To the strangers inside Sydney’s Lindt Cafe,
We don’t know you. We don’t yet know your names. But you are all that we are thinking about today.
As wave of terrifying news breaks over wave of terrifying news, amid the white noise of rumour and panic, all we are thinking is this:
Not here. Not now. Not you.
“You are loved.”
The whole nation is holding its breath for you, hoping, hoping that when we exhale this horror will have ended. We hope, we wish, we pray that you will be home tonight, kissing your family, calling your friends to assure them that you are safe, holding your children close.
We listen to the statements of our leaders and try and be reassured by their calm demeanour. We know that it masks a horrific truth of terror. But we also know that measured calm is the most important thing right now. It is that, and having faith in our security forces to do what they have been trained to do, that will most likely bring all of you home safe.
The time for questions, speculation and blame will come. But it is not now. Because right now our minds and our hearts are consumed with you and you alone. These people who could have been any one of us, these people who are loved and cared for, these people who we are desperate will come out of this unharmed.
That’s all we wish for you right now. One simple thing- that you will get home safely.
All of our arms are around you right now. And if we could whisper in your ear, this is what we would say:
You are loved. You are loved.
And the whole country is standing with you.
Leave your message of support for the hostages, below.
To read Mamamia’s rolling coverage of the Martin Place Siege, see this post.
Please call the Australian National Security Hotline on the following information if you have any information: 1800 123 400
Top Comments
Get real , really , I have know problem with any one that's wants to come to Oz and live our way , Our way,,. As Australia was and is built on many different back grounds. but these people that have come here and start preaching there way should be removed, We teach our kids to respect the fallen that have payed the price for our freedom, but yet we have a nutter that has been convicted of assisting a murder, sending letters to the families of our dead soldiers families and no body does anything because they are to scared to up set the do gooders that are going to start ranting and raving , this is on the do-gooders heads for shunning people for standing up
Come on Australia shorely this is enough!
I was born here Mark. I dont want to live your way. So thank you but no.
For the record Mark this happens nearly every week in this country. This just happened to occur in Martin Place Sydney. It just happened to be one nutcase and a bunch of people he did not apparently have any particular relationship with. Every week women and children are put through this, the perpetrators being usually a man they know. Yes Mark that is enough. That is more than enough. Stand up and fight for what is right. Protect all Australians from nutcases, that includes protecting women and children from abuse, abuse dished out by men.
One raving lunatic who calls himself a muslim is no reason to vent on all true muslims. If one bad example was reason to attack everyone in a particular subset, then most of the men in Australia would be behind bars, including you Mark, because 'some' men commit violent acts irregardless of class, race, religion, education or ethnic identity.
BTW, go back to school, grow a brain, pay attention and learn to spell. Communication is such a wonderful thing, bigotry is not.
And, sadly, not all of them have made it safely home.