Paris-sympathy-shaming

I do have to say that I am getting a little tired of the Paris-sympathy-shaming. I think we need to expand the moral circle, not contract it. If people feel a special bond to Paris before and after the attacks, that needs to be accepted and expanded to equally deserving communities because sympathy and support is the right response. We just need to extend it to places that lack some of the immediate fame/privilege/whatever of a European capital.

I understand the anger of those who are being over-looked. It is a completely valid response. But nothing is achieved by tearing Paris down or belittling what was experienced there. Cycles of compassion are the only answer to cycles of violence.  Decades of research has shown that knowing about people and places directly causes more sympathy for them. And very few cities in the world are as famous as Paris.

Places that are seen as remote, or unimportant, or unfamiliar, or flat out disrespected for racist or other prejudiced or ignorant reasons, they need to be raised up into the light beside Paris.