I am NOT Charlie

[Red Spinifex]

Je suis Charlie. Ich bin Charlie. I am Charlie. Vive le France!

Moslem murderers have ensured that Mohammed is going to mocked like hell across the Western world!

Suck it up!

 

[ares]

India Needs its Own Charlie Hebdo

Sidharth Bhatia

• I See A Mohammed in Every Cartoon Today
  - Mohd Asim
  
• After the Deadliest Terror Attack Ever, France Says 'Not Afraid'
  - Noopur Tiwari
  
• Why Charlie Hebdo is Important to France
  - Helene Ferrarini
  
  
  (Sidharth Bhatia is a Mumbai based journalist and author)
  
  Two main reactions have emerged after the horrific attack by masked gunmen on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which ended in a bloodbath, killing its editor and most of its top roster of cartoonists.
  
  The first is unqualified revulsion at the sheer brutality with which the shooters went about their job, barging in with Kalashnikovs and gunning down those present and then killing policemen before they sped off in a car. The second, while expressing shock, tempers it with the "need to be responsible" while commenting on and lampooning certain "sensitive" subjects. (There is of course the loony glee of those who say, "See, we told you they were like that, unlike us who are peaceful," but let us put that aside.)
  
  There cannot be two opinions on the fact and manner of the killing-it resulted in the death of several citizens who were doing their job. The magazine is an equal opportunity offender, and is much loved - and reviled - for its portrayals of all manner of people and beliefs. Its cartoons on Christianity are as bitingly sharp as those on other religions. The Pope and sundry bishops are much-loved targets for the Hebdo team. One showed a Cardinal, a Mullah and a Rabbi marching together against Charlie Hebdo. Another depicted the skeleton of Michael Jackson with the headline, "Finally white." An Indian man was shown looking after his cow but mistreating his wife. The prophet Muhammed has been drawn by its cartoonists too.
  
  In short, the boundaries of religion, political correctness and bad taste are routinely crossed and broken, which is what all good satire should do. Every culture has its Holy Cows and it is important for a society to have someone who pokes and prods them regularly, even if it draws a bit of blood. Humankind would never progress otherwise.
  
  This is what those who say "Let's not cross this line or the other" do not understand. Cultures are not frozen in time-they are dynamic, ever-changing organisms. There are hundreds of interpretations of the Ramayana-which one is "authentic" and who decides that? A K Ramnujan's essay on Ramayana spoke precisely of the multitude of traditions and it was banned by Delhi University because of objections by those who do not like that idea. Christians have objected to films (Last Temptation of Christ), plays (Jesus Christ Superstar) and books (Da Vinci Code). Within religions too, there are different sects who interpret the Holy Books in different ways. Who is to decide which one to respect more than the other? The most recent example is that of the film PK-some Hindutva groups went on a rampage against it for making fun of Godmen and superstition-but the film has raked in 300 crore rupees, so clearly there are a large number of Hindus who enjoyed the film and its message.
  
  Once you begin to draw lines-religion, elders, tradition and that highly dangerous word, culture-healthy skepticism goes out of the window and society is diminished. It becomes dull and conformist.
  
  It would be wrong to think that only conservative elements indulge in boundary-setting; those who call themselves liberals are no less complicit in this exercise.
  
  Political correctness has gone to ridiculous extents; an ever larger number of things are now in the list of Things That Must Never Be Made Fun Of. Fingers are pointed at the slightest infraction-bizarrely, some liberal types have begun to sound highly conservative. In India, "This hurts my sentiments" has assumed epidemic proportions with the result that a filmmaker, author or journalist thinks several times before addressing some issues, lest someone or the other object. This has a chilling effect on society and its artists, ultimately circumscribing original thought and development. Without iconoclasts, we would not today have so many things, from women's lib movements to social reform.
  
  At the very least, satire makes us smile and then think. In fact, what India needs right now is its own Charlie Hebdo.
  
  There will be mischief -makers who will take full advantage of Freedom of Expression principles. They are not objective analysts or even satirists-they just want to provoke with incendiary remarks. That is the price a society pays-laws are meant to deal with those who are out to cause trouble, but the Principle cannot be jettisoned.
  
  Which is why, while we outright condemn the killers of the cartoonists, we cannot at the same time qualify it by saying, "some things should be respected" because that leads to "They should have been more careful" and then "They had it coming." Charlie Hebdo had been firebombed twice, but that did not stop its team from continuing with its outrageous commentary and cartoons issue after issue. It is possible that it will not stop doing so now either, even if it will hurt. Because you can kill a few men, but you cannot kill Freedom of Expression, the very cornerstone of democracy.
  
  Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
  Story First Published: January 08, 2015 15:11 IST

 

[RescueRanger]

Whatever happened, it has provided the tipping point.

 

[ares]

 

[jhungary]

I like the article but the people died were far from doing anything blasphemous and there should be no justification for their death! Fair enough they were daring snakes like the titanic captain ....


1) yes you can blame them but what good does it do? Where does it leave one? But bluntly yes they are alone responsible for their own actions!
2) I wrote exactly that! When you call them extremists and then challenge them to kill you then when they accept it (whatelse can one expect from extremists?) ...

lol, you poke the bear, the bear attack you. You make fun of terrorist and terrorist attack you. Yet you see two anology the same and with the same logic behind both statement?

Let look back at what hedbo did, he make fun of mohammed, they shouldnt be, you can call them an asshole, but that is the only crime they committed and did this crime is punishable by death?

There are going to be arsehole whether we like it or not, but should be blame those arsehole for being an arsehole or should be blame those terrorist for being a terrorist in the end of a day? Thats your call.

