However hard it gets, we must remain positive in the face of terrorism
WHEN you think the news can’t possibly get any worse, events have a habit of proving you wrong.
The awful, stomach-churning scenes in Nice showed us that.
That such an attack happened on France’s proudest day, Bastille Day, makes it all the more horrific.
It’s when the French come together to celebrate all that is great about their nation. A time of family, of celebration, of fun.
That this maniac targeted total innocents increases the agony.
Mums with buggies, dads with tots on their shoulders, excited children enjoying fireworks and family time.
Watching the footage of people running for their lives was so sad.
I saw a TV interview with a young girl who had been in the crowd at the time of the attack.
My heart broke for her as she said she would avoid going to public events, to gatherings and celebrations from now on.
It made me think of when we were booking our family holiday recently.
We discussed Turkey – this before the awful events of the last couple of days – and I said I wanted to avoid it because of the awful terrorist attacks those poor people there have been subjected to during the past few months.
“No, Mum,” said my daughter, who is 20 (and has an unshakeable view of right and wrong). “That would be wrong.
“You can’t live your life like that. Because if you did, then they would win.”
She is probably right. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who couldn’t help but consider the remote but awful possibilities as we chose our family holiday.
And who could blame that poor French girl, now too fearful of evil to go about her life as she should be entitled to?
Every time there’s a horror like Nice, how many of us now silently wonder – could it be us next? When will it be? Where?
We might not voice those fears, or we push them aside. But we think them all the same.
Families look forward to this time of year and their summer break. Mums and dads anticipate spending time with their children.
Every attack makes it that bit harder to wave children and grandkids off with a smile.
Surely, there can’t be a soul among us who doesn’t now offer up a prayer for their safe return.
As mums lie on sun loungers, or splash their kids in the sea, how many of them will now cast a wary glance around, not truly expecting anything awful – but keeping a watchful eye out, just in case?
To stay at home, to cancel our holidays or to alter our way of life are simply not options, though.
Because all of us, and especially our young people, like that scared French girl I wept for, are entitled to a positive view of the world. To see good people not giving in.
At times like this, it feels harder and harder to provide that positive view.
But we must never stop trying.