Opinion: Most Muslims are peace loving

Muslims pray during Ramadan. PHOTO/FILE

I heard a talkback caller suggesting all Muslims should be booted out of New Zealand.

He said Muslims didn't belong here because their religious beliefs made them all potential terrorists. When asked by the talkback host which Muslim terrorists groups he was specifically referring to he could only name Isis.

Apparently this covered all terrorist groups. It doesn't of course. He could have mentioned Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Boko Haram to name a few.

On further questioning it was clear that apart from being enraged at terrorist activities around the world he would not entertain the idea that of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world the vast majority would be peace loving people. How easy, and convenient, to generalise.

Years ago when working in Zurich, Switzerland for an American chemical company one of my work colleagues was a South African woman. She was on holiday back in South Africa when I started in the job and returned to work three weeks after I arrived.

I dreaded meeting her. A white South African. No doubt a supporter of apartheid. Probably treated black people with contempt and obviously had little or no understanding of people from different backgrounds and cultures.

I got myself really worked up about working with someone I thought must be evil and cruel. Melanie became one of my best friends. Even though I was cautious at first I knew we would get on. Authentic people are recognisable.

She was open and honest when we talked about her country and the apartheid regime that operated in South Africa at the time. She made no excuses for her government and told me she and her family looked forward to the day when apartheid would be consigned to history.

She surprised me too by knowing a lot about New Zealand. Apparently a relation had moved some years earlier to farm in Taranaki. We had a treaty didn't we? How was that working? How indeed at that time.

In the company there were many people from different countries, different ethnic backgrounds and religions. Foreign languages were spoken daily although most of the time we spoke German. I learnt then how foolish it is to pass judgment on someone you don't know. Lumping everyone together.

Better to take the time to get to know a person, what makes them tick, what is important to them, and learn what their beliefs and customs are. And most importantly don't hold them personally responsible for the perceived ills of their government. That goes for the terrorist acts committed by those who share the same religion or political beliefs.

That's why I cringed when I heard the talkback caller. Seeing all Muslims as a "job lot" of terrorists and extremists just waiting to set off bombs. Prepared to kill and inflict maximum damage and injury.

I don't believe that for one moment. But with the bombings and terrorist attacks increasing around the world, peace loving Muslims say anti-Muslim sentiment from other New Zealanders has increased. Some no longer feel safe in their communities. The communities many have lived in for years.

They fear being abused and targeted, Muslim women feeling particularly vulnerable. But normal people are not terrorists or mindless robots. Normal people are not fanatics or blinkered patriots.

Normal people go about their lives wanting what most of us want. To live in peace and harmony. And the majority of Muslims here and around the world are your normal everyday people.

Muslim leaders in New Zealand this week were quick to point out they are not terrorists, they are Muslims. And New Zealanders should know the difference. Many arrived here as refugees looking for a better life for their families and they're prepared to work hard to make it happen.

They have spoken out in sympathy to communities affected by terrorist attacks, most recently in England. They don't want terrorist activities to divide their communities. They will "stand united against all forms of terrorism and hate".

The sentiments of devoted Muslims, not terrorists.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.