There was a great banner:

I am a Muslim, don't panic!

I raised that issue the other day Chip.

My point is that the reaction to these atrocities are the mirror image of what the perpetrators wanted. Today in Paris there were Israel and Morrocan flags together. There were Jews and Muslims arm in arm.

Theres hope for the future yet.

I heard an interview with a woman from Paris earlier, when asked what she wanted she replied 'Peace and Freedom' I suspect that is what the vast majority of people of all races and religions want, the but jobs are few and far between and I'm not sure if ignoring them will be better than ridiculing them.

But it does seem odd that when things happen in or to the west things like the Boko Haram slaughter of so many or the fact they are using young (one reported was 9 or 10 years old) girls as suicide bombers is not even mentioned.

The thing is, you just know Cherif and Said Kouachi's mates are sitting in a room somewhere, having a quick look at the telly while they're working out who to slaughter next, and jubilating at the amplitude of the reaction.
I bet they didn't imagine having this much success even in their wildest dreams. All it takes is a handful of people with a half-decent weapons supplier.
Today's march might be an admirable display of solidarity in a lot of people's eyes, but I'm not sure it serves any purpose at all. You can bet your last penny Al Queda and Co. are totally not going to give a shit.
What I believe is needed is a display of outright mockery at their gullibility in believing they are some kind of martyr.

The problem is Chip they dont want a chunk of land somewhere these cvnts want to rule the world with their imaginary friend

I came across this interesting article and debate. Very thought provoking.

http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/ar ... tain/16443

Very interesting you could use this scenario for the other "big" story of the last week. Let's face it if it wasn't for Facebook Twitter and the media storm Evans would be playing for Sheffield United.

Well maybe, but your comment is hardly thought provoking either, is it.

I thought it was going down the line that really exists which is you can mock what you like as long as its not Islam...

The ragheads didn't complain when they mocked their other prophet ( Good old JC himself..)

It looked like a reasonable prognosis to me.

If those idiots want to have 14th century values they should fuck off to chips island somewhere. The problem is they want to shove it down EVERYONES throats of you want it or not..

Its about time we stopped them preaching this shit before they radicalise more of their ilk.

Follow what religion you like but don't try and convert everyone else whatever your imaginary friend said hundreds of years ago.. (Especially verses where you are told to kill non believers or extort a tax.. Strange how a religion of peace could promote such ideas)..

I'm really uncomfortable with Charlie Hebdo and French satirical cartoons in general. Seems to be a widespread belief that if you offend everybody that makes anything acceptable but I've always thought that satire should focus on taking the piss out of people with power, not the vulnerable and weak.

For example, French Catholic schools have a deal going with the allegedly secular state that allows them to be nominally private, charge parents about £80 a term and then get state funding for the rest. These schools exist all over the place and inside them religious imagery, clothing etc is all fine. I don't know of any similar Muslim schools and the state schools have banned the veil. Charlie Hebdo's line is that using crude, racial stereotypes cartoons to mock both groups is treating both equally - I can't agree at all because Muslims are discriminated against in France but Catholics aren't.

On top of that the idea that this is a land of equality is a joke. There are lots of good things about France but the levels of police brutality and social injustice and a state that rules almost entirely in its own interests aren't on my list.

They were horrible, shocking murders and it's awful to see that sort of thing happening to anybody but I'm not saying Je suis Charlie because I'd rather not be Charlie.

I was quite shocked there was no further attacks during this big march. Thousands/Millions of people all in close proximity?

Concurring fully!

It is impossible to conclude anything other than the fact that France is an inherently racist country. The UK is very similar.

The vast majority of 2nd generation immigrants feel marginalised at every level, and however much the French government likes to portray itself as 'secular,' in so many ways it patently is not.

I am Charlie, however, as I have always believed that the pen is mightier than the crossbow...

I struggle to square the circle on how you can be "racist" to a religion. Do you have to be a certain colour to be a certain religion?..

The problem is a small minority ( with assault weapons) believe its ok to be acting for some imaginary friend when executing those who's only crime was to be :

(a) Of a faith different to theirs

(b) Had the audacity to draw some pictures of their imaginary friend and in doing so they took the piss a bit

Is acceptable..

Reason (a) is the most disturbing ATM because its being used to slaughter far more innocents in the name of some 7th Century Warlord/Prophet (delete as appropriate) than those 3 terrorists in Paris did.

As always the religion isn't the problem its people taking every word of the storybook as being true that is..

The Nazis were pretty racist towards Jews and they are a religious rather than ethnic grouping.

One of the coppers that was shot was a Muslim.

I reckon the jihadists feed off the discrimination and the anger it causes. I can't prove this but I honestly believe that if France treated people of North African descent equally it would be incredibly hard for terrorist groups to attract young men and women to their cause. Unhappy, angry young people look for answers. You can apply the same argument in most European countries.

@Toulouse
I think that's a very good post (your first post, haven't read the second yet.)
I suppose the CharlieH people would argue that, by targeting all religions, anomalies such as the ones you mention between Catholic and Muslim school-funding, would vanish. But as you say that result depends on whether cartoons and satire will remove people's religious beliefs. Almost certainly not. In fact, why should someone change a belief just because someone else mocks them?

Don't know about French ones, but English satirists are usually just self-indulgent and smug, eg Hislop. They achieve nothing that could be described as long-term change for the good. Instead they sit about in studios making lazy 'jokes' about the Establishment, and so gain a nicely remunerated reputation for being edgy. Meanwhile the Establishment continues to establish........

Well I might not be in France now but I haven't been gone that long and still have daily contacts with plenty of French people. I've never seen anyone carrying a copy of CH and never met anyone who actually bought it (ever, not just regularly).
I can only conclude that "Je Suis Charlie" has some subtle meaning that is passed on through French wombs. There are plenty of analogies in the UK, so why not.
I'm wondering how many different varieties of outrage are being felt here. Mine is real but it's quite different to Madame Montpoolier's, for instance.