay. It didn’t even occur to me that his family had used the words “Life-Partner” in their statement to the press. 14 years is such an awesome achievement and now his partner will go on alone :(

What pissed me off more about the article was that they referred to the other person killed as ‘The other victim.’ Not even a name mentioned at all. Like the gay guy was all that mattered because, well, it’s a gay publication. I was absolutely disgusted. I want gay marriage passed as much as the next non-bigoted person. But to use your media platform and the death of an innocent man to promote a reason for being denied marriage equality?? Ergh.
Of course there were a few comments below the article from sensible people, saying things like ‘Why did you have to mention he is gay?’.

If anything, I now know he happened to be gay. What’s more important is that I am convinced he saved so many other’s lives in that cafe. Reports are that he wrestled the gunman whilst seven others made a break for it. He was shot in the stomach whilst doing so.

Australia has very strict gun laws, so we don’t expect things like this to ever happen.

I initially thought that the second victim, Katrina, had been shot dead in the cafe also, but apparently she had a heart attack on the way to hospital. Whether it was from a result of a gunshot or not, I’m not sure. Details are still emerging. It has only been over 24 hours, and I’ve seen enough TV coverage and articles to make me sick, but I just need to write down how annoyed I am at that article.

Having said that, I have read a lot of wonderful stuff also. Seeing the tributes and flowers brought to Martin Place by complete strangers has been really heartwarming. Seeing the hashtag “IllRideWithYou” take off has been a comfort, and was reportedly started by a Queensland woman who witnessed a woman (travelling alone) taking off her hijab on the train that morning on the way to work. She walked up to the woman and told her to put it back on, and offered to ride with her. The woman was so touched that she hugged her.

So it’s good to know that some positive light does come from very dark places.

Last updated December 16, 2014