By Emily Benson
November 13, 2015. This day should have been no different than any other with Parisians attending concerts or football games and meeting up with friends for drinks. It began as a perfect, peaceful night in Paris but soon descended into an evening of chaos which would send shock waves around the world. For 20 agonizing minutes, the city experienced complete terror.
The attack began at 9:20pm with suicide bombers and ended at 9:40pm with three gunmen at the Bataclan Theatre, leaving 129 dead and hundreds wounded. While attempting to cope with the aftermath of this tragedy, we constantly ask ourselves, why did this happen? Although this question is impossible to answer, it seems to be the only one which we can manage to consider. Why did this happen? Why was there no regard for human life whatsoever? Right now, the pain is too great and the memory too fresh to begin addressing this issue.
Although the attacks only lasted for 20 minutes, the feelings of fright and terror lasted all night. The streets were crowded with people attempting to find some type of refuge. Acts of kindness flooded neighborhoods as locals welcomed those in the streets into their homes. Citizens soon began using the hashtag “porteouverte” which translates to “door open” to inform the stranded individuals where they could find a safe haven. Katie Walmsley with CNN noted that “across social media there were reports of taxis turning off their meters to help people get home for free.”
Walmsley also reported that the “French Red Cross mobilized over 300 volunteers to help those impacted…People across Paris lined up to give blood at donation centers and hospitals.” Despite the unimaginable anguish experienced by the people of Paris, they amazingly united to help one another while grieving over their loss. They came together as a family with a sense of fraternité and the resolve to remain strong regardless of the efforts of radicals to undermine their way of life.
CNN interviewed various young adults throughout Paris regarding their reactions to the terrorist attacks. The description of 21-year-old Marine Heuin epitomizes the sentiments expressed by Parisian youth: “To be young in Paris is extraordinary . . . I’ll keep going out, drinking red wine, listening to music and enjoying life because—I think that everyone realized it—life is so short.” Based on countless interviews and social media posts, it is certain that no Parisian is willing to let hatred win.
French President Francios Hollande commented, “It was the youth of France who were targeted simply because they represent life.” Although these attacks attempted to destroy life, in the weeks following the incident, the world fortunately has worked together to preserve the remaining life in Paris. Relief aid and prayers have been sent to the City of Lights, uplifting a broken city. Despite the terror, the people of Paris wake up every morning to face the challenges of coping with such a tragedy. The only way they can move forward is by hoping that safety and peace will soon return to their city.
Emily Benson is an Assistant Online Editor for the Sigma Iota Rho Journal of International Relations and a student at Utah State University.
