That is the question of the day, is it not?
to be, or not to be #JeSuisCharlie
And then to describe your full-throated support of the satirizing publication
Charlie Hebdo or why you cannot in good conscience say #IAmCharlie or more succinctly, #JeSuisCharlie.
But what I want to know is why are you all debating the value of the content of Charlie Hebdo, when discussing the issue of political terrorism and the cold-blooded murder of political satirists and cartoonists?
Clearly everyone participating in that debate is saying it's to be, or not to be #JeSuisCharlie based upon the content of their speech...
But I don't believe it is a choice, to debate this issue on the basis of the content of their message(s). That in and of itself should be an invisible element in the decision-making process of whether or not to support the idea that Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Thought are essential Liberties to a Free People.
I only see it as the (sometimes very hard to acknowledge) bump in our 1st Amendment, when it comes to something which we (personally) find difficult to accept; difficult to perhaps feel emotionally and so fail to find a connection with the idea.
But this Tweet from earlier today, Saturday, January 10th, shows the thought process of someone making that choice, and deciding that if 'if you paint a target on your back don't be surprised if you become the quarry':
I simply reject the idea that I should consider the content of their information, should I decide to join with those around the world decrying such violence to end the lives of those whose only weapons are words and hand-drawn art.
It is, of course, a brutal reminder that even in the modern world of laser-sighted sniper rifles it is still a deeply-held belief that the pen is mightier than the sword, even to those who wield weapons of war as a method of pursuing their goals.
So I would only ask that all of you who have been so anxious to been seen as choosing one side or another in the Good or Bad debate take a moment and reconsider the question:
Should anyone ever lose their life to the whim of someone who disagrees with what they say or shape with their minds and hands? Ever?
If you answer that question NO then that is the only answer you should ever have to give. No further debate is required. You support Free Expression and Free Thought as Rights inherent and critical to each of us.
#FreeExpression
#FreeThought
are the hashtags which SHOULD be going viral out there, don't you think?