It is sad whenever life is lost pointlessly. Sometimes this happens in the everyday run of life - the mundane trip to the shops in a car comes to mind. Other times it happens as a result of wider conflict, such as civilian fatalities in war. Things happen according to laws of nature and fallible beings, as we are, operate within these realms.

The Lindt Cafe siege and shootings in Sydney fall somewhere between these fields. Malign human agency, as happens in wartime (and finds an equivalency in political extremism) meets the sheer possibility of chance; just being at a cafe for a cup of coffee.

I missed most of the media hyperbole yesterday but the little I did hear was sufficient to show that reason had been abandoned to a hyper-reality and a sadly predictable political cant of the worst kind. If anyone with ill-intent and a desire for saturating publicity was watching, then they will know what to do.

I was pleased though at the desire of many to show solidarity with others who might otherwise have felt threatened by the turn of events. The #I'llRideWithYou phenomenon shows that it possible to rise above prejudice and step out to help with change-making behaviours. In the end, little differences and changes can make a world of difference, if only we could see the long perspectives available to us in the moment.