 Charlie Hebdo: We must remember the police officers too | Letters | From the Guardian | The Guardian  Charlie Hebdo: We must remember the police officers too | Letters | From the Guardian | The Guardian 







Turn autoplay off
Turn autoplay on


Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off




Jump to content [s]
Jump to site navigation [0]
Jump to search [4]
Terms and conditions [8]




Edition:
UK
US
AU






Your activity
Email subscriptions
Account details
Linked services
Sign out



Profile


Beta




























News


US


World


Sports


Comment


Culture


Business


Money


Environment


Science


Travel


Tech


Media


Life & style


Data







News




Brief letters









Series: Brief letters

Previous |
													Next |
													Index



Charlie Hebdo: We must remember the police officers too






Share




Tweet this








Email






The Guardian,
				            Thursday 8 January 2015 14.13 EST










Pens are laid at the Place de la Republique in solidarity with the Charlie Hebdo victims. 'My Penguin Classic edition of The Qur’an (1974, pages 61-63) has a chapter entitled The Pen, which begins: 'By the Pen, and what they write, you are not mad'.' writes Ivor Morgan. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty





The killings in Paris were an affront to humanity and freedom. So was the picture you printed on your front page (An assault on democracy, 8 January). The last moment of a helpless person about to be shot should not be published, out of respect for that person and their relatives and friends, by a responsible newspaper. Freedom comes with restraints that are defined by humanity and ethics, as well as by legality. I believe you made a mistake publishing that photograph.John GaskinDriffield, East Yorkshire
• The killing of journalists and police officers in Paris is utterly deplorable. The atmosphere in Brussels is one of deep sadness along with heartfelt sympathy for the families and friends affected. However, it is deeply regrettable that some groups and individuals, including some in the European parliament, are using the tragic events opportunistically to forward their own personal and political agendas. Fanning the flames of division in Europe at such a time is completely unacceptable. Now is the moment to promote, celebrate and unite around Europe’s great qualities of free speech and tolerance.Molly Scott Cato MEPGreen, South-West England
• Some people take life and their beliefs seriously. You can make fun of them, but must understand there may be a reaction – and you have a choice whether to do so or not. But did the police officers ordered to protect the journalists at Charlie Hebdo have a choice? Shot like animals that were in the way, I hope they are equally mourned. We should remember them when we exercise our right to criticise those who protect us and our liberties.Chris HardyLondon
• Protestors raised pens in the air in Paris as a symbol of freedom of speech. My Penguin Classic edition of The Qur’an (1974, pages 61-63) has a chapter entitled The Pen, which begins: “By the Pen, and what they write, you are not mad.” Without the pen there would have been no Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789, and no Qur’an.Ivor MorganLincoln
• John Mortimer once said causing offence is important and beneficial to humanity. People should be offended three times a week and twice on Sundays.Malachy PakenhamSt Albans, Hertfordshire













Sign up for the Guardian Today
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Sign up for the daily email







Print this
Share
Contact us




Send to a friend





Sender's name



Recipient's email address





Your IP address will be logged







Share



				Short link for this page:
				http://gu.com/p/44ypc




StumbleUpon
				



reddit
				



Tumblr
				



Digg
				



LinkedIn
				



del.icio.us
				



Facebook
				



Twitter
				








Contact us





					                        Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@theguardian.com


											Letters for publication should be sent to: guardian.letters@theguardian.com






					If you need help using the site: userhelp@theguardian.com


					Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: +44 (0)20 3353 2000




Advertising guide


License/buy our content








Series


Brief letters 

More 			letters
	




More on this story







 

 Letters:  Charlie Hebdo and the defence and definition of free speech 

Defenders of free speech suggest anything goes, in which case it should be acceptable to call someone with learning difficulties a 'retard' 


 

 Letters:  Charlie Hebdo: Freedoms must not be applied selectively 



 

 Letters:  Charlie Hebdo: A crime by individuals not a community 



 

 Letters:  Charlie Hebdo: To publish and be damned – or not 












Share




Tweet this








Email










































		
	        Today's best video
    








'Three suns' appear over Mongolia


											                        
                                    			Three suns appear in the horizon over Mongolia, in an a rare optical illusion known as anthelion
		








One film you must watch this week


											                        
                                    			Peter Bradshaw recommends Charlie Lyne's documentary, a nostalgic exploration of the teen movie
		







Elephant calf rescued from deep pit in China


											                        
                                    			An elephant calf makes an escape after it fell into a water storage pit
		






Catch Me Daddy: watch the trailer


											                        
                                    			British thriller is the debut feature of music-video director Daniel Wolfe
		






















On the Guardian





Most viewed


Latest




Last 24 hours



1. 
Technology:
Ship Your Enemies Glitter site sells for $85,000


2. 
World:
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah dies at 90


3. 
Fashion:
Penises on the fashion catwalk – a flesh flash too far?


4. 
Comment:
Someone stole naked pictures of me. This is what I did about it – video


5. 
US news:
Florida toddler fatally shoots himself with father's gun while parents load car


More most viewed




Last 24 hours



1. 
Coalition faces uphill task convincing even their supporters on penalty rates


2. 
Australia v England: Tri-Series – England make confident start


3. 
Into the Woods review – a bare-bones take on a meaty musical


4. 
Australian Open: Wickmayer, Makarova through as seed Errani falls


5. 
Fifteen Iranian asylum seekers join Darwin hunger strike


All today's stories












Sponsored feature






















More from
											Brief letters







Latest: 

        							    


		    		    
	
	
	
			
	
										22 Jan 2015:
						
                    Disbelief greets Flett’s phenomena | Letters
                    



Next: 

        							    


		    		    
	
	
	
			
	
										9 Jan 2015:
						
                    The eyes have it, or do they? | Letters
                    



Previous: 

        							    


		    		    
	
	
	
			
	
										7 Jan 2015:
						
                    Today we are all Charlie Hebdo  | Letters
                    





Brief letters index










License/buy our content

					
  |     			    				    

																																										
			
	
	
	
				
		
Privacy policy

					
  |     			    				    

																																										
			
	
	
	
				
		
Terms of service

					
  |     			    				    

																																										
			
	
	
	
				
		
US advertising

					
  |     			    				    

																																										
			
	
	
	
				
		
A - Z index

					
  |     			    				    

																																										
			
	
	
	
				
		
About us



© 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.




































































