The world does not function in absolutes beyond people will be born and people will die. This holds for all countries around the globe. No one can say with absolute certainty that every male child born into a Muslim family today will be a terrorist in twenty years. No one. Just like no one can say every white male born to a Christian family today will live a sin free life. It is truly impossible to determine an individuals path for the remainder of their life based on their race, nationality, political views, religious beliefs and socioeconomic status. Yet, given world events over the last twenty-four hours, the Muslim community is being vilified over the actions of three to seven (depending on reports) terrorists who opened fire in Paris, France. Last report had 129 people dead, over 300 injured and 99 of those are in critical condition. It is a tragedy, no question. The fact it was a concert group makes it more so because the assumption can be made that most of the dead/wounded are young adults and because of the fact that they weren't a threat to anyone.
While this is all tragic, I am among the group that does not hold all of the Muslim faith accountable for what zealots do in the name of Islam. I work with Soldiers. I have sent them off on deployment and welcomed them home at least twelve times. I do not know what they saw there beyond the experiences they shared with me. I do know they all came back different then when they left. I know some could not continue with their ghosts and committed suicide. I know they lost comrades they cared about. I know they saw wounds and people dying. However, I also know that some met friendly individuals of the Muslim faith. I know they provided care to children and adults of the Muslim faith when they were in need. I know that I have attended far too many memorial services for Soldiers lost too soon and too far from home.
The events in Paris are not Muslim vs. Christian. It is a pure evil event. It is a situation of jealousy, envy, ego, whatever. It is NOT in the name of any religion. It is NOT a representation of the full group of believers of any faith. It is a bastardization of a belief system. It is a tragedy. Nothing more, nothing less. Will this likely kick up the desire to destroy terrorists? Sure. Those discussions have already begun. Only thing is, since the beginning of time there have been terrorists. There is, and always will be, that group who believe that their way of life, they way of thought, is the only valid and reasonable way. Some will take their beliefs underground and work quietly. Others, like the ISIS terrorists, will take a more violent way.
Beyond the tragic events brought on by the terrorists, a French cartoonist has stirred up some bad feelings over the use of #PraysforParis. His view is that religion has done enough for Paris. Basically, if there wasn't religion, yesterday's events wouldn't have happened. See, here's the thing, many various religions pray. If they believe in a higher power, regardless of what that power is known as, they pray. Would a better way to say it be #CommunewithahigherpowerforParis? At the end of the day, it is the same. The world is hoping for safety in Paris; for the end of the deaths; for the country to recover as best it can; for the violence to end for Paris and all countries.
