Thursday, November 26, 2015
Paris attacks bring about an increase in patriotism and mobilize French youth
The French people have rallied around the attacks earlier this month. Military enlistments have nearly quintupled and Air Force enlistments have quadrupled as the young people in France rush to join in the defense of their country, but these are not the only changes that are occurring in the French mindset. Citizens are also hurrying to buy and display le tricolore, the French flag., and La Marseilles has been breaking out spontaneously in the streets. The article even makes a reference to "un-French" behavior, a term that, as we discussed in class, has not really been heard before. All of these responses are very similar to the American response after the attacks on 9/11. How do you predict that these attacks will change the French mindset for the long term? Is this surge in patriotism temporary or here to stay? Could "un-French" become a term with a similar meaning to "un-American"? Or will French traditions of cosmopolitanism return once the initial response to the attacks has worn off?
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I think the attack on Paris has been a wakeup call for the country and revitalized the government. I think in the longterm France will pay much more attention to global events and terrorist attacks and lend more aide and defense to stop them. I think the patriotism will surge and then taper off just as it did after 9/11. It will definitely rise up again should there be another tragedy. I don't think un-French will stick around. Americanism is so ingrained in our history and our culture, so I don't think it's going away, while the French don't really have that... So no, I think un-French will phase out as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is no way in which the world will be the same after these attacks, as with other major attacks. The future has been changed, and therefore France's future has been change. They will never be exactly the country they were; however, that isn't to say that they will transform into something they're not. I think this newfound patriotism will last for a while, but not indefinitely. It will most likely taper off slowly and gradually, until it isn't noticeable anymore. As for the French mindset, their distrust and fear will last longer than their patriotism, due to simple human nature. The French mindset and worldview will be different for a good while, specifically their view of humanity more so than their view of their country. However, in that eventual place where the patriotism has subsided, so too will the phrase "un-French", as it really has no roots and therefore foundation to support it through the test of time. France will eventually become more or less itself again, yet nothing will bring it back to exactly the nation it was before the attacks.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the Paris attacks will have the long term effect of increasing the French people's awareness of terrorism in this world. However, I don't think this sudden surge of patriotism/"un-French" will stay forever. There was a similar trend in America when 9/11 occurred, and it stopped a bit after, so I think the same trend will occur with France. I definitely think this event will have a lasting impact of some degree on France, perhaps a mistrust of muslims or an increased fear of another attack. Or, it may inspire the French have more pride in their country.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think it has become fairly obvious that the French mindsets has changed somewhat, I think that things in France will calm down soon. I recently read an article in the Inquirer about how French café life is already resuming so I don't think it I'll be too long until most of French life is somewhat similar to how it was before the attacks. I'd be curious to see how other European countries change or don't change as France continues to figure out what direction they should head in.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the Paris attacks were a big wake up call for France and their government. I think France will pay more attention to more global events and terrorist attacks and lend more aide to relaliate and prevent more attacks from happening elsewhere. The long term effect of the Paris attacks will affect the French peoples awareness of all the terrorism in the world. It is a big wake up call for them to be more careful and aware of these tragedies that can happen on this earth. I think the new found patriotism will surge andtaper off just like it did after 9/11. The awareness is spread all around the world and as time goes on, the event that happened becomes less and less talked about. I don't think this patriotism will go away becasue it's so embedded in our history in America, but it's a little different in France. Even though it's a little different, I think the term "un-French" has no real roots and therefore the foundation support it through the rest of the time. France will eventually go back to itself again, but especially won't be the same after these Paris attacks.
ReplyDeleteI think the short term effects of the Paris attacks will end soon, and people will live their daily lives normally, but there will be more long term effects. France will act similarly to how America did after 9/11. The patriotism will slowly start to decrease, but their government will increase national security and focus more on terrorism and other attacks. They will probably never go back to the way they were before, but eventually people will be less worried about going out, and their lives will return to the way they were before the attacks.
ReplyDeleteI think that the after effects of the Paris attacks are very similar to 9/11 in that it prompted a surge of patriotism and criticism of people who were not displaying their patriotism enough ("un-French" or "un-American"). As time passed after 9/11, the patriotism stayed, however it started to fade as we got further and further away from the horrible incident. I believe that this is what will happen in France as well. They will never forget the Paris attacks, but they will resume their normal lives eventually.
ReplyDeleteJust as the United States' post-9/11 patriotism couldn't sustain those types of fever-pitch levels, the French's increase in patriotism will level off, too. However, there certainly is a chance for the entire French mindset to change as the American mindset did. Even as our patriotism died down, our society transformed itself into a hypervigilant one, where, although people moved on with their lives because they had to, people worried more than they had pre-9/11. So while the French may not continue to waive their colors in the streets and break out into song (not even we could maintain that), the term "un-French" may be sticking around for much longer, especially since immediately after the attacks, foreigners were targeted.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know what a pre-9/11 America was like. The thought of not having to take off my shoes at an airport boggles my mind. As with the US, France's patriotism will eventually die down. Patriotism, although a good thing in doses, can cause a country to turn a blind-eye to other issues other than those that the patriotism is responding to. Because of this, France will eventually settle down and move on.
ReplyDeleteActually, yes, we do... At least, I do! ;)
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