Charlie Hebdo, Charlie Kirk

Different targets, different methods.

I first thought about this title simply by the first name coincidence. Imagine my surprise when I learned that this past July was the ten year anniversary of the Hebdo attack. Different instigation, same outcome. The pen (or words) is mightier than the sword; and the winners write the history.

Hebdo is still publishing, Kirk’s book(s) vaulted to Amazon’s top book list (as of this writing). The attackers are still out there, France’s immigration policy and all those social media folk asking for more killing. Nothing ever changes, it all remains the same? In our minutely connected world, we’re just waiting for the next moral crisis. Thoughts and prayers, ad nauseam.

So what then? The only thing I can assess is our awareness of the immediate situation. Words beget violence. Make a cartoon that offends a group or attempt to rationally debate topics. One side of the equation chooses not to participate. Awareness of the problem does not provide a solution to the problem. The choices are retreat or advance. Sidestepping only works for so long.

An old meme online states, ‘don’t start no trouble, won’t be no trouble’. Pity some folk can’t take that to heart.