This is about far more than an attack

Everyone knows about what took place in Paris. The tragedy played out over several days and cost 17 people their lives. All of this because of a cartoon. It's funny how the immediate reaction was visceral condemnation and defiance. “How dare they!” The world really got pissed off. Before you knew it everybody was “Charlie.” Or where they? Even at the height of the tragedy, U.S. news outlets and papers would not run photos of the “offensive” cartoon. Even worse, some organizations ran the cartoon and pixellated the “offensive” part out. Was this the free press standing up for something? Was this how they decided to honor those who gave their lives for the very freedom they were now afraid to use? It left me thinking that maybe the terrorists were not the only cowards in this tragic story.

Then, as days passed, more and more people started to point out that these cartoons where, in fact, “offensive.” Condemnation started to trickle in and even some western journalist pointed out that maybe free speech should have some limitations.

BULL SHIT!

I am not a journalist, but I am a writer. I do not draw cartoons, but I do present productions on stage and in film. I am not a political satirist, but I present satire. I’m involved here…and so are you. The ability of any society to be free starts and ends with its very freedom to express itself be it in words, images, prose, stage, film or editorial. We have that right! It’s one of the big ones if not the biggest! We are “allowed” to make fun of, satirize, condemn, promote or just poke the bear! It’s what we do and who we are. Can it be in poor taste? Sure. Can it be “offensive?” You bet! Can it be hateful? Yup. It has to be. Sometimes the only way to get a point across is bash someone in the head with a sledgehammer! Much of what is being attacked here are actions that were taken to promote discussion, form opinion, generate dialog or shine a light on perceived misconduct. It is nothing more than a way to get people thinking and talking. You remember thinking?

I’m not shoving something down your throat here. You have very right to condemn my actions, not buy my product, not go to my show and even boycott my film if you want. What you don’t have is the right to tell me I am not “allowed” to do or say or write that! No one gets to say that. Not you and definitely not the government! If you do not like the cartoons don’t look at them. If you think they are hate speech, speak up and condemn them. But never think that if you want that type of expression repressed, or you believe that there is a need for censorship, or government intervention regarding this type of expression and that you still stand for freedom you could not be more wrong. You are no different than the terrorist in that you want the magazine silenced. You didn’t go out and murder a bunch of innocent…yes innocent cartoonist and writers. But you want the same thing they did. No more cartoons.

We can’t have it both ways here. You stand for freedom or you don’t. Can it be complicated? Yup. Ugly at times? For sure. Freedom is easy on the 4th of July. Gets a lot more difficult when you have to defend actions or words that you may not agree with…cartoons that make you ill…a film you find despicable. They, like you, must have the right to express themselves. It’s who we are.

Je Suis Charlie