Senseless, pointless, and my love to France.

If you haven't heard of what has occurred in Paris, then do so now.

I only found out about this recently: six simultaneous terrorist attacks in Paris, France, at Nov. 13th last night. Reports still vary, but an estimated 150 dead? This is worse than the Charlie Hebdo attacks earlier this year. Dear God, this is terrible.

Right now, I feel sadness and even the need to cry for the poor souls of Paris, and all the citizens of France in general. I'm somewhat amazed that this attack has spurred the French government to actually declare curfew and a national state of emergency, especially since it hasn't had to since the end of WWII. I hope martial law will not be implemented upon this beautiful country.

How on earth did this happen, though? Six attacks, timed almost perfectly and at close distance, in the heart of the great French metropolis that is Paris? I thought after the Charlie Hebdo attack France would take better measures to ensure such a tragedy would not occur again, but this? The death toll is what hit me the most, like almost nine times that of Charlie Hebdo! So too is the pointlessness of such barbaric acts. I can't fathom why one would do this. Killing in self-defense or for a good cause is one thing, but to murder for some nefarious purpose? People who do that are no better than pigs. But perhaps my biggest worry is that the French government (and by extension, the people), along with the rest of the civilized world, will begin to blame Islam and ISIS for this horror. Many of the news reports that I read say that some people heard the terrorists shout "Allahu Akbar" or rant about France's involvement in the Middle East, particularly Syria, and how they shouldn't have gotten involved. I fear that the victims (not just the dead) will want some retribution, some payback, and this will result in another unnecessary military action towards the Middle East, as well as immature fear and hate towards Muslims in general, which will only add more to the roiling chaos that is Islamic phobia. Not only that, but I think many European countries will close off their borders to African and Middle Eastern migrants in the wake of these attacks, and perhaps even deport (especially forcibly) those already living in their lands.

Before this, I didn't think how serious the crisis in Europe is (extreme right-wing political parties in office, African/Middle Eastern mass migration to Europe, economic problems). Now I see that it's very serious. I just hope that Europe, and especially France, doesn't suffer another harmful act that will result in even worse suffering and initiate yet another cycle of fear, hate, and vengeance bigger than the one this crisis will undoubtedly create. That's why I send my love and hope to the people of Paris and all of France, as well as my personal hope that their reason overcomes their fear, and potential need to seek revenge.

Pray for France tonight, my friends. Pray for the victims. Pray for peace to eventually reign supreme in light of this insanity. My prayers and hopes to France in this hour of need. Thank you.