I feel compelled to comment on the recent massacre in Paris. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to defend ‘freedom of speech’ or ‘freedom of expression,’ which are, in my opinion, largely clichés; and freely thrown around, misused, by the news media (vested interest) and the uninformed.
Charlie Hebdo
is a French, for profit, ‘satirical’ weekly newspaper. The cartoons and articles criticize and
lampoon everyone who is anyone of societal importance, including religious
leaders; and one of their favorite targets is Mohammed and Muslims. I looked at some of their cartoons. Poor taste would be a considerable
understatement. And, one can easily understand
why those who worship Mohammed would be offended. This does not, in anyway, justify the barbaric
attack and the murder of the magazine’s employees. I would, however, imagine that much of what
was displayed in Charlie Hebdo would
not be condoned or allowed in the United States – at least I hope not.
Why did I first say that ‘freedom of speech’ or ‘freedom of
expression’ does not really exist? And,
quite frankly, it shouldn’t. Some
Americans might have found the cartoons depicting Mohammed funny or innocuous, but
I don’t. What if we had a magazine that
made obscene, demeaning fun of Jews or African Americans? Wouldn’t most of us object? I would.
Unfortunately, for most Americans, demeaning Christianity is basically
OK. As I’ve said before, I am agnostic,
but I still find some of the awful acts debasing the Christian religion
offensive.
“Piss Christ,”
once branded as a “deplorable, despicable display of vulgarity,” will be
displayed at the Edward Tyler Nahem Gallery in Manhattan. The artwork features
a “photograph of the crucifix submerged in the artist’s urine.”
This is art? This is
freedom of expression? This is crap! The ‘artist’ is an idiot.
However, getting back to my original point, I don’t think Charlie Hebdo publishers and writers,
now deceased, should be considered heroes.
Sorry, I just don’t.
I do think that Ahmed Merabet, the French Police Officer who
died trying to protect the employees of Charlie
Hebdo is a hero. He and the other two
officers killed that day should be celebrated as the true heroes.
#JenesuispasCharlie ‘I
am not Charlie’
#JesuisAhmed ‘I am
Ahmed’
True Nelson