On November 13, 2015, terrorist infiltrated Paris and started a shooting spree at a concert and other local places. One year later, people commemorated those who had lost their life in these terrorist attacks.
Per CNN, “Lanterns, candles and calls for peace illuminated the City of Light on Sunday as Paris mourned 130 people killed one year ago in attacks throughout the city.”
No one was expecting for terrorists to hit local places. Many thought the places with tourists would be targeted just like in Brussels. One English teacher looked for meaning in the places that were hit.
NPR reports, “One friend, Everica Rivera, taught English in French schools. We knew each other from the University of Texas, where she studied the same topic I did. Following the attacks, she tried to find the meaning or possible symbolism behind the places the terrorists targeted.”
Over one year later, France is still paralyzed by fear. They are on high alert for any possible terrorist attacks that may happen in their city. They don’t even have as high as tourism as they had before the attacks took place.
CBS News states, “Tourism is hurting, armed forces roam streets and France is still under a state of emergency that rights groups call abusive and ineffective – and that the prime minister now says may be extended yet again.”
There were 90 people who were killed in the Paris attacks. The former French President, Francois Hollande had a memorial built to commemorate all 90 people who died in these attacks.
CNN explains, “At the Bataclan, the President tore down a French flag to reveal the memorial, as the names of all 90 who perished there were read aloud in solemn ceremony.”
Despite the attacks (the first attack was on Bastille Day in July 2015), the French were resolute to stay strong and to not give into the terrorists.
NPR reports, “‘”We were not going to be defined by these attacks,’ Galbrun said. ‘We were going to stay strong and stay together.’”
France, like other countries in Europe, is becoming more secular. Although many people claim to be Christian, many have left the Church. Cults and witchcraft are big in France. European Christian Mission (ECM)
ECM states, “All these developments are major challenges for the church. ECMI hopes that the new and existing churches can live out and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the answer to these challenges.”
CNN: Paris attacks: A year of grief, anger and change
NPR: A Year After The Paris Attacks, The Conversation Has Changed
CBS: Year after Paris attacks, France stuck with “climate of fear”?