We have seen the videos and heard the audio recordings. We have watched the breaking news, the presidential addresses, the heartbreaking interviews, attended the prayer services. We have feared for our own safety, and mourned for those who it’s too late. But what we’ve done more than anything else in the wake of the Paris attacks is…change our profile pictures?
Of course you all know what I’m talking about. However for those who successfully evacuated Facebook, perhaps in a defiant gesture in response to the multitude of friend requests from your mom, aunt, local mailman, and just about every other person you wouldn’t want to friend you on Facebook, I’ll fill you in: In response to the horrific tragedy that happened in Paris, Facebook offered an easy, one-click option to overlay a French flag on top of your current profile picture. It was meant to be a simple way for one to show your support for the French. However, like almost everything does when you’re American, it quickly became about us.
A divide quickly arose. Were the profile pictures a genuine token to show your support to our neighbors across the pond, or was it a shallow act that allows us bystanders to sleep easy at night?
According to a New York Times article published on November 17th, 2015, the number of countries attacked by ISIS has climbed into double digits. On Mar. 20, 2015, more than 130 people were killed during Friday prayer at a mosque in Yemen. Oct. 10, more than 100 people were killed by two explosions set off during a peace rally in Turkey. 21 days later a jet was taken down over Egypt, killing over 200 passengers. All of these attacks and more have been claimed by the terrorist organization ISIS. So why then, some Facebook users ask, do we only care when a predominantly white, European country is attacked? A rather large response has come to the wave of changed profile pictures, arguing that our large outpouring of “support” shows just how much we care about our neighbors in the East. Even more so, it reveals how disingenuous our support is at all. Rather than sending support in the form of money or food, Facebook is giving us an easy way out. Simply click that button, post a quick status, email your prayers to France, and go back to solving your own problems. Not only does this trend show our inconsistency in care for all humanity, but it is slowly cheapening our care all together.
On Sept. 12, 2001 the popular French newspaper Le Monde, published with the headline: "Nous sommes tous Américains," or "We are all Americans." Fourteen years later, this still sends shivers down the spine and brings tears to the eyes. Two 10-story high replicas of the Twin Towers were built on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 on a square opposite the Eiffel Tower. Written on the towers were the words: “The French Will Never Forget.” The attacks on Sept. 11 occurred at a time in my life where I was nowhere near understanding what just happened. However reading those words printed in Le Monde still sends shivers down my spine. Although newspapers cannot bring humans back to life, and replicas of buildings won’t replace the originals, it certainly means something to see humans across the world standing in solidarity with you in times of great despair. Knowing that in a moment where all is lost, you are not alone. This is the power of the 21st century. We are a more connected, together human race. Now, as a newfound citizen of college broke-ness, there is not a great deal of monetary support I can lend. All I have to give are my thoughts and kind words. I recognize that this does virtually nothing for the wellbeing of those in France. However, if after growing tired of being drowned by waves of horrifying, heart-breaking news, the French people find the smallest dose of solace in the thousands upon thousands blue, white, and red tinted profile pictures, then I would argue it is worth it. Take advantage of the tools we have created.
This third section may lose an air of formality carried in the first two, simply because expressing anger over formal writing is very difficult. What I’m angry at is the few individuals who use the tragedies in Paris coupled with the attempt to show support via Facebook picture in order to show off their heightened sense of culture and worldliness. What I’m angry at is the minority that would agree with paragraph one, and lets the whole world know. Those who make several posts, comment on their friends’ profile pictures, letting everyone know how socially ignorant they are being by supporting the French people.
Paragraphs appeared all over my newsfeed preaching that the wave of changed profile pictures illustrates our blind following of the media as well as our blatant disrespect and lack of care for the Middle East. This is baffling to me. I understand the arguments made in the first paragraph; in fact I agree with almost all of it. However there is a time and a place for arguments to be made. I do not think it is appropriate to attempt to publicly shame those trying to support the victims in France while we are still receiving news of more casualties. It seems incredibly insensitive. To think that the most important thing that needs to be talked about right now is that other countries need our support more? It is not a popularity contest. What’s more, this critique is not centered on the support of other countries. It is focused on ridiculing people for changing their profile pictures. A much more mature route would simply be to maybe show support for other countries that need it. Or, do what Odyssey writer Riley Gay did. There are a plethora of much less self-centered options to express your opinion on the matter. Telling people who and how they are supporting is incorrect is in line with telling people who and how they worship is incorrect; and call me crazy or optimistic, but I would have thought by 2015 we had gotten over that by now.
If your profile picture remains unchanged, I do not think it indicates your lack of support for the French people. If your profile picture turns blue, white, and red, I do not suddenly assume you have no feelings of sympathy towards those in the Middle East. It is a simple feature added to a popular social media site that has been blown out of proportion beyond reason.
What is important is that the French know that we all stand in support with them: changed profile picture or not.
