Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie

Freedom of speech, never been free.

Everyone is

In a rush

To defend

Freedom of speech.

Without realizing

There are

No absolutes

In life.

Except for 

The only absolute being

There are

No absolutes.

Otherwise

Why do we have

Laws against libel

Slander and hate?

One can express

Their displeasure

Without crossing over

The line of hatred.

Something

Charlie Hebdo crossed

With their anti-Semitic cartoons

Depicting the prophet

Muhammad.

Fanning

A growing backlash

Of xenophobia

Within France

Towards its Muslim

And Jewish communities.

As they hold

A lit fuse

On the powder keg

Ready to explode

Across Europe.

Something

The freedom of speech "supporters"

Are silent upon.

As it reflects

The narrow-mindedness

Of their argument

In the light of day.

http://news.yahoo.com/charlie-hebdo-founder-blames-slain-editor-for-provoking-attack-185458716.html

Author's Note

Will probably get hate mail and be blocked, for my stance, but someone needs to point out, the illogical position, Je Suis Charlie movement has taken, after the bombing of the Charlie Hebdo offices. That nothing exist outside of a vacuum, when they argue for freedom of speech, which is totally erroneous.

Reviews

[Tobias Pine]

I do, to an extent understand and agree with what you say. Muslim minorities across Europe and the world are persecuted against, with the Charlie-Hebdo attack occurring weeks after a huge anti-islam rally in neighboring Germany. Hatred is a powerful and corrupting emotion, yet prejudice and hatred are justified in the minds of their bearers. 'Tis indeed terrible and sad to see more lives lost to ignorant zealotry, although this was hardly a completely unjustified incident. Life is sacred, and I in no way condone the slaughtering of innocents due to rivaling perspectives. I just believe that if people were willing to put aside their self-righteousness and be more open-minded and more willing to empathize with those they feel they have been wronged by, half the conflicts in the world wouldn't exist.

[realmwriter]

While I cannot say that I agree with you, I will champion your right to say it. I will also champion Charlie Hebdo for their unwavering fearlessness in free speech. Yes, it makes a mockery of Muhammad and it is very much Anti Semitic, but I do not think that is the point. Their main focus, as I understand it, is political satire and as such it is meant to incite, to make you think, to poke fun at the sometimes not so obvious mistakes or errors in judgement by political leaders and the like, ours and theirs. Could they have gone too far in their doing? Yes they could have, but that does not justify what was done. I am not saying that you are lending justification to these terrorists, and that IS what they are, I am just saying that freedom of speech, expression and the like is certainly worth being championed. Without it, what are we but mindless robots, blindly following our leaders to our demise. I don't know about you, but I want to have the freedom to think with my own mind and express myself as I see fit. Otherwise I am just a slave.

That said. Your piece is well written and it certainly does point out injustices committed in the name of free speech. Very well done, I think.

[therisa]

Thank you, Realmwriter. Everyone is entitled to think their own thoughts, whether or not, I agree with them. This is, the last thing, I would want to become, the thought police, enforcing an impossible position, as that. Something, which political conservatives tried, during the McCarthy era and the "red scare", they saw everywhere, in Canada and the United States.

To me, any act of violence, is the failure of the political and social system, to reach a compromise, which benefits everyone. I wonder, would you view, the American Revolution, as an act of violence, against the British government of 1776?

[realmwriter]

You and I will disagree on violence being justified or not. And yes, the American Revolution was an act of violence against the British in that time. So too, is forcing a people to believe only in one form of religion and we here often champion Freedom of Speech as if it were a religion but it is not. It is to me, a birth right, God given if you will. Each and every soul on earth should have the absolute right to speak their minds. We ought also, to think before we speak and I think that a lot of people are only just beginning to realize that.

I do not agree with violence for violence sake. I do however, think it necessary when a government continues to push the governed against their will and will not relent. I think it necessary to use action to achieve the liberties and freedoms for which the governed are denied, only after ever other means of achieving such freedoms and liberties have been pursued. Violence, should only ever be a last resort.

[MomzillaNC]

I may not agree with your position. But I applaud your bravery in sharing and inviting dialogue. It does, however, sadden me that you support any justification for answering words with violence. That may not be the intent of your post, but that is how it will be read by all who think the terrorists were justified in their methods.

[therisa]

I can accept and live with our disagreement, Momzilla. Those who think, I support acts of violence, like the bombing of Charlie Hebdo offices, are totally off-based, in their logic. I never will condone any violence, which targets innocent people. What I'm trying to point out, there is more to this issue, than simply freedom of speech, which has gotten lost, in this tragedy.

[MomzillaNC]

I know that's NOT what you mean. But, it is how those who would do such things will read even the most remotely tacit justification of their actions.

[therisa]

Sadly, Momzilla, they'll find justification, in anything, which we say or do, for their terrorist actions. And I refuse, to let them, bully me, into a corner of silence.

[MomzillaNC]

Which is the point of all writer's dialogue these past days.

[MomzillaNC]

I, personally, found the Charlie Hebdo satire images offensive. I would find them offensive about Hitler, let alone the icon of an entire Faith. However, I might not like what someone has to say and wish they could be made to see the wrong in the hurt their words and images cause. But, I will defend the freedom of speech that we all hold dear, even the freedom to speak offensively. The answer to offensive speech is an educated and reasoned response. Violence can only ever be the response of people who have no words of reconciliation, compassion, understanding, nor reason.

[therisa]

But, neither side is willing to sit down and talk, in the hope of finding, a common ground. Momzilla, you know, I have tried to present background info, about the situation, in France, surrounding this tragedy, which most sources have ignored. Allowing for, a more informed opinion to develop, which has been lost, in the hysteria taking up, by most people.

[MomzillaNC]

I've read much dialogue on this issue on many sites and news posts. Most reasoned commentary does speak to the offensive satire employed by Charlie Hebdo. It's not all knee-jerk support response.

[therisa]

Sadly, its the knee-jerk response, which grabs the headlines, over logic and reason.

[Riverz]

well yeah......but this guano goes on even here at WC......so you know what they say about "it begins at home" ????? . aint rocket science, buttercup

[therisa]

What do you mean, by guano, Riverz? I do, and this isn't charity, rather pointing out the ignorance, which people, choose to hide behind.

[therisa]

For honestly, I don't need to get into a crapping war, with you.

[Riverz]

the guano refers to the cheap preaching that goes on all over the web including here by people who are too mentally crippled to "walk the walk". that could be you. or it could be your dearest virtual friends. freedom is what freedom does and not what it imposes

[therisa]

Riverz, you will never understand, what I have lived through, just to get here, which is, a pity. I do know what freedom of speech means, having enduring too many years of hatred, because I'm trans. Until you have walked in my shoes, show respect, to those, have done so.

[Riverz]

see, this is what I mean... now you're having an emotional reaction bcoz you 'think' what I said is about you personally. except you fail to imagine that my world (and the words coming from there) is not as small as yours.....

[therisa]

good-bye Riverz, hope you enjoin being block, you snot-nosed poser.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i have this discussion with my classes quite often....how far does freedom of speech go until it infringes upon others right not to hear it.
what is happening with the hostage situations and killings is absurd, and to do it in the name of a god. But yes, maybe the charlie hebdos should think about what they say before they say it----but if someone doesn't like what someone says, killing them for it is not the way to go.
narrow-mindedness does go both ways.
jacob

[therisa]

I agree, Jacob. Am just trying to present a more balance picture, of the events, happening, in France and the rest of Europe. Any time, someone uses extremist views, to kill or main another person, they have lost whatever support, their cause, may have.