Charlie Hebdo

This morning in Paris, thousands turned out for a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical French paper where 12 were killed during an attack last week, and in support of freedom of the press in general. 

While the paper was targeted because radical Muslims objected to their cartoons  lampooning of the Prophet Mohammed, Charlie  has always been an equal-opportunity insulter.  Their irreverent cartoons have attacked Muslims, Jews and Christians – sometimes, all three at once as in this demand that Charlie be veiled.

Satirical publications serve a valuable – even necessary – role in society.  They force us to reexamine our values and priorities – they stretch the envelope.  If they don’t publish something that you personally find offensive, they are not doing their job.