Tristesse Times Two

Like almost everyone, I’m stunned and saddened by Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.  The human carnage is awful, the geopolitical implications are chilling, and the fear that this is just an opening salvo in a mobile, hydra-headed Isis/Isil/Daesh/Al Qaeda/Islamic Extremist assault on the West, in the West, is palpable. 

That this horror occurred in Paris magnifies the sadness.  For many United States citizens, Paris is the epitome of sophisticated, romantic culture – not to mention that France is our country’s oldest ally.  An exploded Russian airline in the Sinai, a series of hideous bombings in Beirut, terrorist assaults in Barcelona, the continuing and deadly Israeli-Palestinian strife, even the fairly recent semi-successful plots in London, have not touched us as viscerally.  On Facebook, for example, people are superimposing the Tricoleur on their avatars.  No one I know did this when a Russian plane was shot down earlier this month, resulting in even more casualties of innocents. 

Not a criticism; a triste observation.

To risk sounding like NRAniks who predictably say ‘this is not the time to discuss gun control’ after some horrific mass shooting . . . this is probably not the time to rehearse the West’s often dismal colonial and neo-colonial and current history in the Middle East.  Certainly we can learn from history, but historical memory and ‘facts’ are not static.  Historicity changes as current events change.  They’ve changed now.

Which brings me to the second sadness.  It wasn’t that long ago that a serious threat to our country or to our key allies was addressed by a unified U.S. populace, including and importantly, elected or wanting-to-be-elected politicians.  Evidently, the recent past is no longer operative.

It’s disgusting that a handful of high-profile United States politicians are using the Paris tragedy to immediately bash President Obama (and anyone connected with him).  There are legitimate questions about the current administration’s Middle East policy, but for heaven’s sake, give the President more than a few hours to meet with his highest-level advisors, foreign leaders, CIA spymasters, cyber-security forces  . . . and give him the benefit of the doubt that he is actually doing these things. 

Even if we cannot and should not bid adieu to tristesse, let us act thoughtfully without sentimentality or partisanship.

Consider carefully that it is not the people who call for peace but those who make peace who are commended. For there are those who talk but do nothing.

Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God's loving-kindness; otherwise, sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair.

--St. Bernard of Clairvaux