Newsradio 1020 KDKA Editorial: Nous Sommes
When you think about dangerous jobs –
Maybe you think of loggers –
Deep-sea fishermen –
Or miners.
You don't think of cartoonists.
Charlie Hebdo is a weekly French publication –
That features cartoons and jokes – among other things.
It is irreverent –
Controversial –
And it has attacked just about every political institution and religion –
Including radical Islam.
It was the magazine's cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed -
That apparently prompted Wednesday's carnage.
Three men opened fire at the magazine's office.
A dozen people died.
Four were well-known cartoonists – including the magazine's editor.
Almost immediately – social media exploded with the phrase –
Je suis Charlie -
I am Charlie.
It is both a statement of support for those killed –
And a message –
For those who think murder is an appropriate response to any slight.
It is all of us – standing together –
Refusing to be intimidated into silence.
Je suis Charlie.
No -
Nous sommes Charlie.
We are Charlie.
We must be.
Or the thugs and terrorists win.