12. But soon, for most of us, life returns to normal. Europe still has
lots of pretty capitals with rivers running through them. The French
seemed especially determined that nothing should change too
much. Late last year, alarmed by news reports saying that
schools could be targets of future attacks, I emailed the parents’
committee at my children’s school, suggesting that, in light ofthe
threat, we meet to discuss how to improve security. When almost no
one replied, I wondered if I was having an American overreaction.
One father lectured me on the sidewalk about how schools ought to
be open places.