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Headlines written by editors around the world declared: “We are Charlie Hebdo.” I’m pretty sure I blushed when I typed it just now. The sentiment of solidarity with the 12 people slain by Islamist terrorists in Paris on Wednesday is sincere, of course. We are all outraged by the massacre of the two police officers and 10 journalists, including cartoonists, of the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo.

But, can most mainstream media editors truly mean it when we liken ourselves to the brave journalists at Charlie Hebdo? In short, no. Not even close.

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When it comes to being fearless publishers of truth, we do a pretty good job much of the time. We will criticize Christians, Jews, our politicians, police and other sources, even those we like and respect, when necessary. The worst they will do to us is stop talking to us or write a letter to the editor.

But most newspapers and television stations around the world will not criticize or mock Islam or run the cartoons that depict the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, even now when they are at the very centre of this story. Worse yet, most of us don’t even have the courage to be truthful as to why we’re not publishing them. Some, like the CBC’s journalistic standards and practices director, David Studer, pretend that fear of violent retaliation by Islamist thugs has nothing whatever to do with the decision not to show the satirical front pages from Charlie Hebdo that mock Mohammed.