AS winter finally starts to make its presence known, it is more than the north wind that has sent a chill to the very core of Western society. The heinous acts perpetrated in the name of yet another deluded and dangerous political philosophy has skewed the pitch to such an extent that nobody feels safe anymore.

The true cost of the terror acted out on the streets of a city that has, for centuries, represented a Western ideal of romance, may not be fully understood for a long old time now it is left bloodied by the horror and with a new reality.

Having spent months in that beautiful city meeting some truly inspirational and supportive citizens from a full cross section of Parisian culture and having had the privilege to play a gig at the wonderful Bataclan, a profound sense of sadness has been with me since hearing the shocking news. If nothing else, we must all now surely start to understand the true implications and reality of the ideological war in which we are all now embroiled.

The difference between this, and any previous misguided intervention in the hot bed of the Middle East, may be better understood by comparing and contrasting the inherent narratives that have brought about decisions leading to intervention.

The first Gulf War appeared more clear-cut following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Few would question the need to intervene when the world is faced with tyrannical empire expansion – however, what followed has arguably gone a long way to creating the current horror show, being acted out in Iraq, Syria, France and at a cinema near you, if the French atrocities are anything to go by. However, the difference between intervention for humanitarian reasons and the wish for regime change, purely to ensure access to resources (oil), is essentially where the current conflict differs fundamentally from previous misadventure.

Isis has a narrative that excludes the normal rationale for resistance, in that it isn’t prepared to negotiate and is fundamentally and ideologically opposed to the collective ‘Western’ narrative and capitalist agenda. Unfortunately the West has made it easy to allow opposition to its own ideals and agenda, by appearing to be driven by financial imperatives that override any sense of humane morality. It purports to uphold a ‘democratic’ mandate, when any fool can see that money rules. The rich make the rules because the rich make the money.

Isis and its alliance is trying to turn the populous against the decision makers, in order to bring about a change in foreign policy.

That there is a need for change in not only Western foreign policy, but also in internal policy, is unquestionable. Here, at home, well before the inevitable attacks from all manner of fundamentalists, we are already under daily attack from a misguided government. Swingeing cuts to health, education, safety (junior doctors police etc) the erosion of the steel industry, the selling off of anything and everything to foreign investors, regardless of their human rights records and general all round punitive austerity, is undermining communities, eroding empathy and creating a submissive workforce, whose rights are evaporating in the white heat of greed.

There needs to be a fundamental shift in the construct of Western ideology and values. Killing anyone, anywhere, is not the way to bring it about. Violence begets violence. Humanity needs a new collective narrative based on equality and love. Let us leave the old failed political and religious paradigms in the past and work to create a new civilisation where everyone has a fair share.