No, the Paris attacks don’t signal the end of Western Civilization
In the days since the Paris attacks, the Place de la République — the majestic square near the Bataclan Theater, and five minutes on foot from my apartment — has become a kind of free university. At its center stands a 30-foot statue of Marianne, defiant symbol of the republic, trimmed now with candles, placards, and anti-terrorist graffiti. It is a place where France teaches itself about itself.
As I passed there yesterday, I saw parents calmly answering their children, students huddled in conversation, an elderly man placing a memorial photograph, a confident lecturer pouring out her thoughts to those around.… Seguir leyendo »