Je suis Paris! This phrase, among many others, has been a mantra for the Western world these past few weeks. It’s meant to show camaraderie and sympathy for the victims of the Paris attacks. However, some Americans have taken this phrase a step too far.

The reality is that, for the most part, Americans are not Parisians. Having sympathy for the victims is good, but using the tragedy to push a political agenda is out of line and disrespectful.

“Why does NO ONE say the obvious thing on TV?! It’s insane. Don’t want terrorism in the U.S? Stop importing Muslims!” tweeted political commentator Ann Coulter.

In the past decade, Twitter has become a catalyst for social change and a platform to voice one’s opinions. Immediately after the attacks, the atmosphere on Twitter was largely supportive, respectful, and mournful. However, a handful of people– mostly politicians and political pundits– saw the attacks as an opportunity to promote policy.

“Isn’t it interesting that the tragedy in Paris took place in one of the toughest gun control countries in the world?” tweeted presidential hopeful Donald Trump shortly after the attacks.

This desensitization of such a tragic event wasn’t isolated to Twitter or conservatives, however. Much of the Democratic Debate, held the day after the attacks, focused on gun control, Syrian refugees, and terrorism as a whole. When Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Hillary Clinton’s campaign donation from Wall Street, she had this to say:

“So I represented New York, and I represented New York on 9/11 when we were attacked. Where were we attacked? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan where Wall Street is. I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild. That was good for New York. It was good for the economy, and it was a way to rebuke the terrorists who had attacked our country.”

Of course, it’s a politician’s job to promote their political ideologies; how else would they get elected? However, there’s no excuse for being blatantly disrespectful and insensitive. Regardless of how someone feels about immigration or gun control, one hundred and twenty nine people died during the Paris attacks, and bickering over public policy won’t heal the wound that has been inflicted upon France.

“The media hasn’t been covering the attacks as much in the past few days because, to Americans, they’re not timely anymore. When I talk to my friends in Paris, though, they’re still feeling [the effects of the attacks],” said French teacher Milly Trahey.

While politicians across the globe are busy using the attacks as evidence to support their political agendas, the people of France are grieving. France is one of the United States’s oldest allies, and its suffering hits many Americans close to home.

People are scared- and rightfully so. However, while it is necessary to clamor for improved security and safety measure, it is equally necessary to remember the lives that have already been lost.

“[The attacks] were like 9/11, just on a much smaller scale. It’s difficult for people to go back to their day to day lives after something like that,” said Trahey.

There is no correct way to deal with tragedy. However, politicians, political pundits, the media, and civilians all need to remember to respect those who died so tragically and abruptly.