By now I am sure you know about Paris, a city I love, being attacked. It’s awful, it truly is. But already all I am hearing is “let’s retaliate“. How about no?
If we retaliate we are also terrorists, we need to stop fighting. I am not racist or religionist (is that a word?) but the last few weeks I’ve been trying extra hard to be nice to minorities. The kind of people tabloids would have you thinking want to kill us all. Do you know what? The lady who runs in a hijab in the fields behind my home, she’s just a mum that cares about her fitness. She has not got an explosive vest on under the lycra, I said “hello, how are you doing” and she didn’t say anything about my short skirt or that I was wearing a poppy. That’s because Muslims are not the enemy. They are just people, like you or me.
I like (or indeed dislike) people based on their personalities not their skin colour, religion or country of birth. Social media since the Paris attacks has largely been pray for Paris or kill all Muslims. Terrorism is not a religion!
Hating people who look different because a few of them are insane psychopaths who think murder is “God’s way” is mental.
Right now I am at a world class rugby venue, ready for a game against an Italian team. This makes it a target, it’s televised, it’s at one of England’s traditional rugby clubs. They might be here for charity, but there are around 50 uniformed members of the forces here, mainly the army in pale camouflage.
For the first time at a home match I was searched, my seven year old son at my side. I told him “please let any of our stewards check your pockets”, they are just want to keep us safe. They wouldn’t touch him obviously, but I need him to know they aren’t accusing us, they are randomly checking people. Even us. We are very English, and Jen was born quarter of a mile away from here. The stewards know I’m not a threat and neither is Jen. He came here as a baby in my tummy, he’s been coming here since a month old, and we will keep coming back even if attacks happen at other sporting venues, like Stade de France.
Respect
I still use the tube, and sit next to young men with rucksacks. I still live, and I still won’t hold all Muslims responsible. I remember very well how the local mosque helped during the floods, gave out food and water. Food and water paid for by donations from the Muslims who attend that mosque. Does this sound like an uncaring group of people?
I am an atheist, and it’s as much my right to disbelieve as it’s anyone else’s right to choose to believe. Jews, Sikh, Muslim or anything else. People are people, and most people just want to live in peace.
Sadly I feel strongly we are near a third world war. Terrorist attacks have successfully started the whole divide and conquer thing. Why let it be us versus them?
I just want peace. I can’t do a thing about extremists, I can’t fix that, but I can act human. We can all act more human.
And I will carry on going out, and living. And I’d say the same if I lived in Paris or London…. because I am a Londoner by birth. I’d like to say I’m not afraid, but I am. I want my kids (and everyone else) to live in peace and not be afraid.
It is so sad what has happened and my heart aches for everyone affected by it. What is really getting to me at the moment is how so many people are responding with hate, when hate is the last thing we need at the moment.
I don’t understand how so many people carry so much hate, I’m not just talking about the terrorists who carry out such attacks but the people who use social media in the aftermath. I’ve read some horrific posts from people, posts which talk about killing, hate and violence making them no better than the people who carried out the attacks. Violence is not the answer.
I think it is sad and desperately incomprehensible what happened and I just cannot stand to watch the images and see those poor people suffering x
I so agree with your thoughts, it is such a shame we are in this position x
Wonderful post. I find it difficult when people pigeon hole a religion because a minority of them act in a certain way. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a Muslim in todays world. I have faith in humanity to believe we all know better than to cause any racial hate or tension that isn’t needed towards any group. x
It really frustrates me that they are blaming Muslims when their is no proof. The attacks have just happened and we should not be pointing fingers at others just because they have a different skin colour!
I have to admit I can see why people are scared and worried – I’m not sure right now I would want to be in London.. However I’m trying to keep calm and keep going on. x
I see why people are scared and becoming paranoid, who wouldn’t. Times like this, I am happy to live in a very boring village in the North.
My heart feels broken by what has happened in Paris 🙁 xxx
Words cannot express my sadness for our world right now. I am scared for its future. Kaz x
Such a great post and you’ve worded it very well. It hurts to think it’s 2015 and we are having so many issues across the world. It feels like WW3 is going to happen soon and I couldn’t imagine bringing children into this world when it’s like this.
Teaching your son to be open minded and understand it’s for safety is such a lovely thing. I think it’s so easy to be swept up and let fear rule us, this was a very thoughtful post. Thank you for sharing.
I sometimes think that people full of hatred look for people to blame regardless of the situation. I was supposed to be taking my seven children to Paris in march but at the moment I am undecided whether we will go ahead with the trip.
I am terrified! What is happening is giving me panic attacks! I can’t even think about it! It’s awful 🙁
Totally agree. I don’t think we should retaliate. There must be another way. Some way that no one has thought of yet. At some point people have got to stop fighting or the gift of life will well and truly be wiped out 🙁
Louise x