Have given it some more thought. If we do do something, be it a minutes silence or whatever, I hope it's not simply because Muslims were attacked and Houli is a Muslim. The inference is that if this gunman had attacked a christian church for example we would be doing nothing (as puzzling as that might be considering how many players and club employees would be Christian). Likewise it would mean by that logic that if a Kingdom Hall were attacked and having the highest profile Jehovah Witness in the league in Alex Rance we'd be balls deep Again the religious affiliations of the players or staff should not be a consideration in any decision and I trust it won't be. It's too arbitrary, too random and there is too much room for perceived hypocrisy.
I think there are some murky waters here. For example if a Christian church is attacked in retaliation with large numbers killed (as has been common practice by Muslim terrorists around the world), would we also have a minutes silence for them, and if not why not? As recently as late January 20 people were killed in a cathedral in the southern Philippines by bombs planted by Islamic fundametalist. To my knowledge neither the AFL nor the NRL nor the Richmond Football Club made any statements in regards to that attack. The response might be 'well it's different, it's New Zealand'. Well, they are constantly reminding us that they are not Australians. They tell themselves, they tell us, they tell the world and act offended if they are mistaken for Australians to be point where it all becomes kind of wearisome. It's a foreign country, that just can't be ignored as a consideration. Just because something happens in New Zealand doesn't mean we automatically respond as if it were in Australia.
Finally, some have argued we should do something because it was done by an Australian. Over 200 Australian muslims have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for Isis. No doubt a significant number have participated in despicable acts of rape, torture and murder. When the final figure is worked out (if ever) will we have a minutes silence for this in recognition of the culpability of Australian passport holders in ISIS's crimes against humanity? And if not why not? Not totally against the idea, but there will be more attacks in the future, probably very nearby. And to be honest I don't feel any more personally attached to the victims of Christchurch than I do to those in the Phillipines, or the Mid-east or Europe. But fine do it, but having set the precedent be prepared to keep on doing it on a regular basis, this isn't stopping anytime soon.