Hate Does Not Create Peace

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First and foremost, I want to extend my condolences to the victims and families affected by the terrorist attack in Paris today. If you've seen on my page, I love Paris very much and it is a very sad day.

Whatever fringe group of people that acted today needs to be brought to justice for the deaths of these people.

But it's also important to remember, as most outspoken people around the internet have not, these people represent terrorism and not a religion. You must not condemn a whole faith for the act of a few. I fear for innocent Muslims in France right now.

It is also important to understand that Charlie Hebdo - the weekly newspaper on whom the attack was launched - had repeatedly disrespected the Muslim faith by publishing hateful "cartoons." In fact, they had been taken to court over cartoons published in 2012 which violated France's own anti-racism laws.

Obviously, the newspaper and innocent people in the crowd did not deserve this terrorist attack - no one does. But one can not act in disrespectful, hateful ways against others and invite peace. Unfortunately, the French do not have a good record of treating others of different faiths with respect. The Jews have long suffered as did Protestants. Hate crimes against Jews and Muslims have been rising.

The French people must find the terrorists and deal with them using the justice system. They will need to be very careful not to let it spill over into hate for an entire group.



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