In the wake of last week’s tragedy, this title may seem harsh. Of course, my heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the communities who are suffering this loss. No one deserves this kind of pain and I feel we all received the news wishing that these kinds of malicious acts didn’t exist in our world and we didn’t have to have this discussion in the first place.
As the events unfolded last week, social media proved that its crazy-high prevalence in our lives does some good by allowing those in France to “check-in” that they were safe, undoubtedly easing the fears and chaos of those trying to make sure whether or not their friends were okay. But social media also proved that it is biased, placing certain tragedies on a pedestal while others are forgotten. The most visual example filling your newsfeed since this weekend is the app that puts a French flag filter over your profile picture, to show your solidarity with France. Of course, we should stand with those who are affected by this tragedy. But putting a filter over your face, in my opinion, does more harm than good. Here’s why:
1. Isn’t it saying I am NOT standing with other tragedies, rather than WITH France?
If I change my picture for France and not for other mass attacks that happen around the globe, it is a stronger statement that those attacks are not worthy of the mourning and attention that the Paris Attacks received.
2. Because Beirut
Beirut was attacked by the same extremists just days before, but was overshadowed by the coverage that flocked to France. Some could say that it’s because only “over 40” people were killed, compared to the 129 in Paris. But we all know that it’s not about numbers. There are places in the world where we are used to people being shot, blown up, and victims to violence. Take for example when the Charlie Hebdo shooting occurred in January. Including linked attacks, 17 were killed. The week before in Baga, Nigeria, thousands were slaughtered by Boko Haram, the deadliest attack in the extremist group’s history. I think we remember where the attention went. It’s not about numbers, it’s about who we care more about.
3. It all feels very superficial after a summer of watching refugees drown in the Mediterranean
It’s estimated that 3,000 refugees have drowned this year trying to escape the very same instability that is breeding the strength of ISIS and allowing them to carry out such attacks as these in Paris. Yet it took vessel after capsized vessel for the world to even start paying attention. When the unknown innocents disappear in the water, does it hurt less than when the known innocents are shot down in our streets? Aren’t they all innocents wishing we had a better world?
4. Nationalism is never the answer
It’s the easy answer. It is easy for us to divide the world into little boxes and sections and create “us vs. them” mentalities. But we all know that in our global world, we are all connected in more ways than we can imagine. I can’t change my profile picture to be one country’s flags when each and every country in the world needs our prayers, because humanity needs our prayers. I’ll change it when we have a global flag.
5. We need a real dialogue about terrorism that goes beyond France
The moment the news was out that there were coordinated attacks, it was like the Muslim world held its breath hoping, “oh please don’t let them be Muslim. And if they are, please don’t let them be from my nationality.” As people, we like to stereotype. We like to generalize. But those generalizations create stigmas that are very harmful to people groups. Muslims know this. If those shooters posed as Syrian refugees, which they think they did, that creates a world of trouble and discrimination for the rest of the Syrian refugees trying to escape. And anyone else who is Muslim or Arab. Because if one is crazy, the rest must be crazy. When we say we are standing with a country, it means we are standing with it against something. Against what? Terrorism? Isn’t the war on terror what brought us to this moment in the first place. Sending an entire region into spiraling chaos? We should be standing with humanity, not with France, because this isn’t just France’s problem. It isn’t just Syria’s problem. It isn’t just America’s problem. It isn’t just Egypt’s problem. It is all of our problem.
6. It doesn’t even do anything
Despite everything that has already been said, if someone really wants to show that they are supporting the victims, this isn’t it. The individuals lost cannot be blanketed with the stripes of the French flag. Yes, they were French, but their loved ones are not mourning them because of their citizenship. Maybe the rest of the world is, but their loved ones are mourning the losses of their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. The things that made them loved and cherished in their communities. It has nothing to do with them being French. It’s not even about France. It’s about the world.
