Possessing the courage of Charlie Hebdo
Recently the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, a satirical publication, was the site of a terrorist attack in Paris, France leaving 12 dead in its wake. The gunmen of the attack later identified themselves as members of the Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen, who later claimed responsibility. The shooters claimed the reason they decided to attack Charlie Hebdo's headquarters was due to the fact the magazine had many times in the past portrayed the image of the prophet Muhammad. Depicting the prophet Muhammad is forbidden in some interpretations of Islam, and the more extreme branches even call for the death of those who display such images.
This is not the first time in recent history where cartoonists have been threatened or even shot by militant or extreme branches of Islam. In the past, cartoonists from all over the world have been subjected to threats and death from Islamic extremists, but this is the first time where such a devastating attack has been committed against a publication.
Living in the United States, more specifically the Midwest, we are afforded the knowledge that a majority of our citizens are of the Christian disposition and would not raise an eyebrow to a cartoon depiction of Muhammad.
But in Paris, France, there exists a not-so-silent population who practice the religion of Islam, and of those practicing there are a few of the extremist mentality who are willing to kill all whom they deem to be "infidels."
For Charlie Hebdo to print a cartoon of the Muhammad took courage, and a stronger courage not to play into the fear propagated by those who have threatened death against the magazine. Some might call this foolish, to print a cartoon that would leave an organization to be subjected to terrorist attack, but I would argue the inverse.
One of the worse forms of censorships is self-censorship. After governments, organizations, or extremist groups wield censorship by threatening citizens not to say, think, or publish items that is against their doctrine or risk death, and once this mentality seeps into the minds of citizens, the most damaging censorship exists by being afraid not to print, write or speak out against a cause. By yielding to the demands of extremist groups to not print certain items, then their goal is achieved. The dialogue has stopped, and a population is silenced.
The problem exists that once something is deemed infallible, or untouchable, then there is no room for criticism. No organization, government, or religion should hold this power, because, even though these aforementioned organizations might have "the best intentions," they are still run by people who are fallible, or imperfect. Everything should be up for scrutiny, because even the most pure people are still human and imperfect.
The common phrase that was spoken on the lips of many people throughout the world after the attack at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo was "I am Charlie." Simply put, this slogan is a rallying cry for the freedom of the press and speech.
But, I am not Charlie, because here at the Greene County Daily World I have never been confronted with the possibility of death for an article I have written. Perhaps I never will, but throughout the rest of my journalistic career I will admire those who lost their lives because they would not yield to demands to stop printing, drawing, writing, or speaking out for their beliefs.
Grant is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 19. He can also be reached via email at gkarazsia@gmail.com.
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