Paris Love

The Middle East is like that: the sky is blue, impertinently so, and there is sunshine
everyday. Indeed all days are the same, there is no real weather to speak of, no spleen,
no mood, no surprise. Perhaps this is an element in the making of a warrior
susceptible to accepting suicide missions, no one is in seasonal depression.

Comments on the Internet nailed it: those dudes are on the wrong drugs, bro.
Nowhere to go but heaven.

And then after a few days in a terrorist-possible place, one starts to think
differently. One doesn't stay anywhere very long. A day at the beach, na.
Sitting at a terrace, why?. 'You go to the event, friend' thinking, at least one
of us will survive. I remember concluding it would be nice to return to grey
old Paris-in-the-winter. Because it was a safe haven.

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What has Paris become? It always feels a little insulting to read the ideas of people
from other large cities.

Paris has kept the look of a 19th Century city, a homogeneous look. Very impressive
with large boulevards but at a price. The city is transforming into a showplace no one
would actually live in with a family to feed and a dog.

The demographics of the victims of the Bataclan were witnesses to this. It is Right
Bank Paris, with people from the arts, television, law, publicity. Not really a student
affair, but 20s, 30s and even some white hairs,  alcohol on sale at the back. 'Creatives'
are a new work category, people who make culture work. This is who was at the
Bataclan, creatives, arguably relaxing from the week, but also working still, in a way.
Watching a mature group from California have fun with music.

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Political commentators in Paris often express fear the The Front National is
becoming politically strong, and that Marine Le Pen might be the next President
of the Republic. They bemoan that the French are becoming like the Front National.
Actually, it is the contrary that is happening; the Front National is becoming like
 everyone else. Sharing a city with terrorism does that; everybody's number is up.
C'est comme ça!