My Dear French Brothers and Sisters,
Fourteen years ago we stood where you stand today. While no two experiences, much less cultures, are alike, I will venture to make a prediction: In the midst of the horror you will experience something wonderful: You will be a united country, with opposing factions coming together in their humanity; you will find yourselves giving and receiving unusual kindnesses; and people from all over the world will express their sympathy and support. Strangers will reach out to strangers, as you have done with #portesouvertes. You will be a little more friendly on the Métro, and more patient on the highways. You will stand a little taller, work a little harder, and be a lot more grateful for the people in your lives. You will be yourselves, only better.
Hang onto that.
If you follow in our footsteps, one day you will realize the glimpse of heaven has gone. You will catch yourself cursing the driver who cuts you off. In your impatience you will scream at your kids. Facing someone who disagrees with you, you will once again see a fool or a devil instead of a human being.
Don't let go of the only good gift the terrorists have left behind.
Make no mistake: You are, indeed, at war. War is being made against you, and you have three choices: You can ignore it, you can shrink into isolationism, or you can stand up to your foes. History has shown that the first two options never work for long. The third is costly on many fronts and doesn't always work, either, but it is where hope and honor reside.
How can we stand against such an enemy?
I admire M. Hollande's determination to act with “all the necessary [lawful] means, and on all terrains, inside and outside, in coordination with our allies.” Timidity would only strengthen such a foe, to everyone's loss.
That is what the government can do: the military actions, the large-scale policy decisions, the intelligence gathering and analysis. But what is the role of a citizen? What can everyone do to defeat the terrorists? Here's what I think:
- When we continue to live our ordinary lives and do our ordinary work without giving in to our fears, we are fighting terrorism. Fear is the enemy's most powerful and effective weapon.
- When we refuse to let our anger turn us against the innocent, we are fighting terrorism. Injustice, especially toward the powerless and the hopeless, fertilizes the terrorists' recruiting ground.
- When we make an effort to become friends with those of other nations, cultures, and beliefs, we are fighting terrorism. A faceless, dehumanized enemy is so much easier to kill.
- When we acknowledge, study, appreciate, and build up the good that is unique to our own heritage, while recognizing the same in others, we are fighting terrorism. Our enemies would like to see every culture and belief that is not its own erased from history. If we will not honor and protect our own cultures, history, and ancestors, who will?
- When we resist the hatred that rises within our own selves, we are fighting terrorism. If we become like our enemies, we have handed them the victory.
- When we allow our unbearable pain to be the soil from which grow acts of kindness, attention to the needs of others, expressions of love and appreciation, and attitudes of patience and mercy, we are fighting terrorism. Bringing good out of our sorrow removes a potent instrument of torture from the enemy's hands.
- When we can hold on to both the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove, we can fight terrorism. Keeping the balance puts the battle on our terms, not theirs.
Know that as an American I speak as much to my own country as to yours. We have not set the best example in grappling with our common enemy. Work together with us and all who seek justice, freedom, and peace to find the right path.
Vive la France!
