Solidarity

On the night of November 13th, 2015, Paris suffered a massive terrorist attack including shootings, bombings, hostages, and over 100 deaths. The traumatic evening which was deemed a terrorist attack hurt the lives of all the residents, tourists, and others all over the world who heard the news. The world came together on the days following the attack to show support for Paris. For example, famous monuments and buildings including the Empire State Building in NYC and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, as shown on the right, were lit up in blue, white, and red in honor of those suffering in Paris.

Additionally, individuals around the world have come together via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to express their sorrow, mourning, and opinions on Friday night's events. People changed their profile pictures to photos with a blue, white, and red filters to show support. Additionally, hashtags like "#prayforparis" were also used frequently on posts. People who studied abroad or visited Paris while traveling posted pictures as a form of condolences. Some may say this was an act of unity within various nations of the world coming together to pay their respects. However, others have highlighted a flaw in the solidarity expressed in these actions.

A blog article published on outwithgeorge discusses the idea of privilege and its relation to the solidarity shown after the Paris attacks. The author of the blog highlighted the fact that the world came together to mourn the death of those in the Paris attacks but failed to display solidarity for others suffering around the world including those in Lebanon, Kenya, or Syria. He explains that so many people are more sympathetic to those who suffered in Paris because it is associated with white people being the victims. When it is "brown" people suffering civil unrest, terrorist attacks, or massacres, the world does not post flags up as profile pictures or create hashtags to show support.

This issue arrises from the media and news networks revolving their reports on the attacks on Paris. The news channels do not appropriate coverage on various events, but rather focus reports on what they believe to be the most important "breaking" news. Since the Paris attacks were given the most attention, the word spread, similar to a viral Youtube video or Facebook campaign. Because of all the attention the attacks received, people were more inclined to show support. Although the privilege issue also plays an important role in the issue. News channels and individuals need to make an effort to become more aware of problems similar to the terrorist attacks in Paris. Solidarity is effective when it is not focused on a concentrated amount of issues.

Photo credit:
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/11/monuments-around-the-world-light-up-for-paris/416106/