But as much as i want this world to be arsehole free, we fant just go kill someone for being annoying, next thing we know is that baby annoy the hack out of me on a bus, then should we kill all the babies?

Thats my point

 

[greatone]

So the article is saying we should shut up and learn to live with the extremists rather than stand up to them.
I smell an apologist.

 

[ares]

I See A Mohammed in Every Cartoon Today

Mohd Asim

• 
  
  (Mohd Asim is Senior News Editor, NDTV 24x7)
  
  The cartoonists are dead and the Prophet of Islam is caricatured, diminished, shamed.
  
  The horrific attack by some loonies on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has left the world stunned and outraged. There is a personal sense of angst in me as those killed were journalists and the target was a magazine.
  
  My grief and anger is multiplied by the fact that the perpetrators of this barbarity claimed to uphold what is also my faith by birth. They sprayed bullets on some of the most creative minds because they dared to draw some cartoons of the Prophet of Islam.
  
  This is not the first time that the self-appointed defenders of the Prophet and the faith have gone bonkers. There was the Danish newspaper episode some years ago. Then more recently there was a youTube video, again lampooning the Prophet. Both invited severe protests and attacks on western nations' embassasies in several countries. The Danish cartoonist also survived several bids on his life. While the protests over these distasteful portrayals of the Prophet (especially the YouTube video) are justified, the violence and attacks on institutions and individuals are plain criminal acts.
  
  Before hurling stones or spraying bullets, these short-fuse idiots who claim to be the followers of the Prophet need to ask themselves a question. What has prompted these cartoons? Political cartoonists make fun of stupid and notorious individuals, societies and institution. And there is no harm in that. No politician, group or individual has escaped the satirical stroke of the cartoonists. Even in case of Charlie Hebdo, all religions and their leaders, from Jesus to Muhammad, are painted with the same humorous brush.
  
  Those angry at the Prophet's cartoons need to ask themselves what turned their Prophet from messenger of peace to a terrorist in the imagination of the cartoonists? A cartoonist reacts to what's happening around, what's been talked about. Can't expect everyone to read the life history of your prophet and form an opinion for themselves. It's the doings of the followers that give most people their impressions about a faith or any organisation.
  
  It's no secret that many among Muslims have projected the worst interpretations of the message of the Prophet and the Quran. The whole world knows about the promised 72 virgins, the four wives, the most medieval anti-women laws being paraded in the name of sharia. But so few have helped focus on the teachings of compassion, tolarance, respect for other faiths, gender justice that is all so intrinsic to the life of Mohammad. So whose failure is it?
  
  Muslims extremists need to ponder if they are blaming others for their own failings. Anyone mocking the Prophet or Islam is actually lampooning the followers and the image that they present of their messenger and religion.
  
  Another important question that every Muslim must ask himself/herself in that moment of rage when he/she sees something as insulting to Muslims' faith is 'What Would Mohammed Do?' Every Muslim is taught from the childhood, apart from a lot other forgettable nonsense in the name of Islam, how tolerant the Prophet was to criticism and abuse. Today, the crazy defenders of the Prophet are blinded by their rage.
  
  The Paris attackers shouted "We have avenged the Prophet" while spraying bullets on the magazine staff. Each one of their bullets actually killed their Prophet 100 times. Those cartoonist and journalists will stay alive in our imaginations as martyrs for the cause of free speech, but the blood stains on the image of the Prophet will be difficult to clean.
  
  The proof of it is that today, hundreds of cartoonists have taken revenge for the attack on free speech through that mighty weapon - a pen. There are scores of cartoons in magazines, newspapers and magazines today. They are being shared online by lakhs, retweeted by millions. And I see a Mohammed in all these cartoons.
  
  Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this blog are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing on the blog do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
  Story First Published: January 08, 2015 14:59 IST

 

[Galad]

So the article is saying we should shut up and learn to live with the extremists rather than stand up to them.
I smell an apologist.

I smell someone who has severe problems with thinking.Article saying lots of things and you are incapable to get them judging from your message.

 

[gau8av]

I smell someone who has severe problems with thinking.Article saying lots of things and you are incapable to get them judging from your message.

no, they could have attacked an army barracks or an air force base of some kind of military installation/institute if their grouse was the "western world" and all their wars in the middle east etc.. these savage apes went after cartoonists who last mocked al baghdadi in a tweet, these jihadi goons were fighting in Syria for isis/al qaeda etc..

 

[ranjeet]

I would love to share my thoughts but I don't want to offend insecure bunch of apologists.

 

[Solomon2]

Some Charlie Henbo cartoons that are offensive to Jews:

If you support free speech, you must support the right to free speech that offends you as well.

 

[Shot-Caller]

I like how the Indians are going crazy posting pictures and all . When in their own country hindu extremists couldn't tolerate a film and went crazy breaking down cinemas and forcing people not to watch the film. Hypocrisy is at its peak.

 

[livingdead]

I like how the Indians are going crazy posting pictures and all . When in their own country hindu extremists couldn't tolerate a film and went crazy breaking down cinemas and forcing people not to watch the film. Hypocrisy is at its peak.

you sure? the film has made record collection... may be only muslims watching it in muslim only theatres..right?

 

[Shot-Caller]

you sure? the film has made record collection... may be only muslims watching it in muslim only theatres..right?

It has because people wanted to see it. Are you sure no one tried to stop them or no one threatened cinema owners not to show it? If you get this thing you'll get the difference between an extremist and a peaceful follower of a religion.

 

[Jf Thunder]

Some Charlie Henbo cartoons that are offensive to Jews:

View attachment 182483

If you support free speech, you must support the right to free speech that offends you as well.

ummm so is this also considered freedom of speech?