Solidarity: The word that has surrounded the horrifying images and stories following the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris; the word hashtagged and photoshopped over stills of the Eiffel Tower; the word spoken in unison in England, Spain, the U.S.

But, what exactly does it mean? More specifically, how can we use this word to help those who were affected over 5,000 miles away?

Does selecting the red, white and blue temporary profile picture filter show solidarity? Perhaps. Does lighting the Sydney Opera House and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer in those hues represent the word? We’d like to think so.

Social media has shown support, prayers and well-wishes, but has also called out the media for not covering other countries recently hit by terrorism attacks.

Beirut, Lebanon saw 42 dead and 240 injured on Thursday; over 140 dead in an attack in Kenya in April; 224 dead in Sinai, Egypt last month; hundreds in Iraq throughout this year alone.

The root of these attacks boils down to another straightforward word: hate.

Perhaps what we can do to support and spread solidarity starts here at home, even here on campus. Maybe one answer to a complicated and controversial labyrinth that involves foreign policy and homeland security, is yet another simple word: empathy.

Instead of hating a population based on who they decide to marry; what gender they decide to identify as; which God they pray to, or don’t pray to; where they live; who they vote for as our next president; the color of their skin; their economical or social standing— perhaps we can demonstrate empathy, and maybe then lives can be saved.

As people of this country, it may not be our duty or in our power to directly affect how we respond to terrorist attacks. But as people of the world, it is our duty to not only believe in solidarity, but to practice it in our interactions toward our neighbors in Paris, in Beirut, in Egypt, and here in our own backyards.