Daily Archives: February 18, 2015

These people did nothing wrong but exercise their basic rights: the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

It used to be the case that you actually had to blaspheme to become a target of Islamist extremists. Now, apparently, you just have to talk about those principles to arouse the murderous intent of those who disagree with our way of life. Or it could simply be because of who you are, if you happen to be a European Jew, such as the murdered security guard who protected the central synagogue.

While it is difficult to halt lone wolf attacks of this kind, much more must be done by political leaders to tackle this growing threat in Europe. We must move the climate of discussion away from condemnation to action, and how to prevent its recurrence. If we fail to do so, we can expect further attacks to occur. Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director, The Henry Jackson Society

The latest terrorist outrages in Copenhagen, shortly after similar events in Paris, confirm the sad reality of the role that Jews and anti-Semitism play in jihadist ideology and terrorist targeting.

Each terrorist attack raises the need and the demand for further security, and so Jewish communities have reacted by implementing ever more onerous security measures. These have become a sad part of of Jewish life but they should never be regarded as normal.

Across Europe, governments and police have reacted in various ways, with Britain generally regarded as the best in nearly every aspect. UK politicians could not have been stronger in their condemnations of anti-Semitism. But this sits in stark contrast to the profound silence of many civil society groups, who ought to oppose such hatreds but seem paralysed from doing so to any remotely meaningful extent. Mark Gardner, Community Security Trust

Reactions to these sorts of heinous killings must be measured. In its crudest form, an attack such as this craves speculation and hysteria. It is, in a sense, a most ugly form of attention seeking.

We need no more reminders of Islamic States dangerous social media presence. Guessing whether it was a copycat massacre in the style of Charlie Hebdo just fuels Islamic States strategy of saturating the news media.

Let the security services deal with the mechanics of the attack, and let the public focus on what we can do to prevent such monstrous events in the future namely through standing in solidarity against extremism of all kinds with all those who despise such barbarism. Terrorists seek to divide us. Let us not allow that to happen. Nazish Khan, researcher, Quilliam

This week Which? published its annual rail passenger satisfaction survey. The bottom six operators in the survey all serve London, scoring less than 50 per cent overall for passenger satisfaction.

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Letters to the editor: We must do more to stop terrorists

Phil Robertson's comments about same-sex marriage and LGBT people have earned him a freedom of speech award.

Later this month, the Duck Dynasty star will receive the Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award from Citizens United at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jesse Jackson: Phil Robertson's comments are "more offensive" than Rosa Parks incident

In 2013, Robertson said in an interview with GQ that he believed homosexuality to be a sin, and later said that he believes AIDS is God's punishment for immorality. In the wake of his comments, A&E suspended him from the network, but lifted the suspension after backlash from many Duck Dynasty fans.

"Even when the entire mainstream media demanded he disavow his beliefs and attempted to have him fired from his own hit show for expressing these beliefs, he stood firm in his faith," Citizens United President David Bossie said, according to THR.

Phil Robertson continues to defend controversial comments

Added Robertson: "When one does not have the freedom to speak out loud and anywhere what one believes, freedom is dead."

He will receive the award on Feb. 27.

Do you think Robertson deserves an award for his remarks?

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Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson to Receive Freedom of Speech Award