I’m starting to understand a little more about how the world works.

With so much going on today in various countries and cultures, it’s hard to see the good in life at times. The movements fighting against unlawful police action, war and other social problems contrast the fight for equality, a political race, and a push for justice. With so much contention in the world today, it’s hard to see how any of it could possibly get better.

I have heard that the world needs contention to function; we cannot have love with hate, we cannot find truth without the lies. Perhaps we need war to understand peace, and we need death to comprehend life. I’m starting to understand that we need chaos to know what we do not want. We need to see the wrong to understand what’s right.

But that doesn’t make tragedy acceptable.

It’s saddening to see a country and people get hit by an act of terrorism, especially when there is a large loss of innocent life. Only several months after the attack in November, the most recent attack was again in France, on a day of celebration.

During a firework show at the end of the day in Nice, a truck drove through the celebrating crowd, killing a little more than 80 people and injuring many more. The details of the incident are yet to be determined, but it has been labeled an act of terror that placed France under another three months in a state of emergency. The repercussions of such an attack are panic and fear, both of which affect the very center of French culture and society; the entire country was shaken.

Isn’t that what acts of terror do? They create an atmosphere of fear and contention that hit the population and make people question the very nature of humanity. They are acts that tear apart a society and momentarily take away the sense of hope. After the shootings in Paris back in November, France was mentally and physically prepared to confront any attempted violence during the European Cup, a soccer tournament that welcomed several countries. In the end, the attack came when least expected, several days later on a day that should have been a joyous occasion.

They went to the streets with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate a day of independence and freedom, only to be met with tragedy.

As a French citizen myself, I have a lot of love for France as a whole. I have a lot of good memories there, and it is a country that I am happy to associate myself with. Attacks on France are very personal to me, as I do have family and friends who live there.

To the people of France, I say: I am sorry.

The loss of innocent life is never easy, and it will be hard for those who lost loved ones to carry on past this tragedy. When the people are attacked, the entire country is threatened and there is a sense of unity that comes from these incidents; the country stands as one against the pain and violence.

To the country of France: We mourn with you.

There are many others here in American who have roots in France, people who love the country and feel a sense of camaraderie. The United States, Canada and many other countries around the world stand with you in this time of mourning. It is moments like this that bring us all together, and we want you to know that we offer our full support.

To those who are hurting: Don’t lose hope.

When the world starts to lose hope, we all fall apart. In today’s world, hope is one of the most important things we can have. Hope brings believe and faith in a better world. It’s going to take a long time to pick up the pieces and move forward without a little bit of fear, but even a little hope can go a long way.

I’m starting to understand a little more about how the world works.

With all the contention seen today, it is often difficult to see the good in all the bad. But maybe that’s part of life, fighting to find a positive outlook in the midst of so much negativity. It’s difficult to say when there will be a much needed change, but change is not inevitable; change will happen.

To all of France: Stay strong.