12 killed in Paris by extreme Islamists.
 

The paper was one that pushed the edge, made everyone angry, held nothing sacred. The cartoon was one of An Isis member in black holding a knife to the throat of a person dressed as the prophet and that figure saying, I am God, you idiot. Or at least that is what I got from the Today Show this morning.

The retaliation was planned. The editor and the cartoonists rarely were there at the same time, some worked for other publications. They were all there when the gunman killed them, and the police officer(s) who protected them.

They have traced the gunmen to the northern edge of Paris to a downtrodden area where a heavy population of Islamic people live. A white athletic shoe fell out of the car driven by the gunman so the police surmised they were ready to change clothes and blend in.

Is this violence or is it terrorism?

How do you feel about this? What should be done? Does this scare you?

7 janvier 2015 : mort de mai 68 #jesuicharlie http://t.co/r7Rga9MCFO - scoopnest.fr

Despicable act.

12 killed in Paris by extreme Islamists.
 

This is terrorism. I have a couple of points to make:
We, the citizens of the U.S, who love this country, are part of the problem. We have been beaten over the head so often about cultural sensitivities that political correctness is the order of the day. This needs to stop NOW.
Our Muslim citizens who stand by and don't speak out against acts like this are part of the problem.
Our Muslim citizens who don't turn out the radicals in their midst are a larger problem.
That we as a nation don't tell immigrants who come here to adopt the laws and cultures of our country - because of political correctness - is a problem. Instead we allow them to come here and segregate themselves into ghetto like enclaves; then they want us to recognize their "right" to practice sharia law.

We love to welcome immigrants who are excited to come here and join the fabric of the greatest nation on earth. Do NOT come here and try to tell us how to run it or how to change it. If you don't like the way we do things, DON'T come here.

It's time to take a strong position against those who wish to see us wiped off the face of the earth. Stop political correctness; stop extremists and do what is necessary to make that happen. Sorry if this offends a few people - or even a lot of people - too bad. This is a war for survival for us, for our country, and our way of life. If you don't recognize that, then YOU are also part of the problem.

I think the cartoon you described, if true, was a bit extreme and they brought violence upon themselves by acting stupidly. They lost their lives for what, to prove a point?

How do I feel? Fine. What should be done? Search for the killers. Does it scare me? No, should it?

This is terrorism. Not many things worry me, but the possibility of another large terroristic act on US soil really scares me. And what is it where nearly everyday we hear of a high profile shooting (Ft. Bliss yesterday). What is happening to America?

It doesn't scare me but it certainly angers me. People should have the right to express their views. They should not be killed for that.

As to the comments about political correctness, here's my view. Used correctly, being PC is the right thing to do. It is showing an acceptance of another's beliefs and respecting them as individuals. To me, this is exactly what everyone should be doing. However, it does not mean kowtowing to another. It does not mean having ballots printed in myriad languages. It does not mean having to deny one's own beliefs to accommodate another.

English was not my first language. It was my fifth. My parents firmly believed we would learn the language of the country in which we resided. We would learn their customs and accept that they had a right to their customs as much as we did ours. My poor mother could not pick up a new language to save her life, but she tried.

America has gotten confused and somehow decided that people have the right to practice their customs everywhere, not just in their homes. No demands are made to integrate into our melting pot. We go out of our way to accommodate those coming here. It is well past time that the government and corporations stop with the Spanish option on phones, etc. Foreigners in the past were forced to learn English. It made assimilation possible. Today, there is no need to assimilate.

You don't like our laws? Then work within the legal framework to change them. Don't demand that you have special laws just for your group. Peaceful protest has been proven to make a difference.

Some of the issues we've brought upon ourselves. Americans have always relegated newcomers into their own ghettos and enclaves. It was easier for a group that looked like our forefathers to move out and become part of the upwardly mobile. It is not so easy for people of color to move out and up, especially when they don't speak English and have no need to learn it. We need to quit bending over backwards but it has to start at the top, not with the average man.

Art no matter how bad an idea is still just an expression of something. It should never be met with violence. French history is full of people using ideas to propel violent actions. That's probably why they support freedom of speech so strongly. Just think what could have been done if people were made to laugh at various monsters throughout European history rather than taking them seriously.

This seems to be a reason for better communication, education and tolerance about other cultures, religions, etc., and not less.

