Satires should have their limits

The attack on the offices of the Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Jan 7 that claimed 12 lives, including those of the magazine's editor and three of the finest cartoonists in France, was the deadliest in four decades and should be condemned by one and all.

For many people, France is the birthplace of liberty, equality and fraternity. And the French cherish their freedom like no other race. So the dastardly attack on Charlie Hebdo has not only caused outrage, it has also raised the hackles of the French. Is liberal society under threat?

With ideals such as "all humans are equal" and "everyone is born free" as its foundations, European society has been open to all religions and cultures, and even attracted a large number of Muslims. The economic boom and social prosperity Europe experienced after World War II pushed the cultural and religious conflicts-especially those related to Muslims-into the background. But instead of dying out, the embers of the conflicts continued to smolder below the surface. The attack in Paris suggests the embers have flared into flames.