Je Suis Charlie

The incident with the attack on the offices of Charlie Habdo, although it was a half a world away, hit a little close to home for me.

First off, it happened in Paris. Every two years we take a group of kids there; it's not just some far off place — I've walked the streets of that city. Secondly, I work with newspapers and reporters all the time, including working a stint in the newsroom myself. And, finally, I can't wrap my head around cartoonists being killed for something they drew. I've had a few critics, and some cartoons that have generated complaints (such as this one), but nothing even approaching that magnitude.

As so many have said, we stand by the people of France. We stand for a free press and freedom of expression.

Je suis Charlie.