It’s with great regret that we have to talk about yet another senseless killing. On January 7^th, 12 French citizens and Charlie Hebdo employees were brutally killed. Three heavily armed gunmen attacked the satirical French newspaper, Charlie Hebdo.

This comes after the devastating, recent terror attacks in Peshawar Pakistan and Australia. Our hearts go out to the victims of these killings and their loved ones.

Despite these horrific acts of inhumanity, we see the display of solidarity raised all across the world and the web-sphere, as well as the larger understanding for the importance of free speech.

However, I would like to discuss the bigger picture and some of the controversies surrounding this atrocity.

Charlie Hebdo has been a controversial newspaper for years; they have also been threatened numerous times and even firebombed in 2011. Free speech is indeed one of the great virtues of free societies like the one we have in Canada. Although, entitlement to say what you want comes with the undeniable fact that you must be responsible. A satirical newspaper definitely should be raising questions and causing some controversy that allows dialogue; that is indeed the point. Although every person has their limits when it comes to what they can chuckle about and what they find inappropriate, that’s the beauty of free speech; we all get a say. Allegations against the newspaper have been raised before, suggesting that it prints homophobic and racist material. The Gawker provides us with a list of the most controversial and talked about pieces. While being aware of these controversies, we all still agree that the right to free speech is worth the sometimes-not-so-smart things people will say. It is ridiculous to insinuate that the newspaper had this coming for its particular cartoons, “provoking” Muslims to do something about it. Let’s be honest; people are going to get offended when you jest (in good taste or not) about something they hold dear.

The problem is not that Charlie Hebdo is controversial; the problem is that we should not forget that we have the right to critique satire. As explained in this brilliant piece, we should have the option to be offended. This is part of the whole free speech deal. For example, Charlie Hebdo released a cartoon of women, impregnated by Boko Haram, being depicted as welfare queens. This is something I do not find funny; in fact, it deeply offends me. I have the right to criticize a newspaper that produces material like that. So it’s not so much about controlling what Cartoonists or any groups like Charlie Hebdo have to say; it’s about realizing that in the face of this tragedy, we must still stick to the plain facts. We can’t be afraid to stand up and disagree with someone who suggests that because they produce satire and everything is in jest, you have no right to get offended. As students, don’t just tag along with any hashtag you see produced on twitter; do some research and understand what the issues are. I have done my research; therefore, I do not stand for an organization that I see as obviously racist, homophobic and xenophobic, but I condemn the use of violence. I stand for the right to free speech, which gives me the right to write this post criticising Charlie Hebdo.

Now, when I was made aware of this horrible event, two things came to my mind. One, the complete horror the families of these victims must be facing. Two, the media is going to exploit this piece of news and make it into something that will indeed promote negative stereotypes of all Muslims. As the attackers seemed to have been shouting something about Prophet Muhammad, they’ve been branded Muslim extremists for now. France’s treatment of its Muslim citizens is quite dismal and appalling as is,ith the recent laws banning the full veil in 2011, among other not so democratic or free things. In a country that is filled with anti-Muslim sentiment, as a Muslim woman, it is hard for me to feel unafraid about the long term consequences of this attack. After having watched and read many news sources, I feel concerned that the way this event is being portrayed will lead to further alienation of the French Muslim population. This is not a win for anyone. In this current climate of fear, it’s easy to point fingers at one group of people in order to establish an us versus them mentality. As we have learned in our PCJ courses, fear is used to divide people among lines that are arbitrary and formed by those with vested interests. I would like to say that it goes without saying, but from recent events, it seems unwise to take that road. Therefore it is important to understand that Islam cannot be represented by a small majority of dangerous people, who promote political agendas through the guise of some righteous battle. Check out Nicholas Kristof’s well thought out words on this very topic for more depth. .

In our current climate of worldwide Islamaphobia it is the easiest way to pit people against one another, creating room for the creation of more deluded extremism. Nothing can come from pointing fingers and further alienating the French Muslim population. As students of peace and justice we know that this kind of media portrayal can only lead to more hatred and violence.

The message I hope to convey through this piece is that we must intake information as students with the knowledge that, 60 second sound bites on CTV are not representative of the reality of the situation. We look to blame one person or one group for these atrocities but if we continue to do that, we are divided. The best way to achieve justice for attacks in Pakistan, France and Australia is to fight back with a united front of informed global citizens. We will not let the disgusting inhumanity of a few and the political agenda of some media outlets make fools of us.

I am not Charlie Hebdo, but I am a citizen of this earth who believes in free speech and advocates unity above all, for peace and justice.