Well, there is a difference

[question everything]

Many pointed out that, at least in this country, we do not publicly offend everyone. I am not even aware of a publication comparable to Charlie Hebdo. Mad magazine? South Park?

We've had several campuses retracting invitations to speakers because they would have "offended" the tender souls of the graduating class. (Hey, Brandeis University, how about re-extending the invitation to Ayaan Hirsi Ali?)

A letter in the local paper correctly pointed out that the editorial, in support of Charlie Hebdo would never use the "N" word, nor would it publish a letter containing this word.

Still, the difference is that if individuals or publications did follow the same path we, one hopes, would not barge into the office of that publication and shoot everyone in sight.

No, we only shoot politicians and students and mall and theater going.

OK, start "shooting."

[uppityperson]

1. Charlie Hebdo was just an excuse, as too often happens with killings

[jehop61]

2. Such a sad commentary

on us is the fact that 17 people were killed over 3 days in Paris by 3 so-called terrorists (who were probably just low class men frustrated by being jobless with no future). 1 million people and world leaders showed up to march against this tragedy. In Dec. of 2012, 27 little children and adults were shot dead in one incident, and while some decried the violence, 1 million people didn't march in protest and we couldn't even get weak legislation passed to help alleviate future such incidents.

[frazzled]

3. Try this on for size

Of course we have offensive satire magazines and offensive cartoonists.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/pope-tweets-picture-of-self-with-god,30624/

Pope Tweets Picture of Self with God

?4571

Or this memorable offensive cartoon:



http://cellar.org/iotd.php?threadid=1161

No one got killed for those, or even got put on a list for killing. You have to understand that in France biting--and yes, offending--political satire is a tradition that goes back to Voltaire, and thus to the French people is at the very basis of the idealism that spurred the Rights of Man and the French Revolution, and the beginning of their democracy. Venerable old satire papers like Le Canard Enchainé have been around for more than a century.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Well..... The Onion published a cartoon where Jesus Christ and Moses were being masturbated

by the Hindu deity.

(NSFW warning obviously) http://www.theonion.com/articles/no-one-murdered-because-of-this-image,29553/