Here’s the deal: We can all agree that the gears of the world are shifting—there is the world that used to be and then there is the world that is. And that world can be a bit scary. No one ever knows how to deal with death, much less the death of innocent people going about their lives just as we all do. And I think this is why the tragic events in Paris sparked such a global response so quickly, despite the fact that cruel actions take place in more remote, less developed nations every single day and don’t make headlines. It doesn’t make their lives any less valuable or their struggles any less real. That’s just the way the world is; you can mute things in your own head—things that make you squirm, things you just can’t wrap your head around—until suddenly you can’t anymore. Until suddenly it strikes close to home and you find yourself thinking, “That could have been me.”
Paris is an extremely modern and well-known city, making it the perfect place to attack if your end goal is to strike fear in the citizens of the most powerful nations of the world. Seeing as these were terrorist actions committed by a terrorist group, it is definitely safe to say that this was indeed the end goal and even sadder to say that it is almost working. Countries and states are closing their borders to people in need of safe refuge, and humans are closing their minds and hearts becoming too focused on their own fear to see how ignorant they are becoming. The same thing happened some 75 years ago, except it was a movement of hate spearheaded by one group under one leader that people respected and trusted. Then, Hitler was seen as a friend—even a helper—by those he managed to brainwash with propaganda. In hindsight, we all realize he was the enemy.
Today we don’t even need someone to lead us into narrow-mindedness because half of us are already there. Apparently it’s OK for one human to look at another human and make presumptions about them simply because of what they look like, who they worship, or where they come from. Oh, but they will claim that they’re not being narrow-minded, but rather taking precautions. “Our nation is safe; we don’t need to take on the burden of letting in people who could potentially bring harm,” they say. Well that’s freaking grand, but what about people whose lives have already been torn apart? People with no place to call home because their home was destroyed? People with nothing to hide and nowhere to go? You’re really going to let one terrorist group prevent you from allowing millions of other innocent people to reach safety? (Cough cough, Donald Trump.) You’re really going to sidestep Muslims on the street because you fear they must have some sort of connection to all this—really? Are they not humans caught up in a bigger tragedy just like you and me? We fear death, yet we ignore the death of so many others who are not as fortunate as us to live in a society where things like this rarely happen, and we shun them when they come knocking on our doors.
It’s so simple it’s incredible. They masterminded a plan that would attack not only the city of love and its inhabitants, but the world at large and its morals. Humans are losing sight of what it even means to be human—times like these should bring us together, not tear us apart. The terrorists want to see us at war with each other, fighting over who should be doing more, who’s not doing enough, or what the next step should be. How can we be afraid of them tearing us apart when we’re already doing that to ourselves? The second we condemn another human without knowing their story is the second our human spirit dies, which is ironic considering all people are thinking about right now is how to avoid death and destruction.
Just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can never, ever judge a person based on their religious beliefs or appearance. Don’t let your fear become irrational, and don’t ever let it swallow you whole. Have faith in this crazy, messy world. People are good at heart so long as they keep it open. Shine your light in a world that is trying to drown you in darkness; open your mind and your home country to those whose lives would benefit immensely; and live on, my friend. Live and let live. And remember, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Love is powerful, and it will always trump all. How do ya like them apples, Donald?
