To the people of Paris and those present during the attacks Nov. 13:
An absolutely unspeakable thing has happened to you and your city. Your sense of safety and belonging in a city of millions has been shattered by a coordinated attack, the likes of which the world has never seen. Paris is known for its beauty and its love, and last Friday, that elegance was disrupted by some of the worst things the world has to offer. Hatred, intolerance, and a mission to inflict terror on thousands of innocent human beings overtook Paris. It sent shockwaves through the city, and aftershocks felt around the world.
Paris is a beautiful city. I have never felt more in awe of a place than walking through the streets of Paris and taking in the sights around me. It is one of the times in my life that I felt most alive. And that feeling didn’t just stem from the monuments or the lights – Paris gives you that feeling because of its people. The people of Paris are the glue and its soul. It is a beautiful city full of beautiful people; full of life, possibilities, and futures. People flock to Paris to have those futures, to have life experiences, to fall in love – it is one of the most magical cities in the world. And that is why I have the fullest faith that Paris will come out of this terrible tragediy stronger.
In the darkest of times, the possibility to find light can be overshadowed by the weight of the tragedy. What happened in France cannot be explained, and it will take time to heal the deep wounds inflicted by these attacks. We learned as a world that even the most beautiful cities can be brought to a standstill in the darkest of ways, and that our sense of security is more fragile than we may like to admit. But something else this tragedy taught the world is the power of community. Neighbors helping neighbors, complete strangers helping others to safety, the heroic acts of police and national forces; these are all examples of the heroism and connectedness that shine through the cracks of the darkest days. Paris is a strong city; it has been a world leader for centuries, and the world looks to Paris for its cues. Your people and your nation will make it through the darkness, once again to find light in the days. And we, as a world community, will be there with you, thinking and praying for you, and helping you rebuild piece by piece. Darkness will not win here; not today, not ever.
Too often, we find ourselves praying for the victims of senseless violence in this world. For some, there is a lost sense of identity with our fellow human beings, enough to believe that there are lives worth more than others. As a global community, we need to come together in these times of sorrow and grief to reevaluate the way we view one another and understand each other’s societies. In these challenging times, to make sense of this unthinkable violence, we must move forward stronger and united. We stand with Paris.
All of my deepest thoughts and prayers to Paris – may you find the strength and healing you need to pick up the pieces and move forward as one.
