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Your letters: Fighting a misguided vicious ideology
At the tragic events of Paris 11/13, one of the victims of the Bataclan massacre was the rock critic Guillaume B
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t the tragic events of Paris 11/13, one of the victims of the Bataclan massacre was the rock critic Guillaume B. Decherf. He wrote for the French magazine Les Inrockuptibles.
His last review, before his life was snuffed out, was on the latest album by the American rock band, Eagles of Death Metal. He singled out the band's desire to please, titling it: Plaisir partagé 'Pleasure shared!' It was Decherf's rationale to celebrate music and his reason to be at the Bataclan.
By fateful coincidence, it was while that very band was on stage at Le Bataclan that evening, that the audience was attacked by terrorists wielding automatic rifles, grenades and suicide vests. The carnage inside the venue alone was 89 dead, including the band's merchandise manager and Decherf, but the band members made it safely out.
It was clear, for those terrorists in Paris, plaisir partagé was a reason to kill. The terrible toll within just a few hours that evening stood at 128 killed and more than 300 wounded. There was no need for any provocation. Some, for instance, did not excuse the murders at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in January and blamed the satirical staff as brazen provocateurs because of their cartoons.
But, here were multiracial Parisians, mostly young, on the eve of a weekend relaxing with friends or family ' having a meal out, enjoying a drink, watching a soccer match or being at a music concert.
They offended none nor demanded silencing terrorists elsewhere who were killing anyone different from themselves.
That, however, didn't matter, for to these terrorists, it appears, anyone enjoying themselves is a crime and they deserve to die.
The statement by the perpetrators claiming responsibility for the attacks said that 'hundreds of pagans had gathered in a profligate prostitution party' in 'the capital of prostitution and obscenity'.
The truth was Paris 11/13 was an attack on music, sport, eating out, enjoying a drink, friendship and laughter ' a way of life for lots of ordinary people anywhere in the world.
Rueben Dudley
The Star/ANN/Petaling Jaya
