For Postmedia Canada: Paris marks first anniversary of co-ordinated terrorist attacks that killed 130

Jul 29

Jul 29 For Postmedia Canada: Paris marks first anniversary of co-ordinated terrorist attacks that killed 130

Nov. 12, 2016

PARIS — It’s hard to pin down just where the city falls in the five stages of grief a year after the Paris terrorist attacks that killed 130 people.

The country continues to shuffle between bargaining, depression and anger in a year punctuated by rising racial tensions, a major economic hit, and another deadly attack.

So the new normal in Paris serves as a subliminal but constant reminder that we are still officially under a state of emergency.

It’s now normal to come across groups of armed military soldiers patrolling the city streets, striking a jarring contrast against the picturesque, elegant Parisian backdrop.

It’s now normal to be subject to bag checks when entering department stores, some grocery stores, museums, and major public events.

And it’s now normal for subway commuters to be a little more patient with the frequent delays caused by precautionary investigations into suspicious packages.