Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. - Albert Einstein
Up to 1.5 million marched against extremism and terrorism in Paris on Sunday. Marching alongside the people of the French Republic is the country’s President, François Hollande, ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy and more than 50 world leaders, including German politician, Angela Merkel and Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron.
For those who tuned in to the live telecast of the march on Sunday, I believe many of us shared the same thought — "C’est un moment historique".
The united march against extremism is a historic show of solidarity after the bloodshed in the French capital that claimed 17 lives, many of whom victims of the 'Charlie Hebdo' massacre.
When we go back to understanding what “freedom of speech” means, we will find that majority of us would not be in total agreement on how far an extent could one go in exercising their rights when expressing opinions and ideas.
The three-day massacre stood out in stark contrast and painted a dismal image of the contemporary society especially in this time of day and age. Armed with modern weaponry, the attackers seemed to believe that destroying lives is the only way to seek vengeance.
Some of the supporters who marched on the streets holding placards boasting the tagline 'Je Suis Charlie' in a show of solidarity of the French massacre victims. - AFP Photo
Unfortunate events such as this often make me ponder: is it not possible for us to live together peacefully and marvelled at how beautiful a world we have built together? It is as if the notion of “chaos” is forever within the vicinity, threatening to unseat the very idea of “peace”.
In a world that is populated by people differing in faiths and beliefs, it is important to remember and to reinforce the idea that we are indeed, fundamentally similar.
After all, don’t we all wish for a good life? We may be vulnerable, but as we break down the walls and come together we have the capability to keep destruction at bay.
#JeSuisCharlie, in support of the freedom of speech and to honour the victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre; #JeSuisAhmed, in honouring Ahmed Merabet, the French Muslim murdered outside the Charlie Hebdo office who was a real life example of a famous quote penned by French writer, Voltaire “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”.
Je marche avec vous, les Parisiens, les peuples du monde. I wish upon humanity to march in unity towards a more loving and reasonable world.
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. - Mahatma Gandhi
