I am <i>not</i> Charlie

The Washington Times ^ | 1/11/2015 | Joseph Curl

[Former Fetus]

Shortly after a terrorist attack left 12 dead inside a Paris magazine called Charlie Hebdo, a meme went viral. People posted a new phrase on social media, held signs with the slogan, said it again and again and again on TV: “Je Suis Charlie” — I am Charlie.

The message was meant to show solidarity with those who died. And those who were murdered in cold blood were called “journalists,” therefore “Je Suis Charlie” supporters were saying, essentially, there but for the grace of God go I. They, too, could have been killed over freedom of expression. We are all Charlie, they said.

But it’s unclear just how many of those sudden supporters of Charlie Hebdo really knew about Charlie Hebdo.

The irreverent — the buzzword fellow journalists used was “satirical” — magazine has published dozens of cartoons mocking Muhammad, as well as religious icons. One magazine cover showed Christianity’s holy trinity engaged in a vile anal sexual threesome. In fact, that was pretty much the goal of the fringe magazine: To incite anger from those with faith — any religion; to mock those who believe.

And so it did. The magazine has been condemned by French presidents (several) and leaders of many religions worldwide. Editors of the magazine reveled in the hatred it could stir up among those with faith; and then they pointed to angry rhetoric accusingly, saying in effect, “Look, they’re as intolerant as we say!”

>>SNIP<<

But the question that went unasked in defense of the Hebdo “journalists” was this: Is it really the job of journalists to belittle religion, to mock the faithful’s beliefs, to denigrate those the faithful deem most holy — in any religion?

[Hugh the Scot]

I'm not Charlie either, but I'm damned if I'll stand by quietly while Charlie gets murdered. The issue at hand is nothing more or less than islamists killing non-islamists (Christian, or atheist, or heathen doesn't matter) for not obeying them.

I'm sickened by the "journalists"who now come rallying to defend free speech but were far too cowardly to publish the offensive cartoons in the first place. These same leftist SOBs are the ones campaigning for campus "speech codes" and rallying to prevent conservatives from having any voice in media or on college campuses.

As Conservatives, we must fight them all. The FAKE Charlie Hebdos and the islamists.

I lament for the truth and a nation with the basic balls to speak it without fear.

[celmak]

I don't think the founders meant that the First Amendment included vulgarity, nor did they mean it to be a law that the States had no jurisdiction in as it does read, "Congress shall make no law respecting..."

Ju Suis Charles Martel!

[VanShuyten]

I was particularly angered when Amanpour said that the London attacks and the Madrid attacks didn’t inflame people to respond,excepts for marches, but this attack on free speech will lead to a real change in how the West responds.