The crowd of 200 or so on the legislature lawn Sunday was a small one compared to the massive rallies elsewhere in the world, especially in France, where millions have taken to the streets, but the purpose was the same 鈥� to stand up for freedom of expression and to remember those who were killed for exercising that freedom.
If the Islamic extremists who went on their murderous rampage in Paris last week aimed to stifle the journalists at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which often prints cartoons ridiculing Muhammad and Muslims, they failed miserably. Their acts of violence unified millions of people around the world who stood together to proclaim that they would not be intimidated into silence.
The protests were not necessarily an endorsement of the cartoons 鈥� many find them disgusting, unduly offensive and poorly drawn 鈥� but a defence of the right to publish those cartoons.
The rallies and vigils around the world have brought together people of many nationalities, religions and ethnic backgrounds. 鈥淲e are united 鈥� Muslims, Catholics, Jews, we want to live peacefully together,鈥� one woman told reporters during the Paris rally.
It doesn鈥檛 mean much to stand up for freedom of expression when you agree with what is being expressed. The real test is when you defend the rights of those who say things you don鈥檛 like.
Freedom of speech transcends differences of opinion and beliefs, and regardless of the Paris terrorists鈥� aims, they succeeded in galvanizing worldwide support for that freedom.
