My immediate instinct last Wednesday on hearing about the Charlie Hebdo massacre was, Come on then, lets print Mohammed.

Lets print cartoons , images, etch-a-sketches, oil paintings, whatever, of the Prophet. Lets show the world that we, like the staff at the French magazine, will not be cowed by bullies wholl seek to determine what we can or cannot think with the help of a Kalashnikov.

Lets show them just how much freedom of speech means to us and how we will defend it.

Like millions around the world, I was mad angry. Furious. How could these killers, who have enjoyed so much that the West has to offer democracy, opportunity, and education shed such innocent blood in their pitiful attempt to drag their medieval beliefs into our modern world?

These are extremists who believe women should not have equality. Who believe people who lose their faith should be killed along with gay people and those who have affairs.

And here they are, a handful of easily-led oddballs, spreading their tentacles of terror across half the world.

Somehow these killings seemed even more shocking than those of 7/7. This time the murderers didnt just want to destroy lives, they wanted to destroy our values too.

And it is that cold realisation that led me to appreciate that, actually, it is part of our values to choose NOT to print pictures of Mohammed which so many TRUE Muslim believers would find offensive.

Because, yes, we have freedom of speech which means freedom to think. But equally importantly we have the freedom to choose not to speak and not to express if we think it would hurt or offend others.

Original post:

Freedom of speech gives us freedom to not speak - and not publish offensive cartoons