Freedom also requires responsibility

Violence is never an acceptable reaction to mere words or images.

Muslims, along with other world leaders condemned the recent barbarism in Paris. Thousands demonstrated, declaring that freedom of speech is mandatory in a democracy. Can we not, however, value free speech but also respect the beliefs of others?

Humor is good, but everyone has a choice where to draw the line when poking fun at those who hold beliefs different from their own.

The staff at Charlie Hebdou were already under police protection. The provocative images they continued to publish incited deranged lunatics into brutally executing them.

Others not even involved in the controversy died as well. French policeman Ahmed Menabet became a potent symbol in the debate concerning free speech and religious tolerance when he died defending a newspaper accused of insulting his faith.

Those murdered are now considered by many to be martyrs. Their killers only furthered the false belief that beheadings, bombings and mass murder are religiously sanctioned responses to grievances.

Recently on the decline, Charlie Hebdou has now emerged from bankruptcy with more support than ever before. They can continue to publish satirical, controversial cartoons lampooning Jews, Christians and Muslims, designed to shock and offend even those devoted to freedom of speech.

So what can we learn from this tragedy? Freedom is always accompanied by responsibility. We can choose to focus on being peacemakers or we can emit words and images which create further division.

Yes, the staff of Charlie Hebdou made themselves heard around the world, but at what price?

Joanne Bohman Gurion

Rolling Meadows