Let our hearts be filled with love, prayers, but most importantly tolerance in a tragic event like this. What happened on November 13, 2015 in Paris reminds us how fragile this world truly is, and how easily it can be broken by the actions of people spreading pain and despair. However, we must remember that the collective power of positivity is much more effective than any group (small or large) spreading negativity. A terrorist organization is not strong because it can terrorize and kill mass groups of innocent people, but that is its exact weakness. Hiding behind weapons and spitting on the purity of religion is a disguise for spreading intolerance and injustice across the world. To the nation of France, to the refugees from the Middle East, and to all those impacted by the actions of an organization that has caused so much global pain, we stand with great pride with you.
Although we may not be able to understand why any group of people would want to bring such immense amount of pain to this world, we have to remember to fight intolerance with faith in a tolerant world, and not by spreading more intolerance. Let us not blame these events on Islam or the Middle East, but remember that this world is filled with people shaming beautiful beliefs, religions, and values in every group imaginable. It is not only the role of the global government to take action in eliminating such injustices, but every individual across the world can spread peace by always choosing acceptance over narrow-mindedness.
We all have the power to be leaders for peace in our everyday actions, and have the ability to learn and raise awareness about what goes in this world. The strength of humanity spreading love is greater than any act of cowardice. While ISIS might be celebrating this as a win for them, they are incapable for recognizing that they have already lost. Our military is humanity standing against the ignorance, wearing the armor of unity that will not be removed until peace is established. The war that ISIS has waged is not only on France, but it is a war waged on the world.
We stand with Islam, with Paris, with all those suffering from intolerance in any community across the globe. Let the voices for positivity in the direction of peace spread louder than those that have poisoned our global community with turmoil. ISIS aimed to divide societies by using violence, but the world is already proving that we stand more united than ever. The world’s solidarity and every person taking action to help is a sign that we will not let any of our global community be terrorized. The bullies of this world will not prevail, but the words of tolerance and the actions of unity will stop such horrendous acts from being committed upon innocent people.
