We fought with the Soviets to defeat Hitler, but we never said "I am Stalin." I'm certainly as opposed to Muslim jihadists as anyone, but I'm proud to say je ne suis pas Charlie.
It's so often the case that the best thing a person can do to improve his reputation is die. John F. Kennedy is now a legendary president, but would he be estimated so highly if he'd been able to end his political career as a man and not a myth? Ah, the power of martyrdom.
