My Facebook feed hasn't looked so red, white, and blue since the Fourth of July, but this time it's not for America. Now, my Facebook reflects a pseudo-nationalism in the wake of terrorist attacks in France, but not in Beirut, Baghdad, or Japan.
The Turkish president assured the G-20 summit that the French attacks will be at the top of the agenda. There were three different terrorist attacks this weekend, but the other two have been largely left out of the conversation. Hollande, the French president, called this attack “an act of war.” But what about the countries in war with their government or where ISIS has taken root and attack daily?
OK, so it might be said that, while not as many people were killed or wounded in the other two attacks this weekend, and that is right, but what about Kenya earlier this year? 147 people, mostly students, were killed by al-Shabab militants. Where were their Facebook filters? Where were the peace signs and vigils? Did you tweet with #PrayersForKenya? The Sydney Opera House did not light up black, red, and green, nor did the Empire State building.
Our thoughts immediately go to who -- who -- would commit such heinous acts? As we are conditioned to assume, the word “Muslim” comes to mind. People were quick to jump to conclusions about the refugees. Although I cannot verify anything and it could be Syrian refugees, it is very real that this instance could have been done by Europeans. As I write, there is one verified killer, and he is French. A French native did this -- doesn't that skew our view of terror? We quickly forget that there is a reason for the migration. The Syrian war has been going on for four years. These people are escaping Syria to leave this violence and terror behind.
Now, this is not to belittle the attacks in France. This is really the opposite of that: I am calling for outrage for all terror attacks. We should be furious about the attacks in Baghdad and Beirut. Hundreds of people are dead or wounded this weekend, but we are only #praying for one of these countries. There is no question that I mourn with France, but I also mourn with the millions Syrians displaced and killed. I mourn for the citizens of Lebanon who were killed just hours before the attacks in Paris. I mourn for Baghdad who can not seem to put terror behind them. I mourn with the Japanese after their massive earthquake. So maybe, we should all expand our empathy and rage to other than just Western countries.
“Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.” This is the French motto. So in the spirit of France, let’s express Fraternity -- and not by singing Wagon Wheel and wearing Vineyard Vines -- with the global community and not just the West and places that look and feel like home.
