Video shows father reassuring son in wake of Paris attacks: 'They might have guns, but we have flowers'
'They have guns, they can shoot us because they’re really really mean'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In the wake of the deaths of 129 people out enjoying a Friday night in Paris, understanding what happened has been a struggle for most adults.
Explaining the atrocities to small children, then, can prove incredibly difficult – and as this video shows, has to be couched in terms they will understand.
On Saturday, France’s Le Petit Journal sent its reporters to speak to parents with children at the memorials that have appeared across the French capital in the wake of the attacks.
One little boy standing outside the Bataclan theatre, the scene of Friday’s deadliest attack, is asked if he understands why suspected Isis militants opened fire on crowded concert.
Here is the conversation that follows:
Boy: “Yes, because they’re really really mean. Bad guys are not very nice. And we have to be really careful because we will have to change houses.
Father: “Oh don’t worry… We don’t need to change houses. France is our home.”
Boy: “But there’s bad guys daddy…”
Father: “Yes, but there are bad guys everywhere. “
Boy: “They have guns, they can shoot us because they’re really really mean daddy.”
Father: “It’s OK, they might have guns but we have flowers.”
Boy: “But flowers don’t do anything, they’re for, they’re for…”
Father: “Of course they do, look, everyone is putting flowers down. It’s to fight against the guns.”
Boy: “It’s to protect? And the candles too?”
Father: “It’s to remember the people who have gone.”
Boy: “The flowers and the candles are here to protect us.”
Father: “Yes.”
Reporter: “Do you feel better now?”
Boy: “Yes, I feel better.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments