Charlie Hebdo Shootings

Okay, I have to admit that I began this blog post a few days ago and I never got round to finishing it, and now the link to the video I wanted to show has gone so I will just have to try my best to explain in words what I saw and how I feel.

I'm sure everybody reading this has heard about the shootings at Charlie Hebdo last week (and if you haven't, it's probably about time you stopped living in ignorance and read the news) so I won't blab on about it for two long. However, in short, due to the Prophet Mohammad being drawn on and in Charlie Hebdo, 12 people were shot dead including the editor of the magazine and two police officers, as well as up to 11 injured. This comes after the 2011 bombings, the original bombings for the original magazine cover which caused outrage in Islamic societies.

Obviously, there is more to it but that is the basis of what happened, you can read up for yourself if you are unsure. My original point, which included the video I mentioned above, was about ignorant people making ignorant videos and always having something to say relating back to governments and conspiracy theories. Why do people find it necessary to make a conspiracy theory out of everything?! The video I watched was stating that it was 'impossible' the police man died from a shot to the head or there would have been blood spattered everywhere, as well as the fact the men went to 'extreme effort to hide their identity' by wearing full masks but were apparently stupid enough to leave their identification cards in the car so the Police knew exactly who they were. The article also stated that the French Government had paid for the both the shootings and for Charlie Hebdo to publish these controversial images.

Number one, just because the Police officer did not die from direct shot to the head, why are these ignorant journalists forgetting about the other 12 people who were directly shot and had their blood horrifically splattered everywhere? Regardless of whether or not the police officer died a brutal, gory death, whether it was from impact or from a direct bullet, the point is the two men killed 12 people that day and the tiny specifics should not matter.

Number two, I can see why this would be a little suspicious that identification cards were left after they tried to escape, however it is not impossible. The men would have been rushed not only to escape but also from the adrenaline they would have been feeling after the shootings, thus suggesting their mental state would not have been sensible in any way. It is more than probable they left/dropped their identification cards during the rush, and even had they not, CCTV would have picked them up along the way so does it really matter? The french police have searched, found and killed the men and the public should be thankful for their service and for attempting to stop any further attacks.

Finally, number 3, why would the government set up for people to be killed and for civilians all over France and all around the world to be scared for their lives? It's absurd. Especially considering we are supposed to be living in a democracy in which freedom of speech is allowed. How can the government dictate what happens and how we feel if this is true. Especially when the attack has apparently been planned by Al Qaeda for a long time, since the editor of Charlie Hadbo was put on their most wanted list for his decisions to post portraits of the profit. The bombings after this took place in 2011 and nothing was heard again, until now. How could the government possibly have planned that?!

However, there are always two sides to every story and this cannot be forgotten. 

It, of course, needs to be considered why Charie Habdo felt the need to post such controversial images in this diverse and interracial society we now live in. Majority of Charlie Habdo's magazine covers are controversial religious images and therefore it could be argued that it was not a direct assault at the Islamic world. Although it may have been extremist Muslims who reacted to the controversial images, it does mean that other religions were not offended and disappointed by the images drawn by the magazine.

Should the magazine be allowed to publish them if it is going to cause such outrage in the religious world? Are the terrorists the real root of the problem or is it the magazine for posting it in the first place? Personally, I do not believe the latter: if other religious groups can deal with it calmly and efficiently, why can't these extremist muslims do the same? It is, however, definitely something to consider. Interestingly, Charlie Habdo found it necessary to 'fight' back but putting another depiction of the prophet mohammad holding a 'Je Suis Charlie' sign up. I may not agree that they are the root of the problem, but fighting fire with fire is just going to cause a bigger problem, can't people see that?

Furthermore, England has taken the decision in support of France and of Charlie Habdo, they will be publishing the most recent edition in England on Friday. This has already created terror threats and it just makes me wonder - are we causing this? Why do the british always feel the need to stick there noses in! I'm all for unity around the world but in my opinion it is simply stupity publishing something again which is causing religious discrepancies around the world. We are trying to be united with a county to make peace around the world, and yet it is simply causing more problems - how can we eventually have global unity if people are not willing to accept other cultures and religions fully. Extremist Muslims may be difficult to deal with but there are better ways to deal with them than to publish disrespectful things around the world; it makes us as bad as them.

I have also heard debates of people saying "if they are coming to OUR country they should respect OUR humour and our rules". Now, I am not saying I fully disagree with this, in some respects people should adapt to the lifestyle Britain, France, or wherever they choose to migrate to has. However, in the world we are currently living, we are attempting to become interracial and cultured. If this is the case, how can we not accept the way other people behave and suggest everyone has to be the same. It's nice having different cultures scattered around the world or we become ignorant to the world around us. Again, I am not saying I agree with extremist muslims, but ignorant people saying that ALL muslims are out to kill us all make my blood boil. As the picture shows, we don't see all Christians as the KKK so why should we see all Muslims as the extremist ISIS?!

I guess this post wasn't really controversial at all, as I have tried to look at both sides equally. However, the point I am trying to make here is this: We are under a terror threat and this is totally frightening. Living in a world where you have to be afraid of what you write or where you travel to or what you say is NOT fair. However, if we want to overcome the problem, fighting back against these people and lumping all religious persons under the same category is unfair and ridiculous. Terrorists need to be stopped, I am not for one second suggesting I know the answer as to how, but I think are actions at the moment are aggravating them instead of stopping them and making negative instead of positive change.

J.


NB found the video, follow this link. www.educateinspirechange.org/alternative-news/video-evidence-sheds-doubt-official-story-charlie-hebdo-shootings-paris/