Satire serves to keep society in check

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, two Islamic gunmen walked into the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper and killed 12 people and wounded 11 evidently because the newspaper published satirical cartoons of the prophet Muhammad.

The newspaper is known for publishing articles that mock Catholicism, Islam, Judaism and Israel, as well as politics, culture and various other groups as well as local and world news.

It has a no backing down stance and has attracted controversy over the years.

In 2012, the newspaper’s offices were firebombed after it published cartoons that infuriated...