Now THAT'S what I call a demonstration [View all]
Before I got back to Europe, my town here, north of Düsseldorf, held a sort of expanded "Je suis Charlie" demonstration, based on respect for all, and respect for the RIGHTS of all. My wife took part in it, and gave me a report.
Our town, it should be pointed out, has a healthy number of Muslim immigrants and citizens, mostly Turkish, but some Arabs.
The demonstration, estimated at first to draw as many as 2000 to 2500 people, was to start in the old medieval center of town at the marketplace. The core of the town has maybe 40,000 to 45,000 inhabitants in all. The procession went from the town square and ended up at the local mosque, which is huge, and respected for not loudly blaring the muzzein's call five times a day so as not to disturb the majority Germans who, after all, have been here for over 1000 years.
At the mosque, the Turks brought out small pastries and hot tea for all, and it ended as peacefully as it started, with about 5,000 people participating by the time the procession got to the mosque. I should mention that the local Turks are pretty well integrated here, from my travel agent, who speaks flawless German, and was born here, to the local fruit and vegetable vendor, who speaks German with a strong Turkish accent, and always greets me in Turkish because he knows I'll understand him and answer back in Turkish.
The whole event got big mention even in the Düsseldorf papers, and was praised by all parties (small p) and Parties (big P).
There doesn't always HAVE to be angry voices blaring from megaphones, it would seem. Good to hear 
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