Australian mateship means that we rally to each other in times of need, so no Jewish hand should have to erase words of hate alone. This is how we show the Jewish community that people of good will greatly outnumber the few vile actors. This is how we show the masked men that they are the strangers among us, and break the escalating cycle of hate.
On Sunday a few of us, horrified by the attack, arranged to fly a banner over Bondi with a simple message: “♥️ From AUS for our Jewish community”. The key purpose was to launch “♥️From AUS” as a simple, clear and durable banner to show support for the Jewish community right now. AUS is Australia and AUS is AllofUS, which is what it will take.
We can create local “♥️From AUS” Facebook and WhatsApp groups, with the purpose of forging connections with the Jewish community. This can be for support in times of need, but it should also be about education and fostering better understanding of Jewish history, culture and faith. We can bring that same commitment to connection into our schools and existing social clubs. When we connect, listen and learn from each other, we build a stronger, safer Australia for all of us.
To crowd out hate online, we can place “♥️From AUS” on our profile picture. We can join the Chanel Contos campaign to “Fix Our Feeds”, which demands an off switch to the social media algorithms that drive people to dangerous extremism. Hate is hate, whether it’s towards women, our Jewish community,0 or any other group who calls Australia home.
Companies with spare billboard space can put up “♥️From AUS” messages and clothing companies can design hats and T-shirts. Children can pick up a piece of chalk and cover footpaths. Imagine if members of the Jewish community saw this banner on the streets beneath their feet, on bus shelters on the way to work and over the heads and hearts of the people around them – knowing it meant they were safe and supported in Australia.
These are just some ideas for action. The power of a symbol – of an idea – is that any person of goodwill can carry it in new, wonderful directions. But through that common “♥️From AUS” banner, a million disconnected acts of courage and kindness forge something larger and more durable than the sum of their parts. They come to define us as a nation of universal mateship, united by values that make this country a place of safety and belonging for everyone.
For our Jewish community at this time, I offer a Hebrew blessing of peace, wholeness and healing – shalom alleinu. And for those who lost loved ones, may their memory be a blessing.
Mark Connelly is the founder and CEO of Lincoln Park Advisory, a communications and AI strategy consultancy.
Read more on The Sydney Morning Herald
