Daily Lessons from Life 19 March 2012 - France election campaign on hold after school shooting

"France election campaign on hold after school shooting - AFP 19 March 2012

PARIS - France effectively put its election campaign on hold Monday after a gunman killed three children and a teacher at a Jewish school, with top candidates condemning the attack and rushing to the scene.

President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist frontrunner in the presidential race, Francois Hollande, both cancelled campaign events and headed for the southwestern city of Toulouse.

Calling the shooting a "national tragedy", Sarkozy cancelled a campaign meeting in Paris and flew to Toulouse with Education Minister Luc Chatel and Jewish community leaders.

Hollande also said he was heading to the city to show his "solidarity with the families and France's Jewish community".

"This act, whose anti-Semitic nature is as obvious as it is despicable, hits what families hold most dear, their children, and plunges the entire nation into mourning," Hollande said in a statement.

His spokesman, Benoit Hamon, said the campaign had been suspended to "honour the memories" of the victims."

Another mindless killing. In France. So, it is a bit more unusual. The results are just as tragic for the dead and the family and friends of the dead.

Lessons for me are:

1. there are always going to be mindlessly murderous men and women who kill for whatever reasons they believe are justified. They are WRONG!!;

2. it seems that there were a few policemen that were killed too earlier. I supposed the culprit or culprits who was/were responsible for this killing do have the balls to pick on people other than the defenseless folks like teacher and school children! Maybe this time they are real terrorists. Organized but kill convenient people besides law enforcement personnel;

3. may the people responsible for this crime be caught and brought to justice, dead or alive. Probably!!

May the dead rest in peace and my condolences to the family and friends of the dead.