USA Today column answers the question, ‘Why France?’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

After the terrorist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris ten months ago followed up by Friday’s terror on the streets that took the lives of over 100 innocent victims and injured hundreds more, attention is once again centered on terrorism as some ask, “Why France?”

France’s longtime head of intelligence, Count Alexandre de Marenches, warned 20 years ago of the danger that faced his country. In the Age of Terrorism, the principal challenge to France is the presence “within our nation of another nation we do not understand, whose language we do not speak, whose customs we do not know, whose hopes and aspirations we do not share,” as noted by David A. Andelman in USA Today.

Downtown Fredericksburg flies French flags in show of unity

Photo by Garrett Watson

Every street light in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, was decked out with French flags Saturday night to honor the victims of multiple terrorist attacks that took place Friday night in Paris. Fredericksburg’s sister city is Fréjus, an historical seaside town located where the Alps reach the Mediterranean Sea along the French Riviera. Tonight Fredericksburg and Fréjus stand as one in unity against worldwide terrorism. (Many thanks to Garrett Watson for the pictures.)

Photo by Garrett Watson

Multiple terrorism attacks hit Paris … dozens reportedly dead

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s a sad night in Paris as terrorists hit four locations killing dozens, injuring dozens more, and 100 held hostage. France is under a state of emergency — the military controls the streets. The borders are closed, police can enter private homes without warrants, they can close down the subway system, and whatever they deem necessary to keep France safe. All are on alert in the event more attacks come later tonight.

Just before 11pm Paris time, 4pm East Coast time, a rock concert, soccer stadium, shopping mall, and restaurant were attacked by gunmen and explosions. The head of France was at the soccer stadium but safely escaped. The borders have been closed; a search is on for the terrorists who escaped.

Fox News Channel reporter Geraldo Rivera’s 21-year-old daughter was at the soccer match but escaped outside and was trying to make her way home along the streets.

The hostages at the rock concert are now reportedly being executed one-by-one with the sound of gunfire heard live on French television.

Reuters is reporting five explosions have now been heard near the concert hall. Paris is under curfew for the first time since 1944 at the height of World War II.

Paris is under siege … pray for the people of France tonight.

Solidarity in Paris: the world rallies against radical terrorism

By Lynn R. Mitchell

As leaders from around the world gathered in France on Sunday to show solidarity against terrorism, it was noted that the President of the United States was not there. Taking Barack Obama’s place was U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley (see Obama, Kerry absent from unity rally in Paris):

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the march in Paris on Sunday, waving both French flags and those of other nations.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were among those who attended, along with religious leaders.

The pen is mightier

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I don’t pretend to be a journalist. I am a blogger. There is a difference. My sister is a journalist. She went to school to learn her craft, earning her Master’s Degree in Journalism, and that led to internships around the country where she earned a reputation as an excellent writer. Her writing has taken her from Denver to New York to snowy Alaska to the capitol building in Austin to the White House in D.C. And, finally, her talents with a pen led her to Paris.

Memorial Day … remembering an uncle killed in WW II Germany

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Memorial Day is a time for my family to remember the uncle I never knew, Clarence Franklin Osborne, who was born on August 1, 1917, and killed in action in Germany during the closing days of World War II, on March 21, 1945. He was 27 years old. Married for five years, he left behind a young widow but no children. My mom was in her final year as a student at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, Virginia.