There is no worse way to
respond to the horrific Charlie Hebdo murders than to rally millions to take up
the Charlie Hebdo banner, “I am Charlie”. It divides France and the world into
two all-encompassing warring camps, as if on one side are those ready to
identify with hate speech and, on the other, the Islamic populations in whose
name the assassins claim to seek revenge. What a terrible trap, dug even deeper
as humanity is already entangled in tragic and futile conflict!
Certainly there is sympathy
for the victims of murder and determination to thwart terrorist actions. But
promotion of religious and race hate remains contemptible. Its consequences are
not only in incidents of awful retaliation, but, far more widely, in fostering
oppression, injustice and violence against “the other.”
Granted, society’s response
to hate advocacy ought not to be banning free speech. But no decent society can fail to expose it,
oppose it, and fully support its victims.
Thank you for writing this coherent and moral statement. All too often, many of us stereotype, scapegoat, and demonize those who differ from "us" who are the "other."
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree that promotion of speech that promotes religious and race hatred is contemptible. It should be fought whenever it appears and in whatever form, no matter by whom or where it comes from, and “fought” by not buying the paper, magazine, or not seeing the movie, play or opera, or not voting for the person who engages in it, by protesting loudly, etc. BUT not by killing people! And certainly, in this case, not by killing Jews who had nothing to do with the publication of that offensive cartoon. It is this cruel over-reaction that has engaged people’s sympathies and led to all the Je Suit Charlie responses. Julie
ReplyDelete- It is easy to forget that most fundamentalist terrorism is against Muslims. They are the true victims of Jihad.
ReplyDelete- I wrote to French friend asking whether Charly Hebdo was hateful and racist. I said that in the United States, we no longer tolerate these things.
Here is here interesting answer ( in bad translation)
' No it is not a question of racism or hate on the part of Charly Hebdo. It is just a difference in culture, the French mock everything. It is called free expression and they are strongly attached to this fundamental right. But in my opinion free expression does not give the right to ridicule the religion of another. As long as the two hold on to their position, there will be endless war.
I understand that Americans think like that and this is again a cultural difference. It is very difficult to understand the subtleties of these differences in culture.'