Dbussone, I agree.
Political correctness is also rampant in Canada.

I agree 100% with everything you said. However, did the cartoonist show tolerance concerning another culture and religion? I think he was trying to provoke a reaction and he got one, which was not very smart if one wishes to stay alive. I'm looking at it from an immediate and practical standpoint. Did he solve any cultural problems by his actions?

Basically, it was downright stupid to publish a cartoon like that in light of the large Muslim population in France. The paper was asking for trouble. Dang, use common sense- it is not capitulation to use common sense.

Was it terrorism or violence? Both. Was it justified? No.

Political correctness can and will quell freedom of speech. Political satire is the exercising of that fundamental right in a democracy. Like it or not. We only agree with the satire if it suits our ideology. To accept and succumb to the horrible outcome as "expected" in light of their political satire is outrageous. To suggest they got what they deserved is a victory for the terrorists. Certainly the two dead policemen were just there to do their job. We have to stop making excuses for their rampant murdering sprees and we need to resist blaming the victims.

Amen. Well said.

They were not asking to be murdered. This was terrorism targeting someone who offended the religious and cultural viewpoints of extremists. It is not political correct to support these kind of murderous acts in any peaceful society that I know of in 2015.

Terrorism targeting someone who offended the religious and cultural viewpoints of extremists. Absolutely correct.

Once again, the paper was not exercising common sense in publishing an insensitive and offensive cartoon in a country with such a large Muslim population. Some extremists got very angry and committed murder. Definitely wrong but common sense would have prevented that from happening.

This cartoon was the cover for the New Yorker magazine a few years back. Satire and press are common associates. But not worth murdering for. Unless you're a nutjob.

I feel that many use that argument. That a person or persons would have to be mentally ill/ sick to do such a thing...BUT can all Muslim extremists be mentally ill? I don't think so. They are choosing an ideology which is murderous....and if someone now brings up the crusades............

This is NOW. Should we really not treat them like we treat everyone else? If you look at the link above, I think the second post, if you scroll down, you see a photo the satiric paper (Charlie someone) apparently used of a back view of Barack Obama showing his rather prominent ears, next to the back of a large bunny.

No one is immune, apparently, from their satire. It may hurt and it may inflame, but isn't that within the measure of an ordinary person's self control?

You're looking for an argument where there is none.. No one got what they deserved. The word "deserved" is yours not mine. They got what could be expected under the circumstances. Just as if you walk through a high-crime neighborhood with 100 dollar bills sticking out of your pockets, you can expect to get robbed but you don't deserve it.

No one is making excuses for the terrorists. I'm just saying that some retaliation should have been expected.

Was it worth it considering the loss of life with two policemen dead? In what way was it worth it? What's the payoff? Will this bring more freedom of speech anytime soon? I'll bet there's plenty of political correctness in France. Will this change now?

Beechie, I agree.

I do not see that as an equivalent argument. There are many US sources of satire and very tasteless free speech-- TOPIX threads come to mind-- but publishing offensive cartoons is hardly the same as walking down the Tenderloin with very expensive clothing and not expecting to be mugged.


I suppose if you walked down a street in Tehran and started insulting whatever Gods they worship there, that might be closer. That person should get a Darwin Award but for drawing cartoons from a very sophisticated city like Paris....

Have you seen their cartoons?
Google Charlie Hebdo and select images

Have you seen how they also depicted The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit?

If you go to Google translate you can enter the text to read the translated captions.

From what I read about the magazine, the more insulting the cartoons were the more copies were sold, and the more money they made.

This is not a magazine that merely makes a country's leader or church's leader look foolish or backwards. That's the price of freedom and I understand that means anything goes.

I truly hope that radical extremism is given the top priority in all western societies as the very foundation of our freedoms are being challenged with feckless reprisal.

Tom - we both recognize them as equal opportunity offenders. And you're correct that it is the price of freedom, and we don't like the tasteless things they print, but we also recognize we need to defend their right to do so.

France had many North African Colonies like Algeria and Libya. The people of these countries are considered to have French Citizenship rights. So, there are many of them in France. With the Birth Dearth amongst Europeans, by 2050 Europe will be predominantly Muslim.

Certain groups tolerate satire better than others, best to know which and not ridicule the Faith and Holy Ones of others. Treat people like you would like to be treated.

