Dear People of Paris,
In light of the tragedy on Friday, we pray for you.
We grieve those whose lives were cruelly robbed from them. We grieve that anyone is capable of such evil. We grieve for the families who will never, ever be able to see their loved ones again. We grieve for the soul mates who are now separated forever, and will never in this life be able to embrace again.
We worry with you, in all of the ambiguity and confusion of this crisis. We fear the unknown that is lurking and causing harm, and fear for those who are hiding but do not know who they are hiding from. We dread the thought that someone can commit crimes against humanity at such a large scale in the name of principle or simple hatred.
Is there hope for a world that houses so much evil? Is this a world worth living in for the children of the future? People starve. People are murdered. People are massacred. Innocent people are used as pawns in a cruel game of power, greed or ideals. Peaceful bystanders are shot to the ground, and then shot once again execution-style. Can we live in a place with so much pain? Are we no better than all those who committed evil in history?
There is certainly hope. Already we have seen the world come together as one as we grieve over the inhumanity and terror inflicted upon Paris. Regardless of numerous physical and non-physical dividing lines, the world is unified in standing beside France and opposing the heinous crimes committed on Friday. Technology allows us to unify through information and the telling of stories. We stand in horror with France even though we are not physically in Paris. Facebook developed a way for those in Paris to notify their loved ones that they are safe. Twitter is exploding with #PrayForParis. We stand together, even though we are separated by thousands of miles.
It is our hope that the we, despite all of our faults and hurts and evils, will still remember the good and practice it. It is our hope that the we will continue to join together as one, rather than focus and live in separation in our political philosophies, race, cultures and nations. It is our hope that the we will remember to treat each other with love and respect, and to never permit the dehumanization of others.
As a world, we pray for you, Paris. We pray for healing. We pray for safety. We thank God for all those who are safe, those who open their homes to those on the streets in order to provide shelter, those who are courageously risking their lives for the sake of others.
May the Lord protect you, and bring justice.
Sincerely,
The college students of Union
