In the wake of the increasing amount of terrorist attacks around the world, there has been chaos around the world. There are people encouraging terror with war, there are people refusing to let refugees in for the sake of their own safety, and there are people being outwardly ignorant towards different religions due to these violent disturbances. It's clear that there is evil in the world; we are faced with people who exhibit this characteristic everyday (whether it's their lack of empathy or selflessness).
However, what is not seen is the slowly but growing population of the softer side of this situation. Soon after the Paris attack, many Parisians were interviewed on their emotions towards this tragedy. Among those who expressed their feelings was a small boy and his father who exchanged a precious and heart-warming conversation of the aftermath. This video went viral, and for all the right reasons.
"They might have guns, but we have flowers," is one of the most powerful statements I have ever heard in my life. This father and son's innocent conversation may have only been a mere interview, but it's clear that it instills an important and empowering message. There are bad guys everywhere, and there are guns everywhere. It is important to realize that we must not forget our compassion in this fight. We must not exclude empathy and gratitude from our mind. We cannot blindly fight fire with fire without acknowledging the softer side of things. We must mourn properly, we must remember that there is good (and though sometimes bad may overtake the good, the good is just as strong), and we must remember humans are human.
With over 27 million views, this stirring exchange of words has created a new perspective for those who can understand what's going on without really understanding what's going on. Yes, the situation with ISIS is complex. Yes, I'm simply just a writer who has no idea with a clear solution on how to let refugees stay in America. Yes, who am I to say what we should do – I have no jurisdiction in this area of expertise. However, what I do know is that you have to recognize there are refugees who are fleeing their homes because they are afraid of terror. They are afraid to be killed just like you are. I do know that you cannot straight away fight fire with fire.
Two wrongs do not make a right. Blinding yourself to just fight without recognizing the good that comes out of the bad is harming the way we view this world. Or even more important, not recognizing the severity of emotions that are at stake here. It shapes your perspective negatively about these issues which is exactly we, as a society, should avoid.
We need to learn how to fight with flowers. While it isn't the only situation to solve the complex problem of terror, and it certainly it isn't the most obvious, we need to band together to realize that without good, there is no hope. Without flowers, there is no hope. We must have hope, and for that, if not more, we fight with flowers.
