海角大神

The terrorist attacks on the airport and subway system in Brussels March 22 present an opportunity for people of goodwill around the world to gather new resolve that they will not be shaken, nor abandon their commitment to peaceful, open, free, and democratic societies.

Islamic State terrorists have claimed responsibility for the bombings. The tragedy is the latest in a series of IS attacks in recent months from Paris to Ankara, Turkey, to Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Brussels bombings were carried out despite the city being at a high state of alert. And they struck at the administrative heart of the Continent, the home of the European Commission.

Across the Atlantic, the city of Boston is approaching the third anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. At a remembrance service for victims days after those bombings, President Obama vowed that 鈥渋n the face of evil, Americans will lift up what鈥檚 good.鈥�

Upon learning of the Brussels bombings, Mr. Obama again referenced what happened in Boston nearly three years ago.

鈥淥ne of my most powerful memories, and one of my proudest moments as president, was watching Boston respond after the marathon,鈥� the president said. 鈥淎nd that is the kind of resilience and the kind of strength that we have to continually show in the face of these terrorists.鈥�

Both immediately after the Boston bombings and in the months that followed, citizens came together spontaneously to help victims and their families. Today the Boston Marathon continues unabated as a popular, well-attended event, held always on Patriots鈥� Day, a state holiday honoring those who fought for American freedom.

This strike at the heart of Europe has brought a similar rousing call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to embrace all that is best about that Continent.

鈥淭he murder scene of Brussels reminds us above all that the perpetrators are enemies of all the values for which Europe stands today,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd which we as members of the European Union believe in 鈥� and, particularly on this day, with great pride 鈥� the values of freedom, democracy, and peaceful coexistence as self-confident citizens.鈥�

She continued: 鈥淥ur strength is in our unity, and that is how our free societies will prove themselves stronger than terrorism.鈥�

These senseless bombings show a desperate IS that is losing ground on battlefields in Iraq and Syria, some experts say. According to one estimate IS has lost nearly a quarter of its territory since the start of 2015. Its dream of ruling a Middle Eastern 鈥渃aliphate鈥� is fading, not flourishing. Thus it is lashing out to 鈥渉it everyone and everything鈥� it can, as one terrorism expert puts it.

Terrorist attacks on countries such as France and Belgium, already actively fighting IS, will only strengthen their resolve. But IS could still succeed in part if it manages to provoke a hasty overreaction. Calls to treat all Muslims with hostility and alienation will only be used as an IS recruiting tool.

Instead, efforts must be redoubled to more fully assimilate Muslims聽 into Western societies. These countries must be places where youths can see a bright future, one they would never risk blowing away.