Fighting freedom with fire
Nov 1st 2011
WHEN the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, reprinted controversial
Danish cartoons of the Prophet, Muhammad, five years ago, French political
leaders were ambivalent. Jacques Chirac, then the president, called it a
“manifest provocation”. “Anything that can wound the convictions of
others should be avoided,” he declared. Today’s political reactions to a
fresh controversy surrounding Charlie Hebdo and Islam have been far more
robust.
See the full article
http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/11/france-and-islam
I find the issue of Islamophobia in France to be a very interesting hot-button issue going on in their culture today. I do believe in freedom of speech and certainly freedom of religion, but I am not sure if I am comfortable with the blatant ridicule of Islamic way of life. I understand their recent laws prohibiting all open displays of religious garb or otherwise affiliation applies to Christians and the Jewish population as well. The legislation still seems to stick out like a sore thumb as Islamophobia, which is something I find as an infringement on the Muslims living within France. Charlie Hebdo’s satire on the Islamic lifestyle and religion, all-too-mockingly entitled “Charia Hebdo”, is a prime example of freedom of speech being a front for publically mocking a world-wide, century old faith structure. Now, again, I understand that many defenders of freedom of expression relay the point that all religions are ridiculed equally—but (a) is that really the best argument they can come up with? And (b) don’t you find something wrong with that statement? Personally, I am actually a bigger fan of secularism than I am organized religion, but growing up in a Christian/Catholic education and culture, I do know how touchy of a subject religious ridicule can be, and for that matter, what can result if enough buttons are pushed. I find the treatment of the Muslim population in France vastly biased against their religious culture. I see the requirement of Muslim women to not, at least, be allowed to wear hijabs in public as a violation of not only religious rights, but womens’ rights—their right to protect their virtue and express themselves through their relationship with God is truly being violated. The tensions with Muslims vs. the Western world is palatable, indubitably, but I hate to see millions of Muslims punished because of the malicious nature of the relatively few—Christians aren’t globally damned because of the KKK (which members could be just as ambiguously profiled…). I digress, but I don’t agree with French legislation and I find it only saddening for the Muslims within France—they might as well tar and feather them, it is equal humiliation.
ReplyDeleteA couple of seasons ago South Park tried to do the same thing—depict the prophet Muhammad in one of their episodes. They didn’t actually depict Muhammad in any way, instead, Muhammad was depicted as Santa Claus. The episodes intent was clear—they were mocking the rule. I personally agree with Nicholas Sarcozy that I’d prefer an excess of caricature to an excess of censorship.
ReplyDeleteI understand that it is offensive to Muslim people to depict the prophet Muhammad, but lot’s of things are offensive. Every episode of South Park is offensive. That doesn’t mean South Park should be censored or forbidden. I think we live in a time when everyone is two concerned with being politically correct. It may not be politically correct to depict the Prophet Muhammad, but not everything has to be politically correct. I’m not suggesting that everything that goes against the grain is okay, but as soon as we start limiting what people can and can’t say we’ve already gone down the wrong road.
Furthermore, I do not appreciate being told by a religion that is not my own what I can and cannot do. Sure, if the Church of Islam wants to forbid Muslims from depicting Muhammad, that is their prerogative. But I will depict whoever I want, however I want, as long as I live in the United States.
I think if Muslim people want to immigrate to a country like France that has free speech, than they have to put up with the fact that they too, like everyone else, will eventually be made fun of by a comedian. If they do not like that, than perhaps they should not live in a country that believes in the principles of free speech.
The Muslim people are not the only one’s in the wrong, however. The French people are equally wrong for prohibiting the wearing of Burkhas. Both are freedoms that people are intended to enjoy and both should never be infringed on. That’s the point of having freedoms like freedom of expression. Maybe you don’t appreciate everything everyone expresses, but when it’s you turn to express yourself you don’t have to worry about being told you can’t.
