I find strength in flowers.
Where madmen carried guns, the people of Paris carry flowers.
I find strength in candles.
Where bullets pierced innocents, the people of Paris light candles.
The news story shows a young boy of perhaps 4 years of age, with his father kneeling beside him. They were being interviewed by a reporter for French television show Le Petit Journal . I could tell they were next to a tribute to the 129 people killed at various venues around the city of Paris on Friday 13 November 2015.
The reporter held the microphone to the pair and asked if the boy understood what had happened.
He said yes, there are bad guys who are not very nice. And continued with “We have to move and change houses.”
The father spoke up, “Oh don’t worry , We are not moving. France is our home.”
“But there are bad guys Daddy.”
The father says, “Yes, but there are bad guys everywhere.”
“But they are mean men and they have guns and will hurt us”
It’s okay, They might have guns but we have flowers,” the father replies
The boy replies, “But flowers don’t do anything, they’re for they’re for..,”
“Of course they do,” the father replies. “Look, everyone is putting flowers. It’s to fight against the guns”
“It’s to protect?”
“Exactly.”
“And there are candles too?”
“It is to remember the people who are gone yesterday.”
The boy looks back at the memorial of flowers and candles and says, “The flowers and candles are here to protect us.”
There is an obvious exchange of smiles between the father and son. The reporter then asks, “Do you feel better now?”
“Yes, I feel better.” Replies the boy.
