By the nature of my 40-plus years’ work as a journalist, most days I am rarely at a loss for words. Wednesday was an exception. Like the rest of the civilized world, I struggle to understand the murderous attack on the satirical French newspaper, Charlie Hebdo. Ever since learning of the events early this morning, my head has been spinning with questions that I can’t answer:

•  Why did the attackers have to take the lives of 12, including several  journalists and two police officers in Paris?
• What kind of sick minds can justify killing journalists who were practicing their craft?
• How does the attack aid their cause, no matter what it might be?
• How cold was the heart of the attacker who executed a wounded officer as if he were putting down an animal?
• What about the families of the victims? More here.

DFO: The question that most stands out in my mind is: How does this attack aid the cause of Islamic extremist? Which question stands out in your mind re: this senseless carnage?