Comment: Why I have stopped praying for Paris

The country in which I grew up is a country of democracy, rights and freedom. This weekend this country, my country has been wounded in its heart. Some so-called experts of terrorism and historians pretend that such a slaughter was to be expected. Maybe.

But a few days after the bloodbath, we are now entering a new phase. The commercial exploitation of the events and the marketing of mourning. The media print appalling images and heartbreaking testimonies with the sole purpose of selling more copies. Symbols that were created to unify the people are now derived to make profit. You liked Jean Jullien’s sign combining a peace symbol with the Eiffel Tower?

You can now buy the earrings.

Not going to ‘show my support’

You liked the slogan “Pray for Paris”? You can now buy the Tshirt.

I neither need nor want to buy merchandise ‘to show my support’.

Neither am I going to pray for Paris, because God has had too many appeals during these last dark days. I am not going to sing La Marseillaise, dealing with ‘impure blood’ and ‘raising its bloody standard’. I am not going to change my facebook profile picture to a French flag, because not only my country has been wounded, but the whole of humanity.

Enjoying life is the crime and revenge

Victor Hugo, the 19th century French author wrote: “Qui attaque Paris attaque en masse tout le genre humain.” Whoever attacks Paris, attacks massively the whole of the humankind. I am proud to see that, even when deeply affected, humanity gathers. To see that even in horror, solidarity has no borders. I am proud to see that we, in Copenhagen, were 20,000 in front of the French Embassy last Sunday. While they brandish weapons, Copenhagen brandishes flaming torches.

I will wear a short skirt with indecency, laugh with my buddies in insolence, kiss my boyfriend with no reserve, and savor a glass of wine on a terrace.

Nowadays, there is no need to blaspheme or caricature — being free and enjoying life is enough of a crime to make us a target.

Relieved to be far away, almost ashamed to be alive, I will not sacrifice my liberty for my security. They don’t even deserve my fear, my anger, my hatred. I will go back to my free daily life.

I will wear a short skirt with indecency, laugh with my buddies in insolence, kiss my boyfriend with no reserve, and savor a glass of wine on a terrace.

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

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