The sad irony is that the perpetrator of the attack, Alexander Bissonnette claimed to be an admirer of those individuals who he thought defended European values. For example, he idolized Le Pen for this reason. And yet his actions are a direct contradiction of the best of what Europe stands for.

The true triumph of Europe does not lie in the defense of Christianity over any other faith. Hell, the pointless fratricidal wars driven by denominational differences have driven that point home. Instead, what Europe stands for today is for the freedom to honor one's culture, faith, and individuality freely. In this sense Islamist terrorists and violent traditionalist fanatics, whether in Europe or abroad, are equally threatening.

Finally, there can never be an excuse for violence perpetrated against defenseless civilians. Having come from a people whose ancestors have been brutally persecuted for centuries for simply daring to honor the traditions of their ancestors, this aspect drives home in particular. Cheap populism fueled by a hatred of the "other" is always bound to end in disaster. This is a lesson proven alike by the most uplifting developnets of European history that have brought us together as well as the darkest chapters that have ripped us apart time and time again in the past.