Am I overthinking this, or are others noticing it too?
I'm really struggling with the rise in anti-immigrant and anti-Hindu/Muslim rhetoric in NZ lately, and I don't know if anyone else feels the same.
I moved to New Zealand when I was 3 years old. I've lived here for almost 30 years. This is the only home I've ever known. I was educated here, I've spent my entire career working in public service, I’ve grown up in New Zealand and engaged with the culture and community here as part of everyday life, and my family is spread all across New Zealand. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. I love New Zealand and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
What really gets to me isn't just the rhetoric from people like Brian Tamaki - it's seeing the comments from those that support him underneath completely unrelated posts. An Indian community association will post about a cultural celebration, and the comments are flooded with things like "go back to your own country", "we don't want you here", and "this isn't your home."
I know social media isn't real life, and I know comment sections tend to attract the loudest and angriest people. But when you see it over and over again, it's hard not to wonder whether these views are becoming more common.
For the first time in my life, I've started questioning whether people look at me and see me as a New Zealander, or just as an immigrant who doesn't belong - even though this is the only country I've ever called home.
Is anyone else feeling this way, or am I letting social media get into my head?
