The sign, displayed by a Parisian, translates as “We all are Charlie.”
From England’s “Guardian” here’s one of the more intelligent editorials published in response to yesterday’s cowardly assault on freedom of expression.
My own solution would be more radical. I would love to see every newspaper and magazine, every television and cable service observe a common day of Freedom of Expression by simultaneously publishing an issue that ridicules every religious and political belief system – and not exclude any just because the reaction from its radical fanatics might (or even certainly would be) violent.
This attack, like 9/11, has but one obvious purpose, to frighten us into giving up our freedoms. As the editorial points out, it worked when they hit the USA. If we do manage to survive what we have done (and continue to do) to ourselves in cowardly fear, the current era will be seen as one of the most disgraceful in terms of human rights.
More than ever, Pogo had it right when he said, “We have met the enemy. And the enemy is us.” Or, let’s recall Roosevelt, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”
Then of course, there is the apocryphal from Ben Franklin, “Those who would give up a small amount of Liberty for security, deserve and will have neither.”
BTW – here’s a link to relevant covers of the magazine “Charlie Hebdo.”
The image to the right is the cover published shortly before the cowardly 2011 attack. The cartoon character is saying, regarding this issue, “100 lashes if you don’t die laughing.”