Commisérations

[Pabmusic]

...RIP all those who perished there in the horrors of last night...

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[BBMmk2]

Love and Peace to Paris. Sympathies to those who lost their lives.

[MrGongGong]

Yes - but not only even that but a very sad day for humanity as a whole, if I may say so.

Indeed

And a reminder of the kind of world that many are running away from.

[Flosshilde]

Very sad. A pointless waste. A sad day for France, and for Europe too.

Not just Europe - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32169080

And in Lebanon, too. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inp...101543246.html

[mercia]

yes, I was just about to ask - when innocent people are killed in terrorist atrocities in countries other than developed western ones, do we feel this same solidarity with those countries ? or have I missed some blindingly obvious difference.

[Serial_Apologist]

yes, I was just about to ask - when innocent people are killed in terrorist atrocities in countries other than developed western ones, do we feel this same solidarity with those countries ? or have I missed some blindingly obvious difference.

We possibly feel more in sympathy (solidarity being something we can do?) with people than with their countries. A state is a difficult idea with which to have solidarity - divisions make it too nebulous a concept.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

yes, I was just about to ask - when innocent people are killed in terrorist atrocities in countries other than developed western ones, do we feel this same solidarity with those countries ? or have I missed some blindingly obvious difference.

I feel as horrified and as sympathetic when I hear of these other atrocities - but they are rarely brought to the attention of the Forum, mercs.

[P. G. Tipps]

yes, I was just about to ask - when innocent people are killed in terrorist atrocities in countries other than developed western ones, do we feel this same solidarity with those countries ? or have I missed some blindingly obvious difference.

I think the 'blindingly obvious difference' may be that Paris is a lot closer to home both geographically and culturally.

The horrifying realisation that 'we could be next' springs to mind.

However, you are right, no innocent human life is more valuable than any other.

[Serial_Apologist]

I think the 'blindingly obvious difference' may be that Paris is a lot closer to home both geographically and culturally.

Going only by personal experience this changes after living in a largely multicultural environment such as around here for a decade. Having questioned my own culture beforehand probably helps preparatorily; but you will rightly come back to say, at least my culture allowed for such questioning.

[Serial_Apologist]

I feel as horrified and as sympathetic when I hear of these other atrocities - but they are rarely brought to the attention of the Forum, mercs.

That is down to the strictures on politics here, I would think. The limitation of stating the obvious and leaving it at that is still glaringly obvious, however.

[teamsaint]

Western European governments are deeply complicit in the development of the violent chaos in the middle east.

Events such as those in Paris need to highlight that, and not obscure it. ( following on from Boilks point).

And on another point, if over 300 "radicalised" British citizens have returned from the wars in Syria, and are a real threat to public safety,then given the level of surveillance in this country, serious questions need to be asked about the competence and/or motivations of our security forces.

[Serial_Apologist]

Western European governments are deeply complicit in the development of the violent chaos in the middle east.

Events such as those in Paris need to highlight that, and not obscure it. ( following on from Boilks point).

And on another point, if over 300 "radicalised" British citizens have returned from the wars in Syria, and are a real threat to public safety,then given the level of surveillance in this country, serious questions need to be asked about the competence and/or motivations of our security forces.

Back in the day, they were far more "efficient" at it.

[mercia]

or have I missed some blindingly obvious difference.

to answer my own question, one obvious difference between events in Paris and, for example, the "Baga massacre" of January 2015, when an estimated 2,000+ were killed, is that the latter was (as far as I understand it) part of an ongoing civil war, so it would be impossible to somehow show solidarity with the country of Nigeria as such.

....... if you see what I mean .....

[Serial_Apologist]

to answer my own question, one obvious difference between events in Paris and, for example, the "Baga massacre" of January 2015, when an estimated 2,000+ were killed, is that the latter was (as far as I understand it) part of an ongoing civil war, so it would be impossible to somehow show solidarity with the country of Nigeria as such.

....... if you see what I mean .....

I don't.

Are you saying as a matter of general principle that victims of massacres resulting from civil wars are less deserving of solidarity? Because a divided entity (eg Nigeria in your citation) is not possible to have solidarity with, is it?

[mercia]

... perhaps I'm tying myself in knots here. Perhaps the two events are not dissimilar. We express our solidarity with France by illuminating the colours of the tricolor on the London Eye and Sydney Opera House, lay flowers outside the embassy and sign a book of condolence - we feel France the country,its people, has been attacked by outsiders (whom we fear ourselves).

After the 'Baga massacre' did similar gestures take place ? .... or not - because it was seen as part of a Nigerian against Nigerian conflict.

I think this may be turning into a pedantic argument of my own making.