Friday 9th January

What can we possibly say after such an outrage.  In the heart of Paris, in the country which represents Liberty and Fraternity, an assault on all of our freedoms.  So what next – everyone who even questions Islam or the words of their prophet (not mine) or even laughs at their stupidity is to be eradicated?  Am I now a target for writing these words?  If so, bring it on.  I will happily be their next challenge.  And if they think that Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers will silence us, they are wrong.

The real tragedy is that all Muslims will be tarred with the same brush, or that the philosophy that everything which happens must be “God’s Will” will end up justifying these vile actions.  If one looks both now and throughout History one can only be appalled at the terrible crimes perpetuated in the name of “Religion.”   And it is the intolerance of Religion that is the problem.  Genesis begins with God saying that he is the One God, and that all other Gods are false idols.  I believe that they all are.  Yes, that is right – all Gods are false idols.  I am prepared to believe that there may have been some creative force behind the Universe, the creation of matter and energy and the Laws of Physics, although I strongly doubt it.  But I will not believe that there is some all-pervading wondrous father-like figure looking after us and if we repeat his name often enough and bow down and pray to him that somehow he will either grant us eternal life (what a nightmare) or save the human race.  It will be rational caring and lots of education and maybe even a Revolution or two that may just save humans from themselves.

In the meantime – a step forward would be to refuse to engage with an ideology which cannot even laugh at itself.  Humour may not save us either, but it does have the ability to make us look at ourselves and see that we are all stupid.  Vive Charlie Hebdo, et moi – je suis Charlie aussi.