Being offended as justification for murder?

I received a comment in response to my post yesterday. The commenter felt that the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo had deeply deliberately offended the Muslim community, likening their cartoons to "spitting in someone's soul" and thus 'justice' was carried out. While I understand the hurt caused when someone deeply deliberately offends you, it cannot be a justification for killing that person.

I am writing my reply here as a stand alone post, as it provides a good opportunity to cover this issue we humans have with 'being offended'.

My Reply:

Are you seriously justifying the murder of 12 people because someone was offended? I don't think we can speak for the entire collective of Muslim people because being offended is a very personal response not a general one.

I have been spat at. I didn't go on to murder those people.

I have been called a witch for what I do by members of the community in which I grew up. Of course at first I was offended, but later I learned to laugh because I KNOW who I am, I don't need to justify it to anybody. Nor do I need to murder those who do not like or understand me.

Likewise, the majority of beautiful Muslims need not be offended by someone's cartoons. For every belief, religion and cause there is someone saying something contrary that has potential to cause offense. Deliberately ridiculing a respected spiritual teacher is not something I would do nor perhaps would you, but jesters and comediennes have been doing this for thousands of years whether to make light of a situation or to deliberately provoke controversy. For every cartoonist ridiculing the Prophet, there is one ridiculing Jesus, the Buddha, God - are we to kill them too?

You can't control what someone says to you, or does to you. You can control how you respond. Murdering someone is an impulsive act of an ego that feels threatened and invalidated. It is not a powerful act. Deeply offending someone deliberately is not a powerful act either. Yet with a pen, you get it off your chest and someone who doesn't like it can throw away or even burn that paper.

As a writer, I do my best to write from my heart and wouldn't dream of deliberately offending anyone. Yet someone somewhere might be offended by something I write, and I shudder to think that some people think this is a justifiable cause for murder.

(c) Dana Mrkich 2014

Je Suis Charlie

RIP #Charliehebdo cartoonists. In times of great social and political tension cartoonists help us to see the lighter side of every side. On Wednesday in Paris 12 light-creators returned to the light. They are being honoured by tens of thousands of people in the streets across France and Europe who are holding up, and laying down, pens and pencils in tribute, symbolising their right - all our rights - to freedom of speech and creative expression.

What a statement the people have made with their response, along with the millions of posts on social media. Where we could have seen anger and fear we are seeing unity and solidarity. Where we could have seen outbreaks of violence we are seeing witty, brilliant creativity, peace, strength and connection. It is easy to look at those who attacked and lose hope in humanity - but the greater truth can be found by looking at how millions are responding. The heart of humanity is awake. #jesuischarlie