By Anonymous
Friday the 13th of November, 2015. The first explosion was heard at 9:20pm at the Stade de France, Paris. This was closely followed by gunshots sounding across the city as civilians fled for cover under a rain of bullets. At 9:40, the blast of another bomb, a suicide bomber, could be heard from Boulevard Voltaire while, across the city, concert goers ran for their lives after gunmen broke in and opened fire on the crowd at the Bataclan concert hall.
The result?
130 reported dead, 368 injured.
Across all social media platforms, you could find people posting the message “Pray for Paris” or “Je suis Paris”. On Facebook, people changed their profile pictures to the French flag. Those living in or close to Paris did not hesitate to reassure their friends and families of their safety.
Among those who shared their stories was Isobel Bowdery, a South African woman living in Paris who had been attending the concert at Bataclan on the night of the 13th. She posted a picture of the bloody shirt she had been wearing at the time and explains how strangers held onto her hands, helping her to be strong, and how people she did not know risked their lives to carry her out of the hall to safety. Isobel further goes on to reconcile the families of the victims saying that, during their last moments, the terrorists were not the last thing on the victim’s’ thoughts. She writes:
“I feel privileged to be there for [the victims’] last breaths. And truly believing that I would join them, I promise that their last thoughts were not on the animals who caused all this. It was thinking of the people they loved. As I lay down in the blood of strangers and waiting for my bullet to end my mere 22 years, I envisioned every face that I have ever loved and whispered I love you. Over and over again. Reflecting on the highlights of my life. Wishing that those I love knew just how much, wishing that they knew that no matter what happened to me, to keep believing in the good in people. To not let those men win.”
The Paris attacks were a rude awakening for much of the West, if not the entire world. We often forget how close the world’s conflicts are to us, and do not acknowledge the lingering threat of terrorism. Shortly after the final attack in the Bataclan concert hall, François Hollande, the French President, declared a national emergency, shutting down French borders. The lights of the Eiffel Tower were switched off, enveloping the city in darkness. Disneyland Paris, for the first time since it’s opening in 1992, closed the park in mourning.
However, as the lights across Paris shut off, the world turned on their lights in support for the victims of the attack. The French Flag lit up on the White House in Washington DC, the Sydney Opera House and the Burj Khalifa among other iconic places around the world. Even here, in Geneva, we showed our support for the French by lighting up the Jet d’Eau with the French Flag. In the face of disaster, the world came together to unite as one: to give strength to one another and show support.
The events of November 13th, caught the attention of the international community as they mourned for, not only Paris, but for the world. It is unity in times of crisis that brings us closer together. Terrorism exists to instill fear among people. However, standing strong and united will help us fight this seemingly never ending threat.
Terrorism has no religion. The world should not blame any particular religion for what happened in Paris. The Islamic State, ISIS, has stepped forward and claimed responsibility for the attacks; thus, most of the world, including France, blames ISIS, strengthening our resolve to eradicate this growing threat.
The attacks in Paris will not be forgotten anytime soon. The terrorists, associated with ISIS and extremist groups like al-Qaeda, are the causes for such tragedies and they are only one of the many reasons we must work together to protect ourselves and each other. No tragedy, despite where it may take place, should go unnoticed. When we mourn, we mourn for not just a few victims, but for all the innocent lives lost. We cannot allow terrorists to scare us into shutting ourselves out from the rest of the world in fear of being attacked. We must work hand in hand, show our enemies that they cannot bring us down. We must end major terrorism around the world; there has been enough innocent bloodshed. At the same time, we must not generalize or estrange communities or nations we fear will cause us harm.
As a member of LGB student council reminded the secondary school when they joined together, tous en noir, for a moment of silence to remember the lives of the victims of terrorism, “It matters that we are here today, remembering and honoring the lives lost to this war. It matters that we show that we are not afraid, and that we will not lose hope, faith, strength, or peace. It matters that we are here talking about this, on social media, with our friends, and with our families. It matters that we are becoming educated on these matters, taking in the perspectives and opinions of the world, and playing a huge role on the future of the world as international students and as citizens of the world.”
The fight against terrorism will not be an easy one, but it is one that we must fight. The sooner we stand together, the faster we can win.
