On Nov. 13, 2015, ISIS attacked Paris. I heard about the attack as I was riding in my dad’s car. We were headed home so that I could watch my little sister perform in her play and so I could visit friends and family. I read the breaking news story out loud for my dad to hear. We were both stunned by the news and saddened to hear what had happened, but we didn’t feel the pain of losing a loved one. We didn’t feel scared for our lives and we can’t fully comprehend the events that happened in Paris based off of one news article. The Paris attack was a few days ago now and the news has been doing a great job covering the story. I have spent my evening looking at a variety of responses posted on the internet. One particular article struck my attention. The article was posted on MSN and it is about a husband that lost his wife in the attack. The husband decided to write a letter to ISIS. This article shows the true tragedy that Paris is experiencing right now. It gave me a different perspective on the attack and a deeper understanding of the pain and mourning that Paris is experiencing.
The article was posted on Facebook on Nov. 16, 2015. It was then posted on MSN later that day. The man’s name is Antoine Leiris, his wife’s name is Helene, and they have a 17-month-old son. Helene was killed in the Bataclan Concert Hall. Here is what Mr. Leiris wrote:
“Friday night, you took an exceptional life -- the love of my life, the mother of my son -- but you will not have my hatred. I don't know who you are and I don't want to know, you are dead souls. If this God, for whom you kill blindly, made us in his image, every bullet in the body of my wife would have been one more wound in his heart.
So, no, I will not grant you the gift of my hatred. You're asking for it, but responding to hatred with anger is falling victim to the same ignorance that has made you what you are. You want me to be scared, to view my countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my liberty for my security. You lost.
I saw her this morning. Finally, after nights and days of waiting. She was just as beautiful as when she left on Friday night, just as beautiful as when I fell hopelessly in love over 12 years ago. Of course I am devastated by this pain, I give you this little victory, but the pain will be short-lived. I know that she will be with us every day and that we will find ourselves again in this paradise of free love to which you have no access.
We are just two, my son and me, but we are stronger than all the armies in the world. I don't have any more time to devote to you, I have to join Melvil who is waking up from his nap. He is barely 17-months-old. He will eat his meals as usual, and then we are going to play as usual, and for his whole life this little boy will threaten you by being happy and free. Because no, you will not have his hatred either.”
After reading this letter, I now feel more connected to the events in Paris and I respectfully mourn with them. Paris is in my prayers, but better yet, the whole world is in my prayers. We are in a time of suffering and the world needs Jesus. After all of this tragedy has occurred, I am reminded of one simple bible verse that says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). I hope that we would have the courage to live by those words and pray for ISIS.
