I've been struggling real hard with the whole "racist cartoons" vs. "religious terrorists and journalistic freedom" thing.
In fact--if you want to know you're making a difference--it is largely because you are taking such a stand, and because I recognize your moral authority in particular---that I haven't just gone with the same "Je Suis Charlie" response that other people have.
The Wikipedia article on Charlie Hebdo describes it as a leftist, and anti-racist publication that appears to be mocking Islam not out of anti-semitism, but out of anti-authoritarianism.
Seems to me, their offense may be crudity as opposed to racism. As if one were to attempt to criticize Israeli hardliners on the Palestine issue, and did so in a way that had the effect of perpetuating offensive Jewish stereotypes.
I'm trying to think of an Amreican equivalent of Charlie Hebdo, and the best I can come up with is National Lampoon. Which has its own icky baggage. Or perhaps Larry Flint. I never cared much for Larry Flint, but I cared even less for the censors who opposed him with lawsuits.
Seems to me, there is a place for Charlie Hebdo in the world. I'm not sure that's a place I want to stand. I do know I want to stand with Ashley. Ashley's moral compass has pretty much pointed the right way as long as I've known her...so maybe I'm wrong.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chiming
no subject
Date: 2015-01-11 10:46 pm (UTC)From:In fact--if you want to know you're making a difference--it is largely because you are taking such a stand, and because I recognize your moral authority in particular---that I haven't just gone with the same "Je Suis Charlie" response that other people have.
The Wikipedia article on Charlie Hebdo describes it as a leftist, and anti-racist publication that appears to be mocking Islam not out of anti-semitism, but out of anti-authoritarianism.
Seems to me, their offense may be crudity as opposed to racism. As if one were to attempt to criticize Israeli hardliners on the Palestine issue, and did so in a way that had the effect of perpetuating offensive Jewish stereotypes.
I'm trying to think of an Amreican equivalent of Charlie Hebdo, and the best I can come up with is National Lampoon. Which has its own icky baggage. Or perhaps Larry Flint. I never cared much for Larry Flint, but I cared even less for the censors who opposed him with lawsuits.
Seems to me, there is a place for Charlie Hebdo in the world. I'm not sure that's a place I want to stand. I do know I want to stand with Ashley. Ashley's moral compass has pretty much pointed the right way as long as I've known her...so maybe I'm wrong.