By Elias Neibart ’16, Staff Writer

I am still sickened by the heinous acts of terror that occurred in Paris. With over 120 dead and over 300 injured, my heart and prayers are still with France and her people. In an attempt to show solidarity with the people of Paris, many Newark Academy students went to social media, changing their profile picture to the French flag’s colors and signing it with a #prayforparis. Let me say, I do not think anyone who did change his or her profile picture was acting in poor taste; on the contrary, I suppose the people who took to social media meant their very best. However, this fight will not – and should not – be fought on Facebook; it will be fought in the fields and cities of Iraq and Syria. And, if we truly want to show solidarity with the people of France, we should support policies that ensure a disaster like the one in Paris will not happen again.

Much like the empty pageantry involved in changing our profile pictures, as a nation we have adopted a vacuous, superficial foreign policy that has put the security of our country into question. The Obama Administration has consistently voiced their commitment to deterring and defeating ISIS forces, but what actions have followed the administration’s rhetoric? The answer is barely anything. Insignificant and unimpressive pinprick bombing exercises have done little to retard ISIS’s growth, and the President’s strong opposition to the deployment of ground troops assures our enemy that the United States is hardly serious in our war effort against them. I use the phrase “war effort” but there is little evidence to say that the United States believes this to be a war. ISIS and all military manifestations of radical Islamic terrorism have been unequivocal in their declaration of a holy war against America, her allies and her ideals. Yet, the current administration has shied away from even uttering the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism,” and as the enemy grows in size and influence, the President insists, “we have the right strategy…” to defeat ISIS.

To truly show solidarity with the people of Paris and all victims of terror, we must stand firmly for what we know to be right and true, and commit ourselves to fighting for these principles. As students at Newark Academy, we understand the importance of community, especially the remarkable things communities can do when they rally around a common goal. And, although it might not be the most politically popular course of action, that common goal must be to obliterate ISIS and other organizations of terror around the world. The attacks in France were deplorable and, most likely, mark the unfortunate beginning of waves of terror around the world, but a concerted, thorough military effort against ISIS and its likes is the best way to ensure another people do not have to experience what the Parisians did. This effort would take the form of more bombings in the region and larger deployment of United States Special Forces. It might not be the most popular thing to do, but now, the world doesn’t need hashtags or profile pictures – it needs a strong, international coalition against radical Islamic terrorism.

This article reflects the viewpoint of its writer, not The Minuteman as a whole. To share your opinion, comment below!