It's critical to focus on the responses that defy the result sought by terrorists - a response of fear feeds extremism. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of reactionary political leaders like Trump who get airtime with their calls against human rights.
It's hard to pick the most offensive of recent Trump comments, but following the Brussels attack he was reported as saying: "I would do a lot more than waterboarding." Waterboarding is pouring water over someone's face to cause near (or actual) drowning when interrogating suspects - more simply, torture.
Luckily, there are more balanced and well informed commentators like @DanielWickham93: "Most of those killed by Isis and most of those fighting Isis are Muslims. Remember that when you collectively blame Muslims for Isis' terror" and @caitlinmoran: "Always good, on days like this, to remind everyone that the guys blowing up Brussels are the people the refugees are running away from."
There was also great discussion from @iyad-elbaghdadi, an Arab Spring activist living in exile in Norway. He asked questions about the real causes of radicalisation that leads to terrorism, whether in Western countries we continue to prioritise like France or Belgium, or in other parts of the world, also being attacked.
El-Baghdadi said it was unlikely to be refugees or "foreigners (that) infiltrated and attacked the West" - it was probably radicalised European Muslims attacking their own countries. He asked what circumstances led to such a deep human disconnection - and importantly, what can we do about it.
El-Baghdadi also dealt effectively with the question of Muslims being misaligned with terrorists by linking to a long series of articles that gave examples of Muslims around the world condemning terrorism - "The vast majority of those who believe in Islam never become radicalised and never become violent."
Europe may seem a long way away, but we get to choose how we choose between love and fear in our lives every day.
As a parent, it's not hard to love your children - but to consistently respond in a loving way, now that takes energy and practice! I had a boost on that front this week, attending a "firm, fair and friendly" seminar by The Parenting Place.
One tip that resonated with me was to recognise that our children often come home from school exhausted after (mostly) behaving all day and they need us to "fill up their tanks" with attention, before nagging starts again. And when things get sour, reminding our kids - and ourselves - that tomorrow is a new day can help.
Finally, not exactly a fresh start, but you'll notice a name change from me - I'm back to my maiden name. Now I just have to get used to using it again!
-Nicola Patrick has worked in the government and private sectors in Australia and NZ and now works from home in Whanganui for a national charitable foundation. Educated at Wanganui Girls' College, she has a science degree and is the mother of two boys.
