One of the heroes from the Bondi terror attack, Ahmed Al Ahmed, has been forced to defend his U.S. trip and high profile meetings with Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, and Zohran Mamdani, amid a stream of negative commentary online.
Ahmed became known worldwide when an online video showed him sneaking up on Bondi terrorist Sajid Akram, and then charging and wresting his gun away.
He was forced to travel to the United States for further medical treatment for his five gunshot wounds, like fellow Bondi survivor Gefen Bitton—who also confronted Sajid Akram—had to travel to Israel for treatment.
Yet in recent days, Ahmed has been forced to take to social media—where he’d been posting regular updates of his trip— expressing his disheartenment at the negativity online.
“When I see negative comments and messages, or some media outlets focusing only on the benefits I received in an unprofessional way, I feel deep sadness and pain,” Ahmed said. He reminded followers he was shot five times, and still had two bullets in his body.
According to doctors, Ahmed may lose movement in his hand forever.
“So what money or honor can ever equal this loss?” the statement continues. “Is there anyone among these negative people who would be willing to give up their hand for money and give me my hand back the way it was?”
“I do not regret what I did, because I acted out of humanity and the values I was raised with.”
The post was met with messages of support, praising Al Ahmed for his bravery and sacrifice.
Scepticism Online
On his social media pages, the 43-year-old posted photos and videos from public appearances and meetings, including praising U.S. President Donald Trump, and meeting with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, former Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd, as well as receiving an award from Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman.
But as his online presence grew, so too did the reaction and suspicion.
In a post from Jan. 10, users questioned the attention around him, particularly after Ahmed said he had to cancel “several meetings” as his health declined.
“This is becoming a little weird …” one user wrote.
Others accused Al Ahmed of “meeting every Zionist possible,” that he was “milking it a bit,” and wondered “what happened to being humble.”
The Tall Poppy Syndrome
The reaction of online users reflects a cultural phenomenon in Australia and New Zealand called “Tall Poppy Syndrome,” a colloquialism describing the act of being jealous of another’s visible success.
“Australia does have unique, egalitarian culture, self-facing culture,” psychiatrist Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, told The Epoch Times, noting the country had a “worker, socialist-type mentality.”
“That comes from [Australia’s] early origins, as a convict settler society, there is a real suspicion of the British class privilege, there is really strong mateship.”
Dr. Ahmed described it as almost a “social regulation scheme”—a form of public shaming that brings people down when they are viewed as being “too big for their boots.”
It’s the complete opposite to the United States where success and wealth is openly celebrated.
Links to Self-Esteem or Progressivism?
In fact, a 2022 La Trobe University study found a connection between jealousy of other’s success and a person’s self-esteem or political leaning.
“Those who favoured the fall of tall poppies again emerged as people with lower self-esteem, as less conservative in their political preference, and as more egalitarian in their values,” the study found.
The study, “Attitudes towards favoring the fall of tall poppies: The role of social dominance orientation, authoritarianism, political ideologies, and self-esteem,” surveyed 50,000 people to determine its results.
“This follows previous research that has consistently shown that Australians with low self-esteem, and who vote for the Labor Party versus the more conservative Liberal Party, are more likely to favour the fall of tall poppies,” it concluded.
Other findings noted that people more sensitive to status and hierarchy were more sensitive to tall poppies as this could be seen as disrupting social order.
Further, it introduced the idea of the, “Deservingness theory,” which suggests people will be more satisfied with seeing a tall poppy cut down to size if they are deemed underserving of their high status.
‘Deadly Sin’ Proliferates Globally
While tall poppies may feel like a uniquely antipodean characteristic, it does resonate with similar traits across East Asia, the UK, and Scandinavia’s “Law of Jante,” where you are “not to think you are anything special.”
The proliferation of Marxism globally and its descendent theories like communism, socialism, progressivism, and postmodernism, have also allowed this “Deadly Sin” to take root in cultures everywhere.
“Rather than aspiring to be better, communist sympathisers surround themselves with others who wallow in their misery, and as the saying goes, ‘misery loves company,'” wrote UK freelance journalist Cid Lazarou, in an opinion piece in The Epoch Times.
“Like crabs in a bucket, whenever one of them almost reaches the top, the others drag it back down,” said Lazarou, adding that it can dampen innovation and create distrust.
“Communism eliminates talent and ability in precisely the same manner, to which society quickly eats itself in a cacophony of envy.”
US-Australia Culture Clash, Social Media Trolling?
While Dr. Ahmed believes tall poppy syndrome may be a contributing factor to Ahmed’s online ordeals, he pointed to several other factors at play.
“Especially on social media, you can’t pick out who the individuals are, what their motivations are,” Dr. Ahmed said.
“Australians will certainly celebrate him, but we probably have a more self-effacing way of celebrating,” he said, pointing to the cultural differences between Australia and America.
“Whereas in America, there’s a bit more of grandioseness. I think it’s partly a clash of how Americans might celebrate an individual [like Ahmed] versus how Australians might.”
Modern social media culture could be another issue.
“Sometimes that’s got to do with more modern troll habits or public shaming on social media,” he said.
“Or it’s the fact that there are so many atomised, isolated people online that get a sense of power from trying to flag people off.”
The sentiment may also come from “unrealistic standards” placed on people when they enter the public light.
“You become a figure, and then you become an extension of other people’s needs and demands and conflicts,” Dr. Ahmed explained, further adding that this behaviour could be partly explained by tall poppy syndrome—which social media may amplify.
Overall, Dr. Ahmed believes the reaction is not indicative of a broader trend, noting that most responses to Ahmed have been positive.
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