http://news.sky.com/story/1434839/behind-the-twisted-appeal-of-jihadi-john
Thanks Bede.
Je suis Charlie – is it right to print cartoons that some find offensive? Is it deliberately provocative?
There is a debate here that is worth exploring.
The grotesque murder of people for publishing cartoons of the prophet Mohamed is undoubtedly wrong. Most people, Muslims included, find those acts barbaric and reprehensible.
However those cartoons were offensive to many Muslims and perhaps deliberately so.
The debate is whether, in a free country with the right of freedom of speech, it is right to intentionally cause offense.
In the West we have a long tradition of lampooning, ridiculing and belittling our politicians, religious leaders and celebrities. Despite the fact that this causes offense to the targets of these lampoons and their followers.
We hold this right to be sacrosanct and a tenet of freedom of speech which is the basis of a free society and our democracy. This freedom, tolerance and democracy is why so many want to come and live here.
However, out of respect for our Muslim minority at what is a sensitive time, taking account of their particular sensitivity in this area, would it not be judicious to moderate this right instead of being inflammatory?
On one hand we have a group of people who are adamant that enough is enough and a point needs to be made; freedom of speech is non-negotiable. We need to publish whatever we want with impunity. Threats of violence will not dissuade us. It is a right.
On the other hand we have a group of devoutly religious people who feel angered, threatened and blamed. They feel they are under attack and grouped in with the barbaric thugs who have misused their religion, but they are also extremely offended and upset.
Are we presenting the Islamists an excuse? Are we fuelling more converts to extremism?
Or are we standing firm in the face of violence and showing we will not be cowed?
What are your views?
Je suis Charlie – What a shame the murderers were killed!!
It is a great shame that the murderers were killed. I cannot help thinking that in their misguided logic it is what they wanted. They and the other religious fanatics really believe that they are martyrs and will wake up in paradise.
There are brainwashed fools. No sane God would give their blessing to callous murderers. The Yemen fanatics behind this are nice and safe hundreds of miles away.
No man is above the law. The murderers would have been better dealt with in a court where their barbaric crimes could be spelt out. They would have been committed to prison for life and had a long, long time to contemplate how they have been duped.
In order to combat immoral people it is necessary to be completely spotless. I wish they had not been shot.
I hope the whole sane Muslim community of the world unites to condemn this abuse of Islam. Young people the world over need to be told in no uncertain terms that this sort of murder does not result in paradise; it is not allowed by the teachings in the Koran and it is not condoned by any God.
If there was a God they would have to explain their actions. They are cold-blooded killers. The courts were the best place to ascertain their guilt.
Fearless Taliban with kalashnikovs gun down schoolchildren! Religious fanatic attacks cafe!
The bravery and courage necessary to take on school children or attack a café is unbelievable.
Do we now have to have armed security guards in our Old People’s homes or Kindergartens?
There is a serious moral deficit in these people. Their brutality and mercilessness demonstrate the hollowness of their religious beliefs. They are sick.