21/08/2026
"How Can the Healing Begin?" https://l1nq.com/tf9dyyo
I am astonished that this profound, intellectual, cogent, honest, courageous, and heartfelt reflection has been ignored. I happened across it by accident on Facebook. I immediately recognised it as essential reading for anyone concerned about social cohesion.
I met the author a week after the paper was published and complimented him on it. He told me I was the first person in Australia to mention the paper to him. I have not seen any reference to the paper in the month since, not in mainstream media, not in social media, not anywhere. Silence. I am shocked.
In a time when many religious and community leaders are so consumed by their own legitimate concerns that they become "tribal", caught up in the echo chamber of their own silos, with little or no capacity for empathy for the 'other' - who ironically bears the same or similar suffering - and sometimes indulge in blaming, deepening the polarisation and division that is tearing our society apart, Aftab Malik provides a refreshing alternative.
He shows compassion for the other. He acknowledges perceived failings. He analyses their true origin. He provides a calm and measured defence. He urges a shared, compassionate, listening, collaborative approach that will take time, patience, and perseverance.
"Against the backdrop of anger, disinformation, conspiracy theories, confusion, anti-immigration rallies, racism, hatred of people based on their faith identities, dehumanisation and blame, we must resist the forces that divide us. We need wisdom, compassion, mercy, empathy and the moral courage to have tough conversations without demonising one another. We need to overcome feelings of hostility and fear. There can no longer be “you” and “me”. There can only be us."
For endorsements and to download see: https://www.oseci.gov.au/resources/oseci-papers
