FuturePAF
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So the problem is that Macron doesn't disapprove of the caricature. It would be one thing to say he disapproved, but defended the right to make it, but his words show that he completely approves of them.
That's the problem.
The terrorist who beheaded the professor should have be shot, I don't think anyone with a brain disputes that, its Macron's reaction that is the problem.
Macron could have said that he disapproves of the caricature, but defends the right to make them, and the backlash France is receiving right now would be faaaaar milder.
Macron's words make it seem like France's government is actively promoting racism and Islamaphobia.
Glen Greenwald wrote an article on precisely this in 2015. (Warning there is a caricature in this article). But the crux of his argument is that people claim all religions should be mocked equally but it is far easier for them to mock an already marginalized group (that they already hate) while they would not dare mock a protected class or faith or people. The reason being that they themselves believe the content of the cartoon not just the right to make them. Showing “Solidarity” is going from letting the cartoonist making the cartoons to endorsing the bigoted message.
In a country like France with at least a 10% Muslim population, who are generally at the bottom of society, this will only lead to more alienation, similar to African Americans in the US, and re-enforce the view among the rest of French society that Muslims are the eternal “Other”. What is more clear then Macron and his ilk worrying that Muslims and Jews want to eat Halal and Kosher, respectively. Where is the Liberty in that kind of a kind of a mindset.
In Solidarity With a Free Press: Some More Blasphemous Cartoons
People profess affection for cartoons that offend a religion — until the targeted religion changes.
theintercept.com