There are times when the word “but” should never occur in a sentence. One of them is when apologizing. Just apologize. Don’t say, “I’m sorry, but…”
Well, unless you really aren’t apologizing.
Another time to not use the word “but” is when someone murders someone else. For instance, say, when radical Islamist terrorists kill 12 people at a satirical French magazine.
It is wrong. Full stop.
I do not believe in needlessly offending anyone—I am a Romans 12:18 kind of guy. But, whenever I think of this horrendous act I don’t care what they did or said or ate for breakfast.
It is wrong. Full stop.
I’ve heard people compare what Charlie Hebdo did to a limit on American free speech we accept: you are not allowed to incite violence.
But, that is in the context of inciting violence against others…not offending other people so badly they murder you. And yes, our President would argue it puts our service members at risk overseas…but come on…the principle of freedom, including free speech, is part of what they’ve been dying over 200 years for. Not to mention that, once again, that’s not what the “not allowed to incite violence” exception to the First Amendment is about anyway. The fact that I have an iPhone 6 Plus might incite some jealous lunatic to kill someone. Should I avoid mentioning it in a post?!
No, that exception does not apply here, and even if it did the only thing we should say about the recent barbarous act is…
It is wrong. Full stop.
Finally…wrapping up with what probably pushed me over the edge to write this post (whose tone I apologize for)…the Pope basically gave some cover to those pit-of-hell terrorists. Now, although I believe there are Catholics who are Christian, I don’t believe the Pope is nor that anything he says holds any weight. But, I can’t change the fact that others, in Christendom or not, see him has somehow representing the body of Christ…and that he holds immense influence. Today he said…
“One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith,” he said. “There is a limit. Every religion has its dignity … in freedom of expression there are limits.”
And…
To illustrate his point, he joked about Vatican aide Alberto Gasparri who was standing nearby on the plane.
“It’s true that we can’t react violently, but, for example if Dr. Gasbarri here, a great friend of mine, says a curse word against my mother, then a punch awaits him,” the pontiff said.
He jokes while discussing the murder of a dozen people?! I didn’t say “innocent people” because regardless…
It is wrong. Full stop.
Of all people, the person who claims the title of Vicar of Christ would know how Jesus would have reacted if someone said, “Your momma” to His momma, Mary:
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:38-39, English Standard Version).
But you know, even if Jesus didn’t contradict His purported “Vicar” on earth, it wouldn’t matter. Because the Bible also makes it clear that with murder…
It is wrong. Full stop.
Non, je ne suis pas Charlie.
It does not matter.
It is wrong. Full stop. No “buts” about it.
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