Tommy Wilson: Share the love for Paris

Tommy Wilson calls for solidarity for France.

Solidarity is a strong word and sometimes I wonder if we, the so-called free world, are solid enough when it comes to standing by those we are connected to in times of trouble.

Standing side by side has held Aotearoa in good steed through challenging times from World Wars to World Cups and once again we are being called upon to stand side by side to those we are connected to on the other side of the world.

Eight short weeks ago on a Friday night in Paris, we as group of 44 from Te Puna on a hikoi back to our forefathers whenua, were soaking up the sights and sounds of the 'city of love' and connecting back to our roots - not just genetically and physically but spiritually and emotionally.

Fast forward to Saturday and there was a completely new face painted across Paris that was as far away from lovers as we are from our French whanau right down here at the bottom of the world.

It was a face of fear and looking back at us through the graphic images of a city in lock-down.

What can we do as a country or a community in these troubled times when the world seems to be catapulting further into a void of craziness?

Where is the ripcord, the white knight in shining armour yielding a sword sharpened with answers? "Why and when is Jesus going to show up and whip their Isis arses," was a cry I heard from a confused Christian recently.

Just like September 11, this heinous act of terrorism is much more than orchestrated carnage to exact maximum loss of life. Far from it.

What we are witnessing right now on the streets of Paris will exact a psychological scar on the free world that will be worn for generations, if not forever.

So what would be the wise words of Mother Mary in these times of trouble, if she could whisper them to us now?

For me, until I get a message from Mary or Arch Angel Michael, my fallback on fear and my refusal to allow these barbaric acts to enter my mind is to look to my own backyard to find refuge from the madness and mayhem of Muslim extremists.

In times of trouble I turn to my own whanau, friends and life's good buggers to find the oasis of humanity - the one that I know to be the real map of the human heart. It is these people and their power of love and kindness that I can call upon to douse the flame of fear that the Isis and the other extremists seek to create.

Only hours before the crisis in Paris became "breaking news", I was surrounded by the true map of the human heart at our Kuia "Nanny Fanny" Amokura's 80th birthday.

Every Marae has a Kuia - a wise woman elder, and every whanau and family needs a Nanny Amokura no matter what the colour of their skin is or the name of their religion.

So rather than give Isis any more oxygen to create the chaos they believe will bring the world to their knees in solidarity for their cause, I will put up a putiputi - a flower of hope, our Kuia Amokura, who paints a picture of love and kindness that will trump terrorism every time and triumph over its evil acts.

From a poem read out at her 80th birthday:

"Amokura Amokura you are our Kuia

To tell you we love you is why we are here.

Amokura Amokura, Picking us up when we fall

Farewelling our loved ones with your karanga call.

Amokura Amokura watching over our Marae

Laughing through the good times - sharing sadness when we cry.

Amokura Amokura our Tutereinga Queen

To give us good guidance and a shoulder to lean.

Amokura Amokura - always there in a crisis

Tells us that aroha will always win over Isis.

Amokura Amokura this is your night, We salute you we love you

You are our star shining bright."

Now is the time to show solidarity to the 'city of love' and to each other and find the true map of the human heart - and celebrate their acts. Fly a flag of tricoloured freedom, stand side by side in solidarity for all that is good in this wonderful journey we call life.

Dans cette douloureuse epreuve nous sommes de tout, coeur avec vous ... L'amour est plus fort la mort.

In this painful trial, our hearts go out to you. Love is stronger than death

Paris ... vous etes dans nos coeurs et nos prieres.

Paris ... You're in our hearts and our prayers

broblack@xtra.co.nz

Tommy Wilson is a best selling author and local writer.