After the tragedy that occurred in Paris on Wednesday I wanted to let you know Me and my roommates are safe. Over the course of a few months, the Charlie Hebdo magazine has been publishing satirical comics depicting Muhammad. In Islam it is forbidden to depict Muhammad in art or pictures because nobody knows what he really looks like. On Wednesday morning the editor of Charlie Hebdo was killed along with other workers at the magazine as an attack against the offensive comics and against free speech. My apartment is 5.3 km away from all this took place. Kelly, Mahren and I are all on holiday and safe from this tragedy. Currently I am in Grasse, France, which is about 9 hours away from Paris. After this tragedy most of the people in France have been thinking about the risk of free speech. If it wasn't for free speech this wouldn't have happened, but thinking about life without the right to publish what needs to be heard I believe that the ability to speak freely is worth this risk. Charlie Hebdo chose to take this risk which resulted in a very extreme response, but if we take away the right of free speech we are letting these extremists win. By telling them that they are right in their negative views on free speech we we would justify their actions. We would send a message out that says the Charlie Hebdo magazine deserved this horrific attack because of what they published. Their satirical comics were definitely offensive to people who practice Islam yet that act was nothing compared to what the shooters did when they attacked against Free Speech. This is why I agree with France and America's statements about free speech and how it can't be taken away.
Love,
Colette
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