On Nov. 13, the city of Paris was attacked in six places by three terrorist teams affiliated with ISIS. Locations included the Bataclan Concert Hall, the Stade de France, and a few smaller restaurants. The attack left 129 French citizens dead and 352 injured with almost 100 in critical condition.

In the wake of this tragedy the indomitable French spirit still rises. A French teacher at Palatine High School, Cara Melbou, shared some of the responses she received from her friends and family living in France. The mother of the family that Madame Melbou stayed with had the most impressive stance on the issue.

“The family is saddened by the violence in Paris, but also especially by the fact that such violence is suffered by others in the world every day,” the mother said, according to Melbou.

France has always been a proud country, with an atmosphere of acceptance so strong that the people re-entered the streets immediately after the events and began to tweet hashtags such as #dondusang to encourage blood drives for the victims and #porteouverte to advertise homes that are open to victims without homes to stay.

Melbou also shared that “[The relations in Paris] are shocked, upset, but truly believe in being unafraid and continuing with their lives.”

Following the attacks a statement was released, claiming the attacks for ISIS. They called Paris the “capital of abomination and perversion” and wanted to make sure the Parisians knew that they weren’t safe even though they lived in a national capital.

Many world leaders including Ahmad al-Tayyib, and the Great Imam of al-Azhar, have renounced the attacks. The global community also offered flowers at many different French diplomatic buildings. In a soccer match between England and France the entire English side of the stadium stood and sung the French national anthem as one and created the image of the French flag.