‘They Won – We Lost”
‘Don’t be so harsh’ I retorted.
This was how our conversation began – One between an affectionate tourist and the soul of the City of love and lights. The City was going through a siege and was visibly disturbed.
‘The perpetrators started this Wednesday.’ I continued.
‘I went out that evening. I travelled through your length and breadth. I discovered you again. You were shining bright as ever. The trains were still running. There were still selfies being clicked at the Tour de Eifel (Eiffel Tower). Even though you were perturbed, you were brave enough to let the spirit of Liberté, égalité, fraternité prevail.’
‘I couldn’t join you at La Republique but saw the pictures. It was inspirational. The suspects were still loose. Yet people came out in hordes. They were not afraid. Not many have seen seen something similar (last comparable incident was bombings of Paris Metro in 1995) They stood up with their Pens held high. The French courage to say what needs to be said was only reinforced.
‘I kept walking across the streets. You are covered with messages of ‘Je Suis Charlie.’ (I am charlie) Millions across the world are coming out to support you? Why do you say we Lost?’
‘Well,’ the soul replied.
‘You know you are being optimistic, are you not? You forgot the kids we met on streets who said that it was good that this happened. That the dead deserved to die. These are young kids – How am I ever going to have them understand my message of Liberté’
‘You forgot the kids who came and told you that they were scared. How am I going to explain to them a complex idea like freedom and why it is worth laying down your life for it?’
‘You forgot the inconvenient conversations in the room where the only muslim was trying to defend the Hijab. You felt grateful that you did not completely understand french then didn’t you’
‘I went through the facebook walls of the many moderate muslims from within and outside the City. The extremists are never going to condemn the attack – it was time for the moderates to stand up and take up the reins, else the cause of reforms is forever lost. You know both of us were was disappointed.’
‘I told Charlie multiple times. Don’t go to the extreme or else you will loose the moderates. But he never listened. Phew, I don’t know if he was right or wrong.’
‘How will I ever get these people to live together again you see – I guess They Won, We Lost’
Our conversation is rudely broken by the sirens of police cars. I come back to the Real World.
The person next to me and I look at each other. Both of us are scared. There are policemen everywhere. I scroll through my twitter timeline and read updates on the hostage crisis – no news about the area where we are – relief.
I spend the train to the Airport wondering when this will end.
The news that all terrorists have been killed greets me at the airport – ironic that a death becomes a source of relief.
As I board the plane the following crosses my mind –
Aujourd’hui (Today)
Je suis probablement Charlie ( I am probably Charlie)
Je suis probablement Ahmed ( I am probably Ahmed – the muslim policeman who died guarding the offices of Charlie Hebdo)
Je suis probablement pas importante (I am probably not important)
Mais, je ne veux pas être un terroriste ( But, I dont want to be a terrorist)
All the incidents in the note above are true. I have however dramatised the narrative respecting the privacy of those involved.