FULL COVERAGE: Bendigo mosque: Emotion fuels debate
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HOW refreshing to see the positivity around the proposed mosque in Bendigo emerge on Friday.
It restored a little faith in the fabric of this city given the tasteless events we've all witnessed this week.
It's sad to hear people say they are embarrassed to live in their own city. We can't have that.
It's sad to hear people say they are embarrassed to live in their own city. We can't have that.
What's also been welcome is that the people leading the positive action on Friday were more than happy to have their names made public. They had nothing to hide.
A stark contrast to the organisers of the anti-mosque campaign who prefer anonymous Facebook pages to push their cause or the dark of night to spread fear in the form of black balloons at the home of a respected councillor and across the front of the Bendigo Advertiser building.
How are we to really understand their motivation if they won't step out of the shadows to explain their case properly?
If indeed their argument is actually deeper than a fear campaign centred on terrorism and violence against women and children, we might understand the stance better.
As a community we have to believe when all the emotion wanes, sanity will prevail with this issue.
It's clear the majority are happy for this mosque to proceed.
The council vote was fair and just and we should commend our city leaders for making a conscience decision based on fact not fear.