April 2015
Volume XXII, Issue IV
The Fenwick Review
The Independent Journal of Opinion at the College of the Holy Cross http://college.holycross.edu/studentorgs/fenwickreview/index.html
Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie Eric Kuhn ’16 Staff Writer With the gun smoke only just dissipating from the various arrondissements of Paris, the city’s denizens, and indeed much of the world, are asking what went wrong. The public in other countries as well has said, “Je suis Charlie” or “I am Charlie”. The attack was certainly tragic and barbaric, but one can condemn the violence without allying oneself with a vulgar publication that is hardly a good standard bearer for the freedom of speech. Countless people are jumping on the bandwagon of a magazine whose greatest works on behalf of free speech include masturbating nuns and popes wearing condoms. The raison d’etre of Charlie Hebdo is to provoke and offend. Credit must, however, be given to the paper because unlike other Western satiric publications, which often focus attacks on Christians, the majority religious group, it was indiscriminate in its criticisms. In essence, these three days of terror were the clashing of two great destructive forces in the world: radical Islam and progressive secularism. The weekly has, in a way, effectively been a force of its own destruction. It is a supreme irony that a common subject of their criticism, besides general western culture and tradition, was the
Front Nationale, which has tirelessly opposed the wanton immigration policy that allowed for the attack to occur. Thus despite my sadness for the loss of life in Paris, I cannot say that “I am Charlie.” Further, an unfortunate byproduct of these events is an escalation of xenophobia and a backlash against Jews and Muslims all over Europe. This, however, is due in part to the activities of the paper and in part to the intransigence of the European elite and their pursuit of a multicultural European salad bowl. Evidence of this is seen in the rise of the far right in France and Germany. Parties such as the National Front appeal to the people because they attack Muslims for not conforming to general secularism, among other things. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, recently stated that “immigration is a gift to us all.” With that, however, is an expectation that devout Muslims and other migrants will change their culture and conform to the western ideal of social progressivism, gay rights, and such things. It is all part of the dream of one Europe, with no borders and the perennial utopian goal- absolute equality. Thus the conflict seems almost inevitable. The leaders of the West must come to realize that one side or the other will have to compromise,
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and in light of recent events, it does not look like it will be the Islamists. Demonstrations, such as those seen in Chartres and Paris, were not really seen in America, even after 9/11. This discrepancy likely results from the fact that the American people are comfortable with religion in the public sphere. The French and Germans have had religion banished from the public square, so it is no surprise that they are not comfortable with the Islamic presence. Thus, the extreme secularists have only themselves to blame for the rise of the anti-immigration right. With regard to Charlie Hebdo, if it were a serious publication they might have more of my sympathy. However, Charlie is just another mouthpiece of the failed secularism that is ruining Europe. As it is, Charlie will have had a personal hand in inciting the anger and racism of the Europeans. Charlie Hebdo has set back freedom of speech by the abuse of that freedom. Journalistic and artistic freedom must be accompanied by artistic responsibility. Charlie Hebdo has contributed to sectarian strife in France because its attacks are not based in reason and do not seek to understand. The cartoons are blanket mockery of an entire faith. The satire magazine ignored the fact that radical Muslims represent a miniscule part
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of Islam and stereotyped the entire faith without realizing that little part has a great amount of zeal. The paper must ask itself, if being crude, even in the name of freedom of speech, was worth the death of its editor, other members of the staff, and even people with no association with the paper beyond their proximity. Even as the nation recoils from the terrorism, the cover that the magazine published just after the attack once again is trying to arouse the anger of Muslims by publishing a picture of the prophet. The cover depicts the prophet with a phallic-shaped head saying “Je suis Charlie.” Above it, the words- “All is forgiven.” What compassion! The attacks on the magazine are doubly unfortunate because just before the murders, Charlie Hebdo was teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. Now with help from the French government and donors, the magazine will easily recover and continue with their anti-religious campaign. This sort of churlish offensiveness perpetuates a terrible cycle. An approach to the question of immigration that does not emphasize dialogue and understanding will only alienate young Muslims and drive them into the arms of extremists. It is time for mutual respect.
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