At about 9:20 PM on Friday, November 13th, the first of six terrorist attacks took place outside the Stade de France during a soccer match against Germany, with a second explosion occurring inside just moments later. Four more attacks followed within the coming hours. On Friday, November 13th, 2015, 130 people lost their lives to terrorism, and the city of Paris was shaken to its core.
Throughout the following days, reactions to the attacks differed throughout the world, but the common attitude in Paris continued to be love, support, and unity. As the days unfolded, the media was inundated with messages of positivity from the citizens of Paris. It's the little things like these that make it easier to keep faith in what's good in the world.
1. "Peace for Paris" Illustration by Jean Jullien
One of the first symbols of unity following the attacks in Paris came from graphic design artist Jean Jullien after he tweeted it out from his account. Since then, people having been sharing the original tweet and his image to show their respect and support for the people of Paris.
2. French Flag
Many public places, arenas, and monuments are being illuminated in white, red, and blue to mimic the French flag. Close to home, our very own Bell Tower here at Purdue has been illuminated for the past week to show support of our French peers and the citizens of Paris during this heart-wrenching time.
3. Doctor's Viral Photo and Message
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Pourya Pashootan describes treating victims of the Paris Attacks. After speaking about the "war scene," he ends the interview with a hopeful message on the power of unity: "The only thing that was incredible this night and quite nice was the mobilization of everybody... In the middle of this tragedy, there was a little bit of hope. And we were there to show that we will always be there. Never, never give up."
4. A Father Explains the Attack to His Son
"Le Petit Journal" first recorded an interview with a man and his preschool son about the Paris Attacks. The son, believing that they would be moving homes in response to what the "bad guys" did, get reassured by his father that everything is going to be okay. "It's okay, they might have guns, but we have flowers." Love beats war when war is fighting for hatred.
5. #PorteOuvert
#PorteOuvert began trending on Twitter shortly after the attacks. Translated to English, the phrase means "open door," and signifies just that. Those with extra room connected with people looking for a safe place to stay using the hashtag.
While its easy to lose faith in the world around you during times like these, remember the people all over the globe that are emitting love during such a devastating tragedy. Don't allow the act of hate of a few people to affect the love, support, and unity throughout the world.
