Terrorism cannot change how we live our lives – or blot out political issues our leaders must deal with

Terror attacks are all the same – but different, too. They are all completely awful, sickening and abhorrent.

They also all have a unique aspect; an attack on a concert full of young people prompts reflection on how dreadful it is for children to be caught up in such acts; an attack on a Christmas market creates a horrible juxtaposition between a time of joy and a moment of evil.

The shooting in Strasbourg on Tuesday, which left two people dead and at least a dozen injured, will no doubt have raised fears among anyone hoping to visit a Christmas market in the coming weeks. The UK government has already warned tourists travelling to Christmas markets across Europe that there is “a general threat of terrorism” and advised them to “remain vigilant”.

This advice was in place before the Strasbourg attack, but despite everything that’s happened – this is not the first Christmas market to be marred by terrorism – it is heartening to see that people will still seek out the joy in life, even if it carries some risk.

It’s a triumph of the human spirit over the worst elements of humanity, and it proves that there are still more positive, brave and open-minded people out there than those who are weak, selfish and poisonous.

And it’s also important to recognise and value the ability of people to carry on trying to enjoy their time on Earth in spite of the dangers that can entail – because some people don’t have a choice. Growing up in Northern Ireland, I was lucky to be born at a time when the violence was coming to an end and peace was becoming the new normal. Around me, however, were many who had lived through decades of the Troubles.

But that’s not what looms largest for most of those people. For every memory of a bombing or shooting, there are countless more of the usual things people store up to reminisce about: happy times with friends and family, travel, special occasions, all the usual things that people enjoy.

If everyone living in a community rocked by long-term violence shut themselves off to any of the good things about the world, it’s unlikely they would ever find a way to peace.

Meanwhile, the latest attack has come as President Macron attempts to deal with growing unrest in France. Earlier this week, he gave in to demands from the so-called gilets jaunes and agreed to scrap a proposed green tax on fuel. Although his U-turn was not so much a response to "demands" as to the widespread rioting and violence on the streets of Paris and other cities and towns. He’s also trying to fend off intervention from Donald Trump, who publicly blamed the protests on the Paris climate agreement.

It’s difficult to say whether the tragic events in Strasbourg will have any impact on sentiment towards the government. On one hand, terror attacks can be unifying, with people looking to their leaders for reassurance and explanations.

On the other, the issues Macron was facing before the Strasbourg shooting are not minor problems. The violent protests of recent weeks are the culmination of what many people see as years of social inequality being overlooked by the so-called "president of the rich". This view was compounded when Macron delivered an address to the French public on Monday from the Elysee Palace’s Salon Doré – or golden room.

Meanwhile, the president himself ascribed the explosive reactions to his fuel tax on “40 years of malaise”. This looks like an attempt to shift the blame onto his predecessors, as Macron has been in power only since May 2017, but it’s also true. The reasons behind the protests have been affecting people for years; the divide between the French working class and the wealthy elite has been widening for decades.

Macron has been dogged by rumours that the French government could follow the British with a vote of no confidence, with some reports predicting it could take place as early as Thursday.

In the wake of the Strasbourg attack, the no confidence vote is unlikely to take place – but that doesn’t mean Macron’s position is secure. His reaction to the latest tragedy to affect his country might earn him a brief reprieve, but it won’t blot out the weight of history.