Attacks: we expect solutions

Le Regard Libre N° 15 - Jonas Follonier

On the one hand, a West that had the very bad idea of intervening in Iraq at the start of our millennium, then perhaps in Libya, then in Syria, etc. On the other, a religion whose thinkers don't seem to want to question part of their theology - that which is incompatible with our civilization. On the other, a religion whose thinkers don't seem to want to question part of their theology - that which is incompatible with our civilization. This is illustrated by the ambiguous nature of Tariq Ramadan's comments, even though he presents himself as a reformist Islamologist.

Horror struck again on March 22, 2016. This time in Brussels. Our first thoughts are of course with the victims and their families. On behalf of the entire editorial team, I invite you to sing in memory of these innocents! Let us suffer with Brussels, this beautiful capital.

After the emotion, the reflection. It won't be enough to remind us with our left foot that we created Daesch through our wars in Arab countries, and with our right foot that we shouldn't lump all Muslims together as radical Islamists. And to show our support with images on Facebook. All this can and must be done, but we're talking here about the symbolic phase: it won't change a thing for the many attacks that still threaten us. We need a political phase.

We expect our leaders to take effective measures to prevent these horrors from becoming an everyday occurrence. After the attacks, citizens have expectations. Here are just a few: strengthen security systems; send ground troops to EI nodes; stop funding the Gulf States and supplying them with weapons (!); ensure proper assimilation of Muslims into our liberal, secular societies; combat communitarianism; convene an international council to establish a global defense strategy against the Islamic State and more egalitarian immigration management between different nations.

Admittedly, it's easy to list all the ways in which we can do this. However, we are talking about a war that must be placed at the center of current concerns. Let's keep our hopes in politicians to take things in hand.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com