Despite continued threats from terror groups, most specifically ISIS, leaders from around the world took part in the largest protest gathering in the history of France on Sunday.  An estimated 3.7 million people joined in the march for Freedom as a show of solidarity against extremism and religious terror.  Never before have the French unified in such great numbers; not in the Revolutions of 1789, 1830, or 1848... not even in the 1940's when Nazi Germany occupied France.

World leaders took part showing they did not fear those who would seek to threaten freedom of expression, the press, and religion.  Among the leaders participating were French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy... the event even brought together Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  Also among the supporters was Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris and the President of the French Council of Muslim Faith.  (The United States was represented by Ambassador to France Jane Hartley)

17 people were killed in the terror attacks... however the massive response illustrates the free world will not be intimidated by thugs who hijack a religion that 1.7 billion people around the world practice with peace and love.  One Muslim in the crowd proclaimed, "Our religion is the religion of love... Our religion loves Jews... loves Christians... We are not terrorists."

Prior to the rally ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammad al Adnani  issues a statement urging followers to, "rise up and kill intelligence officers, police officers, soldiers, and civilians."  (specifically in the United States, France, Australia, and Canada)... It's difficult to imagine a better response to these threats than 3.7 million defiant people standing firm against threats to freedom.

Thoughts?

On Wednesday Islamic fundamentalists attacked the satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo.."  Three masked gunmen went on a shooting spree in which twelve people were killed and four other seriously wounded.  The men reportedly targeted the newspaper in response to it publishing several cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.  As the gunmen shot their way along the street witnesses say they heard the men crying "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great).

The men are still at large but there is a massive man-hunt underway as over 800 military and police officials have been dispatched to Paris.  President Obama has vowed to help the French in any way he can.

As news of the attack began to make its away across social media many once again began to blame religion in general and Islam in particular.  I however will argue that all violence, even violence claiming to be done in the name of God, is a "people problem" - not a religion problem.  A belief in God does not create violent people, and certainly a belief in Islam does not alone make someone commit acts of violence.  

People who commit acts of violence do so not because of their faith, but rather they do it because they are violent. The world has violent Muslims yes, but it also has violent Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews; it also has violent Atheists, Agnostics, and Anarchists... 

Those people who commit acts of violence in the name of God betray their own systems of faith.  They show themselves to be hypocritical and without a true understanding of their own religion.


Thoughts?