By now, I am sure everyone has heard of the atrocity that had happened in Paris last Friday night. The terrorist attacks have caused a great deal of chaos, sadness and anger. There are so many people — innocents — who have lost their lives over something senseless. There are mothers who will never hold their babies and parents who will never be able to say goodnight to their children again. The attacks on Paris are disgraceful and cowardly. There is no honor in the killing of the innocent.
The point of terrorism is to cause a sense of fear, a fear so strong and deep that we are scared to leave our houses, that we are crippled and unable to continue with our lives. By attacking people all around Paris, natives and tourists alike, the terrorists are trying to show that no one is safe. They are making a statement that they willing to kill indiscriminately in order to instill fear in people. Terrorism is nasty and it is dirty. Terrorists do not play fair. My thoughts and prayers are with every family that has been affected by this tragedy, but we cannot allow these people to have died for nothing. We cannot allow the terrorists to win. Paris, you are bruised but not broken. The loss you have suffered is unimaginable, but you are stronger. You have the thoughts and prayers of millions of people around the world. You have the support of so many countries and if we band together, we can show our strength in a time where terrorists are expecting weakness and win.
The innocent lives lost will never be able to be replaced, they will live now only in memory, but we cannot allow people to begin to turn to chaos. We must stand together, strong and proud. Together, we are unstoppable. Terrorists are cowards and they are scum. They prey on the weak; they thrive on the chaos that occurs after an attack. Terrorists are pathetic people who want nothing more than media attention and to make huge disruptions. They want us to fear each other, to fear the unknown, fear everything and anything. Do not let them win. Do not let them tear us apart. Do not fall into Islamophobia and start projecting your anger onto innocent Muslims. If you do this, they win. They want your hatred; they want to tear people apart. Separately we are weak, but united we stand strong.
Do not fall into the game, do not fear Muslims. ISIS, the cowardly group that they are, cannot even consider themselves Muslim. Islam is a religion of peace, love and acceptance. ISIS is a group of terrorists who go against everything that Islam stands for. They are cowards, and they kill Muslims and non-Muslims alike. If you begin to fear all Muslims, the terrorists win, because you are scared, and your fear is what keeps terrorist organizations alive. They are fueled by our fear and they are thirsty for power. Do not begin to hate because that will solve nothing.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace,” said Jimi Hendrix.
Let us live in a world where we love one another and stand together through the horrible times. Love is the most powerful force in the world. With love binding us together, we could be unstoppable. Paris, my thoughts and prayers are with you. We stand with you.
