The deadly attack at the offices of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, that left 12 dead, including the magazine’s editor, four cartoonists and two policemen, struck a chord for people e
verywhere. It is believed that the gunmen were striking back at the publication for cartoons they published that satirized the Prophet Muhammad.
As journalists, we’re called to objectively point out flaws in elected officials, corporations, and religious and educational institutions. Our investigations provide information and accountability, and protect the public. The editors, journalists and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo bravely took on that challenge everyday, without worrying about who they might offend. Presidents, religious figures, political leaders—no one was off limits for the magazine’s staff, who encountered threats on a regular basis.
People should not have to fear for their lives every time they make a joke or call out the powerful. The Charlie Hebdo attack is a stark reminder that freedom of speech, including that of the press, is a privilege that many will try to oppress. Free speech, whether it’s in the form of a cartoon depicting a religious leader or a film poking fun at a North Korean dictator, must be defended. Without it, we become uninformed, passive and at the very least, quite dull.
