LETTERS

Illustration: Alan Moir

The French editor, Stephane Charbonnier, who was murdered in Paris said, "I would rather die standing than live on my knees" ("Better to die standing than live on our knees", Editorial, January 9). But it is better again to exercise free speech without being threatened with death. So free speech needs better protection. It is not enough to re-educate pockets of society and for us to revile terrorism. We need to excise the terrorists from our midst.

We should recognise that religious fanaticism with its jihadism is a deadly disease of the mind just as Ebola is a deadly disease of the body. Ebola is spread in unhygienic conditions among uneducated people. Religious fanaticism spreads in the same way. Its victims are feckless young men who have little education and are easily influenced by infected preachers and websites.

We prevent and treat Ebola by cleaning up unhygienic conditions, quarantining victims, educating people and encouraging them to hand over infected victims. We should do the same with the victims who are infected with religious extremism.

We need to quarantine jihadists, preferably before they commit acts of terrorism, and treat them. They will need to be identified, arrested, detained and re-educated. Obviously this would be abhorrent to many people. But what is more abhorrent? Detaining these extremists or allowing them to kill innocent people, themselves, and spread their mind disease?

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Geoff BlackCaves Beach

I wonder what the great French philosopher Voltaire would be thinking now, were he still alive. Four hundred years or so later, one of his greatest statements, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" certainly has resonance. Would he have imagined this heinous crime possible, I ponder.

Rose PanidisGraceville (Qld)

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Freedom of speech needs protection