The publications that were made in the French press seem to me to be very
ReplyDeleteoffensive in nature. It was interesting to read that Francois Fillon, the
Prime Minister, justified the publications and denounced the attacks done
by declaring that “freedom of expression is an inalienable value.” Freedom
of expression is key in a democratic nation, but this power of expression
should not be abused, especially when the government condones offensive
propaganda that is directed to a certain group of people. The French
government should not protect “free speech” when it is clearly meant to
degrade and offend a group of people who are of significance importance to their country.
It must be degrading and offensive to the Muslim people who have to be
exposed to propaganda that poke-fun of their prophet Muhammad and
disrespect their women’s way of lives, such as the fact that they were a burqa. To me, it comes as no shock that the publication offices in the 20th arrodissement of Paris were firebombed, although these
violent retaliations should not be praised.
The French people should take care when it comes to offending the Muslim people, who make the largest population of Muslim’s in Europe (five million have been accounted for in France). Insulting the religions of certain people will not benefit the French government when they are trying to reconcile they’re secular tradition with the demands of their Muslim minority. It is very surprising to me that there have been few terrorists attacks in France, especially since there seems to be such a prejudice view towards people of the Islam faith.
Although freedom of expression is an inalienable value, I still believe that one shall not have the freedom to express his or herself in a way where another person's rights may have the chance of being infringed upon. So in this case I would side with Jacques Chirac who said that "Anything that can wound the convictions of others should be avoided." Religion has always been a very sensitive topic and I dont think the media has the right to poke fun of someone's religion or to tamper with it by posting pictures of a prophet or highly respected and revered person. Such acts of disrespect to one's religion absolutely cannot be tolerated and would cause people to resort to violence if their religion is made fun of. It also very funny how this the Charlie Hebdo paper has been sued 13 times on religious grounds and it amazes me how the paper company is still in business. I think that this paper should try to stay away from posting too many articles pertaining to religion because who knows what would happen the next time they are sued. Also I dont know who would even want to read articles that make fun of a certain group of people. Jokes are fine in the media but their is a certain extent as to when a joke is still a joke but when people are being discriminated upon then that just crosses the line and is totally unappropriate and definitely not acceptable. I really hope that the media of France learns to stop portraying certain religious groups in an inappropriate manner because this will only heighten France's so called "islamophobia" if people keep hearing about Islam in the media too much. Also if these media groups have access to freedom of expression then why don't people who want to have freedom of religion get to pray at their mosques and also be able to wear the hijab and burka in order to practice their religion the proper way. These are definitely their natural rights which should supercede any laws of France because human rights are always higher than the laws because the government is in place to protect the rights of the people and not to limit those rights or infringe upon them in any manner. And as with what Nicholas Sarkozy says about caricature, I think the best idea would be to just stay away from sensitive topics as religion rather than trying to depict cartoons of religious entities period.
ReplyDeleteI think France has a very interesting way of dealing with their Muslim community. The way the Islam religion is viewed by the government actually disgusts me. As one of the more advanced countries in Western Europe, I would believe the French Government would more accepting of their Muslim citizens, as long as the Muslim’s had pride in the country. The law passed by government forbidding the display of religious symbols in public ridiculous and although the law effects everyone – Christians, Jews, ect – the lives of Muslim’s, and more specifically Muslim women, are more effects much more than those of other religions. Some argue the laws forbidding religious clothing are for the protection of the French citizens, as the burka completely covers the face of Muslim women, while others see the law necessary to stop the oppression of these women.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the Muslim community is extremely uptight. They should take into account the fact that the weekly satirical publication has a history of poking fun of all religions, not just Islam, and as Taylor stated, they should have never moved to a country where freedom of speech and press is rightfully given to everyone. I mean, if I were a Muslim extremist or at least follower of Islam, I would not choose to live in a place where my religion is generally not accepted by the government.
Growing up in a non-religious household and being unassociated with any established religions, I find almost any and every publication poking fun of religions to be hilarious. Come on, if you don’t yourself to at least chuckle at the line, “100 lashes if you don’t die of laughter!” said by Muhammad, printed on the front page there is obviously something wrong. We live in an age where people are becoming less associated with religions and freedom of speech is far from dying.