Thoughts and Prayers to Paris

I'm sad, and my heart hurts. My heart hurts because while I was screaming in excitement for my school's football team, France was screaming in terror. Millions were grieving over the horrific attacks that occurred this past Friday, the thirteenth of November.

This attack represents one of the worst terror attacks since September 11th, 2001. At least 153 people are dead after terrorists unleashed coordinated attacks of gunfire on hostages, suicide bombs and grenades. This attack was planned and it was executed with the utmost determination.

One of the attacks was located at the Bataclan music venue, where gunmen reportedly dressed in black opened gunfire on the concert attendees. Eyewitnesses have reported accounts of attackers shouting in Arabic, but no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Bombings were reported near the Stade de France football stadium where a friendly match between French and German national football teams was going on. President Hollande of France was at the football game when word of the attacks arrived.

The attacks did come with immense support from the entire world. President Obama said the attacks were an "attack on humanity and the universal values we all share." The one good thing to come out of these attacks is a united world. That's what we need right now. We need to support our French brothers and sisters who are grieving and dealing with an immense loss. We need to support France as a country, only 10 months ago they suffered from a terrorist attack that killed seventeen people.

Why must there be terrorism? Why can't we have a world free of war and terrorism, and rich in love and respect for all. I know it's too much, but think about it. If we "failed forward" and learned from the many mistakes that each country has been through in history, maybe these attacks wouldn't have happened. It's a long shot, but I hope one day, we will be able to have a country that is not  in a state of emergency. A country without war and suffering.

I'm sad for Paris but I'm so incredibly proud of the world. The way we came out to support our brothers and sisters shows terrorists that can intimidate us, but they will not shake the love that we have in our hearts for everyone. Suffering is unfortunate, but if we can learn one thing from this horrible November night, we can learn to stand by each other and that support is the best thing we can provide.

Keep Paris in your thoughts and prayers, please.

stay peaceful (and supportive)!!