The Christcurch Mosque shooting has caused Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to propose stronger gun control. This act of racist and Islamophobic terrorism has exposed a problem that rarely gets media attention. White nationalism and xenophobic nativist nationalism has become an international phenomenon. Hate has always been there and the historical legacy proves it. While the media presents New Zealand as a peaceful,open, and tolerant society the reality is its foundations are based on imperial conquest. The British just like in Australia displaced the native population. Maoris are strangers in a land that is theirs and immigrants face hostility from the white population. Social media and guns have been blamed fro this horrendous act of violence. Such explanations ignore the real issue. There is an reluctance to admit that the majority of European descended peoples do not want to share their countries with African, Asian, or Latin American populations. Many whites feel the sentiments uttered in the manifesto written by the shooter. Individuals may not act on violent sentiments, but the hate is there. Prime Minister Jacinda Arden may not be able to make meaningful change, if she does not address the violent racist history of New Zealand's past. If there is no serious discussion about racism among the majority of the white population in the Oceania region, acts like this may continue. As populations flee war and poverty, the more xenophobic nativist nationalism becomes popular among people who do not understand or fear demographic shifts. If the government does not act racist violence will become normalized.
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