Iraq is in our minds...what are our children really learning about every day?

Terrorism is the ultimate crime. Not only does it destroy buildings and lives. The divisive social climate of mistrust and fear it creates, intentionally, destroys trust and causes people to turn upon each other in anger and frustration.

The poisonous atmosphere of revenge, recrimination, and hysteria fed by fear and frustration created by the terrorist attacks in the USA in two days had reached NZ. 48 hours after the attacks took place, the NZ Race Relations Conciliator had to make a public appeal for tolerance and calm after Moslem citizens were subjected to assaults and death threats. Five years later, we seem to have entered an era of seige mentality and high security, where we seem to be justified in fearing everything that outside our door. The limits to our freedom, physical, psychological and social, are subtle and yet immense.

In such a climate, talk of peace seems futile, even naive. The Hobbesian model of humans as selfish and predatory seems to be confirmed and any appeals to our innate sociality seem utopian and misguided.

Therefore I believe that, as educators, it is crucial that allour actions are directed towards cultivating a culture of peace and understanding in our relationships, classrooms, homes and communities.