Dear Jayb,

Most scholars agree on one thing - the DNA of
early Judaism,Christianity and Islam are all
filled with violence.

Perhaps you should also take a closer look
at some of the other "Holy Books," of the
various religions - and also a closer examination
of history as well - and not just focus on one
select group. You need to take into
consideration the standards of the time in which
the "Holy Books," were written, which for Islam was 7th
century AD.

The problem it seems to me to be not Muslims - but
fundamentalism. And fundamentalism exists in all religions.

I agree with Middle East Commentator
Juan Cole who said that this latest horrific violence in Paris
"was not a pious protest against the defamation of a
religious icon. It was an attempt to provoke European
society into action against French Muslims in hopes of driving
recruitment efforts of militant groups like al-Qaida and the
Islamic State."

Both are recognised as terrorist organisations
world-wide.

At the risk of receiving a good kicking, I believe 'Charlie Hebdo' were ill-advised, in fact manifestly wrong, to publish this satirical material in their magazine, in this instance. Given the existing climate of violence, that is currently pervading, in and about France at this time ?

The magazine which I understand is located in Paris, in a country of nearly 3.5 million Muslims living there, and tensions already high, with various threat assessments in existence, and to deliberately go ahead, and continue to ridicule and insult Islam, to a group of people with a clear propensity and history of violence, and radical extremism.

I believe it was both foolhardy even reckless in the extreme, to go ahead and publish material, essentially to prove you're sufficiently resolute in your right, to engage in 'free speech' as it were.

It wouldn't matter a fig, in most normal western democracies where cartoonist's regularly lampoon and send up, all manner of religions, important people, including politicians and other high profile individuals, that's par for the course.

But France, with the highest Muslim population of any country in Western Europe, well it's just plain foolhardy even reckless. Those who were innocent victims, not in anyway connected to Charlie Hebdo, well I think the Executives of that magazine should think very carefully in future before they undertake any similar actions of this type.

After all it's just simple 'Risk Management' nothing else ? Notwithstanding you may lawfully do something, you just don't push that right, until it's safe to do so. It's not as though you're 'backing down', you're merely exercising your strategic options here, nothing else !

foxy"

"The problem it seems to me to be not Muslims - but
fundamentalism. And fundamentalism exists in all religions."

Sums it up perfectly; thank you

o sung wu
France has a long and robust tradition of gross, coarse and offensive satire stretching back to Rabelais. Combine this with the strong anti-clerical sentiments of the political left, and a firm commitment to Liberté, and the kind of prudence you are advocating would be a denial of several fundamental principles. It is clear that the cartoonists knew the risks and refused to be intimidated. I applaud them.

Australia prides itself on being anti-establishment and irreverent, but I don’t think it is. It has no equivalent of Charlie Hebdo, or the USA’s Mad magazine or the Onion, or even the UK’s Private Eye or Viz. Remember how the Chaser team were excoriated for mocking the sanctimonious sentimentality of “make a wish”?

Our commitment to free speech is often shallow and contingent - witness the Liberals' back down on 18C. It appears the French are made of sterner stuff.

Yes, SM, if I apply the same criteria, it's clear that 18c curtails free speech.

I believe 18c pertains to "race" only, but that some jurisdictions in Australia also offer redress on other accounts including religion.

Rhian,

Thanks for some insightful posts on this issue, especially the one above.

OSW: After all it's just simple 'Risk Management' nothing else ? Notwithstanding you may lawfully do something, you just don't push that right, until it's safe to do so.

I disagree, If we are not careful we will get 'Risked Managed' back to the Dark Ages along with Islam.

It's not as though you're 'backing down', you're merely exercising your strategic options here, nothing else !

Not backing down? If backing down every time Islamists make a demand, or want us to stop doing something they disagree with,which is very much everything Western. We'll be a moslem Country before you can blink, which is what they want. The Great Southern Caliphate.

As for Europe & the World. It's time to send all moslems back to the Middle East where they belong with their Archaic Religion.

This warning for Europe.

http://www.cbn.com/tv/embedplayer.aspx?bcid=1509282970001

Your resident RAInfidel.