Ok...this ripped my heart out. What is your reaction?

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 02:52:02 -0500

I am not a big fan of the French. Like many Service Members, the occurrences of WW2 resonate with me (because I had family members in Normandy). But this guy...THIS guy, makes me re-evaluate my thoughts on them as a country:

"'You want me to be frightened'

"Friday night you took away the life of an exceptional human being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you will not have my hatred," Leiris wrote.

"I do not know who you are, and I do not wish to. You are dead souls. If this God for whom you kill so blindly has made us in His image, every bullet in the body of my wife will have been a wound in His heart."

"So I will not give you the privilege of hating you. You certainly sought it, but replying to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorance which made you into what you are. You want me to be frightened, that I should look into the eyes of my fellow citizens with distrust, that I sacrifice my freedom for security. You lost. I will carry on as before.

"I saw her this morning. Finally, after nights and days of waiting. She was as beautiful as when she left on Friday evening, as beautiful as when I fell madly in love with her more than 12 years ago. I am of course devastated by heartbreak, I'll cede you that little victory, but it will be short-lived. I know that she will be with us every day and that we will meet again in a paradise of free souls to which you will never have access."

I edited out the CNN subtitles. So the differences are mine. But the message is sublime, I think:

FUCK YOU, ISIS!

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/europe/husband-facebook-post-paris-attacks/index.html

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 17 at 2015 2:55 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 02:55:45 -0500

Thanks for sharing! Well stated. He doesn't hate ISIS but he has no love for them either!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 17 at 2015 3:27 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 03:27:03 -0500

Your post is well thought out. Thank you for sharing. We must do all we can to fight terrorists closer to their home than ours.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Nov 17 at 2015 5:16 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:16:26 -0500

The French simply got out-maneuvered in WWII. It wasn't because they were weak, or scared, or cowardly. I'm not sure why we still hold that stigma to them. Many of the French were actively resisting the Germans throughout the war.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 11:24 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:24:00 -0500

I want to shake this man's hand...
I don't think I'd be able to collect my thoughts like this, much less present them eloquently, so soon after such a loss.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 11:34 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:34:40 -0500

Thanks for sharing those wonderful thoughts. His conviction in his beliefs, despite the unbelievable trial of losing the love of his life, shows us that terrorists can be defeated. They failed to turn his grief into anger, so he has defeated their efforts. It is a small step for most of the world, but for him a very important one. And for all of us, a step to build upon so we can ultimately defeat them and their dead ideology. Vive la France!

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 17 at 2015 3:34 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:34:49 -0500

SN Greg Wright - Good post ... Thanks.

Although I may be slightly biased because my mother is French and I spent 14 years of my life in Paris as a military dependent, I still see France as a strong ally, just as they have been since the founding of our country. While we have had our issues due to the socialist/communist leanings of their politicians, I strongly feel we owe them our support in this fight, to whatever degree they need it.

I was happy to see their immediate response to the atrocities carried out in Paris and wish that our President had half the guts their President has.