Have you seen their cartoons? That was my question.

I have. As I said, they are generally very tasteless.

Actually there are a lot of limitations to free speech in many Western societies and cultures. But this is a magazine of satire that was attacked by murderous thugs who actually sound extremely like well trained killers. I just do not see the problem with the context of the cartoonists.

take a look at FactCheck click here

GG, what I meant was that the Muslim extremists are pathological killers and ideologically nuts in my opinion. Their hatred is near psychotic. But when all is said and done they executed a murderous mass killing right out of a Hollywood shoot-em-up. This group is dangerous and trained. And smart enough to get away and do it again.

It does not follow though that these will be extremists. Islam does have the troubling history of the Jihad but reasonable leaders can change things.

Dbussone, You are 100% correct.

It was terrorism. Trying to quantify or qualify what the magazine did or did not trigger is an exercise in opionating (word?).

What should be of concern is the reckless abandon pattern being demonstarted in different venues around the world in different ways. All with a common denominator of the killing of unsuspecting, defenseless innocents.

My biggest fear is when the home growns, that will look like the folks next door who will eventually do more of the Boston Marathon type killing. These folks home grown or the islamists who are committed to killing us all for what we beleive....will eventually try a school or church or mall or sporting event or theme park bombing. After which there will be a terror in the hearts and minds of us all and affect how we live or used to live. Once the comfort of safety has been shattered or destroyed, totally magnified by the media....our freedoms as we know them will be self limited by the fear.

All the pandering and ignoring or playing nice nice to not offend some is only another form of dilluted freedom.

We should be counting our lucky stars and saying a prayer daily that these radical, maniacal, COWARDLY killers have not done more here in the USA.....and I must add...yet! I do hope to be proven wrong.

Fear is so very easy to weaponize!!!!!!!!!!

Tip toeing around religious extremists with a 7th century value system of life and death is going to lead to Western Civilization's decline. Please someone look at how Christian North Africa and the entire Levant was essentially erased. Back when history was still taught in the schools, did anyone come across Charles Martel? What about real and intellectually honest reasons for the Crusades? And on and on. Not 'politically correct' but true - as in honest.

Should we be "sensitive" to those religionists who are over sensitive, and may, because they are not as enlightened as us, shoot and kill at perpetrators of 'insult?' Isn't that dishonest? Isn't that truly cowardly? Acting or not acting because one is coming from some sort of 'practical standpoint' reflects a moral vacuum. When in Rome, do as the Romans…

The NY Times, like some others, has already started spreading the toxin about the murdered French journalist - he was always 'provoking,' implying of course he brought this upon himself. Let's all shoot him again. It's out of Lewis Carroll. Up is down. Wrong is right and the victim is the wrongdoer.

When I read some of the responses here I can only stand in awe of the great Winston Churchill and how he got through the appeasing, cowardly and morally vacant 1930's in Europe.

Thank God for all of us he existed and withstood the vile lies thrown at him.

Great thoughts above dbussone and beechie.

I'm sorry. I thought you said that by 2015 the Muslim population will be higher then 50 per cent in Europe and FactCheck has the number below 10 per cent.

We Lose More Innocent
 

people in America

Americans struggle to abide by the First Amendment. We forget other nations have no such limitations. In Germany, Holland, France and other nations there is a minority who are very concerned about the growing presence in their countries Holland, Germany and France have formed political parties to push their anti-Islam agenda. This act is indeed terrorism. Be prepared because every country including ours will be hit by terrorist doing these sort f things drive bys, (i.e) drop a grenade in the middle of a crowd (ie)the quick hit and retreat attacks.

There are two instruments that have tightly permeated our educational and political institutions and that have been an assault on our First Amendment.

Alinsky tactics have been elevated to a science in these institution and along with such a Marxist invention political correctness.

There is gun violence and then there is extreme Islamic terrorism done by lone wolves.....maybe lone wolves...maybe influenced greatly by the big terrorists groups. To me, they aren't the same at all.

Sorry, but I think you are not only off topic but I seriously question your rationale for even making your post. And your lead sentence seems to be missing something.

There is no
 

difference.

Just check the title of my post.

So you are saying that the Boston Bombers and these three in Paris were all deranged/mentally ill..... and not following a religious philosophy, ie brainwashed?