Freedom and faith: How we wish that it was reel, not real.
Liam Neeson's film "Taken" comes to mind. The setting is the same: Paris. The story is quite different, the violence in the form of a world-wide syndicate for abduction and human trafficking. Single-handedly, Liam saves his daughter and the movie has a happy ending.
Sadly, that is not what happened last January 7, 2015 in Paris. This time it was real, not reel. Terrorists executed 4 cartoonists. A policeman was mercilessly shot in the head. Later in the day, another policewoman was killed. The number of the dead totaled to 12, with more critically injured still being attended to.
Why? "Allah be praised," was heard as the terrorists fled their killing field.
Why the cartoonists and Charlie Hebdo as targets? Their satiric cartoons about Islam offended extremists. For standing for freedom of expression, they were executed by extremists invoking their religion.
What God and religion thrive on hate and killing? None, not even Islam, according to the silent, peace-loving Muslims all throughout the world.
The Paris terrorists were reported to have spared the women but a policewoman was later gunned down in another drama that is begging for answers on top of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. If the target were those whose cartoons were 'blasphemous,' why kill the wounded policeman by the sidewalk and the innocent building doorman?
Is freedom to be punished by death? Cannot the extremists spare lives and resort to peaceful means to resolve conflicts?
Did the executioners think that by killing 4 cartoonists, other cartoonists will now cower in fear because of the threat of death and execution?
The outpouring of support for their fallen comrades has gone global and viral. The terrorists may have silenced 4 but in their place, more than 4, countless others pledge to carry on and fight for freedom of expression. The death of 4 has resulted in resurrecting more fighters for freedom, more advocates for peace. Charlie lives on among millions whose courage and faith in freedom have been awakened by the brutal guns of the executioners.
Rather than fear, there is stronger faith to defend freedom and life.
Those who believe so are lighting their commemorative candles in solidarity, as a tribute to the brave cartoonists whose lives were taken in the name of freedom by cowardly executioners who hid their faces and who, until this time, remain in hiding.
Their capture will not be the end of this present drama. For as long as freedom is threatened or silenced, the march to peace will move on. Fear may continue while terror threatens with guns, bombs, and death. This recent drama in Paris, however, reinforced the faith in millions all throughout the world that freedom and life are worth fighting and dying for.
Do the extremists realize that they have allowed themselves to consider guns and terror and hate as their new religion? Do the executioners realize that their earthly terrorist leaders and handlers may approve and commend them but will the real God of their faith reward them?
Many have given up their lives in the name of freedom. Many have died for their faith and religion. Only a few are taking lives and killing people in the name of religion. Again we ask, what God and what religion allow killing and massacre as means to resolve conflicts?
The new year has just started and this real drama has momentarily shaken our hope for a peaceful, happier year for all. All trials have blessings as well, however. May this present drama unite all throughout the world to strive harder, together to see peace and responsible freedom continue to reign and for conflicts to be resolved, not by guns, bombs, or terrorism but by peaceful negotiations and agreements.
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