A Canadian filmmaker now living in New Zealand has triggered outrage in her adopted country after describing a fallen soldier as someone who killed "innocent people and had no moral compass."
Barbara Sumner-Burstyn posted the comments on Facebook, apparently after reading reports of 26-year-old Lance Cpl. Jacinda Baker's death in Afghanistan.
"Oh so fallen soldier Jacinda Baker liked boxing and baking - did they forget she also like invading countries we are not at war with, killing innocent people and had no moral compass," Sumner-Burstyn wrote.
She went on to say Baker, the first female soldier from New Zealand to die in Afghanistan, "100 per cent does not deserve our respect for her flawed choices."
Sumner-Burstyn, a documentary filmmaker, wrote and produced "One Man, One Cow, One Planet" and "This Way of Life," which was shortlisted for an Academy Award.
Her posting enraged many New Zealanders, including members of the military, and by Sunday more than 20,000 people had joined a Facebook group called "Sumner Burstyn give back your NZ Passport!!!"
The group was closed by Monday, but not before thousands of posters took aim at Sumner-Burstyn, some even threatening violence.
In a blog post on Sunday the filmmaker apologized for her comments, but also lashed out at those who had gone online to attack her.
"It’s been a difficult few days. I made a comment on facebook. A thoughtless comment for which I unreservedly apologise to the family, friends and loved ones of Jacinda Baker (sic)," Sumner-Burstyn wrote in the blog, apparently composed in Canada, where she and her family reportedly fled after the backlash.
"I do not in the slightest gloat at this young woman's death -- I bemoan the tragic loss of her valuable life. Certainly my choice of words at the time was not good.
"But the response to these words has been extreme. A Facebook group was set up with the sole purpose of shaming and scaring me."
She went on to say that the online response to her comments, especially open threats from members of the military on Facebook, proved New Zealand was "a truly sick society."
Sumner-Burstyn said the response had only cemented her opposition to what she described as “New Zealand’s warmongering in Afghanistan.”
The soldier who created the page, Ted Grainger, tried to calm the rapidly escalating online vitriol on the weekend.
"Right people. No one on this site will advocate rape or murder. Context people. I will delete posts that are out of context and are what I believe is wrong. Rape is wrong ... don't post it."
By Monday morning, the offensive posts had been removed and Grainger announced "mission accomplished" and said the group would now be shut down.
