January 07, 2015
They Did Not Yield
Cabu, Charb, Tignous, Georges Wolinski and at least 8 more of the cartoonists and staff of Charlie Hedbo were murdered today for no more reason than that they published cartoons the murderers found offensive.
Had I been aware of them before today I would have (likely as not) had a generally dim view of them as they put out a left wing atheist publication that presumably had nothing but contempt for people like myself.
However, they did stridently stand by one of the bedrock principles upon which a free society is based, namely that no one has a right not to be offended. They published satire mocking those things that they did not believe in, as is the right of free people everywhere. They were threatened, and yet refused to cease because they understood that to yield to such threats would be a betrayal of their readers, a compromise of their principles and a submission to the bullies veto...which only emboldens and encourages the bullies.
This was especially gutsy in France, where a large unassimilated minority has become increasingly violent in recent years.
Over the last decade the paper had been under threat of violence from muslim groups and under intense pressure from the government and various people of status in France to tone it down.
These journalists stood up for what they believed in in the face of considerable pressure.
Today they were executed for their art and their journalism. The highly organized group of Islamists who did this also killed the first police officers to arrive on the scene before they escaped.
In broad daylight.
In downtown PARIS.
As I type this, the terrorists are still at large, which is an even more terrifying development as it indicates a truly remarkable degree of training and planning as well as the distinct possibility of a considerable support network. France is on its highest alert level for good reason.
The proprietors of this tiny boutique magazine are with us no more, but they carried on a proud French tradition going back to Voltaire. They continue to be an example, not only of individuals willing to stand on principle in a civilized way, but also of what is at stake with regards to freedom itself. In this all civilized peoples should all find common ground.
To that end...
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
12:39 PM
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"I still think you're an evil SOB" - Hannity Clashes With Radical Imam Anjem Choudary Following Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/01/i-still-think-youre-evil-sob-hannity.html
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/01/i-still-think-youre-evil-sob-hannity.html
Posted by: ST at Thu Jan 8 09:42:28 2015 (akfBf)
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