I'm sure we all shared a sense of gut-wrenching sadness as we watched events in Paris unfold this week as many lives were lost and others shattered in an appalling act of murderous violence, and who could fail to be moved by the way the world has reacted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the French people. No such act could ever have any justification, and that the perpetrators claimed to do so in the name of a peace-loving religion is beyond belief. In the words of a statement issued by the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, "that they were carried out supposedly in the name of God only increases that sense of futility and outrage. Words cannot express the horror of such acts, nor do justice to the sense in which this was an attack upon, and betrayal of, so much that we hold dear."
Following the attack on Charlie Hebdo, many, particularly in the media, have also been quick to jump to the defence of the freedom of the press, and rightly so. If society is to operate in any kind of just manner, the scrutiny of a free press is essential - and satire plays an important role in this. With that freedom comes the freedom to offend, and that is something we must all be prepared to accept.
All of that said, two things are playing on my mind.
The first is Charlie Hebdo. I hope I have made clear that I believe they have the essential right to publish as they see fit, and I join the ranks of all those who stand in solidarity with all affected by this week's attacks. Even if Charlie Hebdo published that which I disagree with, I defend their right to do so. However, expressing our solidarity and defending the rights of a free press does not require us to give assent to all that they do. After all, having the right and freedom to publish something does not mean it will advance the common good to do so.
We live in a world where vastly different ideologies are competing for power. While satire has a valid role to play in challenging this, we must be careful that inflammatory media does not fan the flames and deepen division. Far better that those of different worldviews try to find a space to understand one another, for only then will we find ways to peacefully live side-by-side.
American cartoonist Joe Sacco had given this thought provoking response on the limits of satire: http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2015/jan/09/joe-sacco-on-satire-a-response-to-the-attacks
The second thing playing on my mind is Nigeria. Why Nigeria? I hear you ask.
As the hostage situation in Paris was drawing to a close, 20 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a packed marketplace in Maiduguri in Nigeria, the attack carried out by... wait for it... a 10 year old girl. How many front pages did this headline? None. How many news bulletins even ran the story? Very few. Contrast that with the 24-hour rolling coverage of events in France.
Now, let's be clear, I do not intend to belittle what happened in France, but simply to highlight the differing media coverage. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for around 2000 deaths in Nigeria in recent months, and yet we hear little of it; no marches have taken place, no hashtag is trending. Even as I type, the AFP newswire is reporting two suicide attacks killing four people in Nigeria - I wonder if that will make tomorrow's front pages?
Why are atrocities in Paris more newsworthy than atrocities in Nigeria? Is it because the former involved a direct attack on the media itself? Is it because of geographic closeness? Is it because events in Nigeria are so frequent we have learned to tune them out? Or is it because the attacks in Paris involved people we deem to be like ourselves in a society we deem to be like ours?
We must be careful not to divide the world into "them" and "us", whether that be in media which mocks "them" without considering the role of "us" in reconciliation and peace-building, or in the reporting of only that news which affects "us" and turning a blind eye to that which affects "them".
If there is hope for a harmonious future for humanity, there can only be "us" and we must all find ways of living with our differences. Or, to again use the words of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, "the future for our world, and for religions, will be found in respect for others, dialogue through freedom of expression, and collective action that seeks the wellbeing and flourishing of all."
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