The terror attacks on Paris were horrific.
I, like the rest of the world, have mixed feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, and helplessness.
And also, like the rest of the world, stand with and pray for France.
For a day or two, we’ll all be in a state of shock and mourning. But what inevitably comes next is the conversation on what to do.
That’s when it’ll get ugly.
Battle lines will be drawn. It’ll be us versus them. I’m not even talking about Western society and terrorism. I’m talking about amongst ourselves.
We’ll fight over foreign policy. We’ll fight over gun control. We’ll fight over immigration. We’ll fight over religion. We’ll fight over politics.
Those conversations are necessary. But they won’t be about a solution. They’ll be about blame. Our goal won’t be to build up society. We’ll be trying to tear each other down.
In President Obama’s response to the Paris attacks, he said, “This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.”
Even as you read that name, half of you will have feelings of disdain. That’s what I’m talking about.
Have we forgotten that we’re all human? Do we not know that we’re all trying to make the world better, but we have different thoughts on how to do it?
[bctt tweet=”More important than the content of conversations we have is who we are in them.”]
It’s important to argue for what you believe is right, but don’t degrade our humanity in the process. More important than the content of conversations we have is who we are in them.
Don’t lose your humanity by demonizing others.
[bctt tweet=”Don’t lose your humanity by demonizing others.”]
Another thing will happen.
We’ll numb ourselves.
The thought of terror attacks and all the complexities of what’s happening will be too much. So we’ll ignore it.
We’ll turn our attention back to pointless news like holiday cups and the Kardashians.
Don’t.
Choose which articles you read. Choose which conversations you’ll have.
Make your thoughts and your voice matter.
[bctt tweet=”Make your thoughts and your voice matter.”]