Flowers and messages surround Le Carillon, one of the restaurants attacked on November 13.
© Meredith Mullins

French Spirit and Cultural Beliefs Are Woven with Strength and Courage

We don’t usually foresee danger in our daily routines—in restaurants, bars, sports stadiums, or concert halls. We expect to be safe in movie theatres, office buildings, trains, churches, airplanes, and schools—even with past history embedded in our memory.

Sadly, at this time in a world where hatred, violence, guns, and insanity are more common than we could have ever imagined, the risk of danger becomes hauntingly familiar. The possibility plants itself at the edges of our consciousness.

And then the unthinkable happens. Terrorists attack the very essence of everyday rhythms. They assault innocent people—people eating, laughing, cheering their team, drinking, dancing to heavy metal, talking with friends and neighbors.

Commemorating the victims of the attacks at the Place de la République
© Meredith Mullins

The Paris Attacks

Paris suffered such attacks on 13 November, 2015. A night of shock and terror, endless sirens, confusion, and tragedy hanging heavy in the air.

A night that brought to light the fact that there is much we do not know about the terrorist underworld. A night that exposed the weaknesses in many of the systems built to keep us safe. A night that was followed by police raids, more attacks (Mali), and threats of attacks (Belgium). A night that reverberates around the world.

French soldiers guard Notre Dame Cathedral.
© Meredith Mullins

French President Hollande declared a state of emergency. The police went into overdrive, putting pieces of the puzzle together and doing everything possible to identify those responsible and shut down future attacks.

Museums and monuments closed. Soldiers patrolled the streets. The country and the world mourned the dead and prayed for the wounded.

Moments of silence
© Jerry Fielder

The Spirit of France

These dramatic events were filled with “Oh, I see” moments. The most meaningful, for me was the immediate emotional and heartfelt stance for the values and cultural beliefs that are at the heart of the character of France.

The spirit of Paris
© Meredith Mullins

Liberté. Egalité. Fraternité. Strength. Resilience. Defiance. Solidarity. Love. Desire for peace. Courage to overcome fear. Respect for life.

Place de la République was transformed into an impromptu memorial to commemorate the victims and pledge allegiance to freedom. The words même pas peur (not afraid) became not just a headline, but a mantra.

Même Pas Peur (Not Afraid)
© Meredith Mullins

The Eiffel Tower shimmered with the proud blue, white, and red of the French flag.

The motto for the city of Paris “Fluctuat nec mergitur” emerged as a cry of defiance. The French national anthem (La Marseillaise) burst forth spontaneously in small crowds of patriots.

The Paris Coat of Arms
Image Courtesy of the City of Paris

Fluctuat nec mergitur (“She is tossed by the waves but does not sink.”)
Image © Stefan Kaufmann

People paid tribute to the victims of each attack site, with silent prayers and reflection, candles, bouquets, and messages of sadness and hope. Flowers filled bullet holes.

Flowers filled some of the bullet holes at one of the targeted restaurants.
© Meredith Mullins

Signs of solace and solidarity covered the closed-up buildings and hung from police tape that circled the once lively terraces.

Messages on the shuttered wall of Le Petit Cambodge, including “Love is stronger than hate.”
© Meredith Mullins

As the names of victims were released and news spread through their neighborhoods, more prayers, flowers, and messages were offered for the 130 people who lost their lives—at their homes, businesses, and places of worship.

A child speaks from her heart, drawing her tears and her sadness.
Image courtesy of Fiona

The Power of Tears and Flowers

Our lives have changed forever. France sheds tears for the loss of life and the affront to freedom. We are sad, but as many of the messages read, “We will not succumb to hate.”

With a response of courage and the conviction of core cultural beliefs, there is a glimmer of light and hope—especially when a child (in the video below) believes that les méchants of the Paris attacks (“the bad guys”) can be overpowered by the warmth of candles and the beauty of flowers.

(If video does not display, watch it here.)

Vive la France.

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