There has been a lot of talk here today about whether we should stand with "Charlie," the French weekly satirical magazine that delighted in holding no one sacred, and basically offending everyone on an equal opportunity basis.
I stand with those defending free speech, no matter how distasteful it may appear to our American eyes, for several reasons.
First of all, I simply must as a journalist. I respect those who found some of the cartoons offensive, and I understand the reasons why. It's fine to question the tastefulness or effectiveness of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, especially as seen through an American lens (I do!) with our own particular histories and points of cultural reference.
But is frustrating to see these satirical cartoons, intended for a very politically aware leftist French audience (who would have immediately recognized the skewering of Le Pen and his ilk), presented out of context, without the relevant history and back story, as if this were a magazine run by French RWNJs.
I've lived in both France and the UK, and humor didn't always translate very well even between British and American sensibilities. Social and political satire translates even less effectively...and the Charlie Hebdo stuff is not subtle. It is shocking and 'in your face.' It is meant to be.
I think most people in France, including my North African friends, would be mystified to learn that CH was a 'racist' publication, given that it has a long, long history of just the opposite. I also see how these cartoons 'look' to casual observers here in the States and it breaks my heart. I think it would break the artists' hearts as well from what I have read about them.
That is just my take, though, and I thought it might be relevant to reproduce the words of slain editor Stephane Carbonnier here, in defense of racism charges (by a rag paper) in 2013.
Here are "Charlie's" own words from Le Monde in 2013. Translations are mine (I lived in France and speak pretty passable French, though the UN won't be recruiting me anytime soon.
Nous avons presque honte de rappeler que l'antiracisme et la passion de l'égalité entre tous les humains sont et resteront le pacte fondateur de Charlie Hebdo.
We are almost embarrassed to remind (readers) that anti-racism and a passion for equality between all humans is and will remain the foundational pact of Charlie Hebdo.
... Car la lecture de notre journal est la preuve définitive de ce que nous affirmons ici. Ceux qui osent dire le contraire ne nous lisent pas, et se contentent de se délecter d'une abominable rumeur.
Because reading our magazine is definitive proof of what we affirm here. Those who would say the opposite don't read us, and are happy to feast on an abominable rumor.
... voici en quelques phrases notre histoire. Créé après l'interdiction d'Hara Kiri hebdo par le ridicule pouvoir gaulliste de 1970, Charlie Hebdo est fils de Mai 68, de la liberté, de l'insolence, et de personnalités aussi clairement situées que Cavanna, Cabu, Wolinski, Reiser, Gébé, Delfeil de Ton…
...here, in a few sentences, is our history. Created after the banning of Hara Kiri Hebdo by the ridiculous Gaullists in 1970, Charlie Hebdo was the spawn of May 1968...the son of liberty, of insolence, and of the well-known personalities of that time like Cavanna, Cabu, Wolinski, Reiser, Gébé, Delfeil de Ton…
Qui oserait leur faire un procès rétrospectif ? Le Charlie Hebdo des années 1970 aura aidé à former l'esprit critique d'une génération. En se moquant certes des pouvoirs et des puissants. En riant, et parfois à gorge déployée, des malheurs du monde, mais toujours, toujours, toujours en défendant la personne humaine et les valeurs universelles qui lui sont associées.
Who would dare put them on trial retrospectively? The Charlie Hebdo of the '70s would help form the critical spirit of a generation. By mocking those certain of power and influence. By laughing, sometimes full-throatedly, at the sadness of the world. But always, always, always in defending the humanity of all persons and the universal values associated with us all.
Nous rions, nous critiquons, nous rêvons encore des mêmes choses. Ce n'est pas trahir un secret : l'équipe actuelle se partage entre tenants de la gauche, de l'extrême gauche, de l'anarchie et de l'écologie. Tous ne votent pas, mais tous ont sablé le champagne quand Nicolas Sarkozy a été battu en mai 2012.
We laugh, we criticize, we still dream of the same things. This isn't betraying any secrets: our team is made up of the left, the extreme left, the anarchists and the Greens. None of us vote, but all of toasted with champagne when Nicolas Sarkozy was beaten in May 2012.
NOUS AVONS CHOISI NOTRE CAMP
WE HAVE CHOSEN OUR CAMP
Aucun d'entre nous ne songerait à défendre la droite, que nous combattrons jusqu'au bout. Quant aux fascismes, quant au fascisme, nous considérons évidemment cette engeance comme un ennemi definitive..
.
None amongst us would dream of defending the right, which we'll fight until the end. Whether it's fascist acts or outright fascism, we'll consider this bunch of scoundrels as a definitive enemy...
Charb then asks France to read and judge, boasting of his roster of comics, including those amongst the dead, and their commitments to feminism, labor, racism, etc.
Où seraient cachés les supposés racistes ? Nous n'avons pas peur d'avouer que nous sommes des militants antiracistes de toujours. Sans nécessairement avoir une carte, nous avons choisi dans ce domaine notre camp, et n'en changerons évidemment jamais. Si par extraordinaire – mais cela n'arrivera pas – un mot ou un dessin racistes venaient à être publiés dans notre hebdomadaire, nous le quitterions à l'instant, et avec fracas
.
Where will these supposed racists hide themselves? We have no fear of admitting that we have been militant anti-racists from our inception. Without necessarily carrying a card, we have chosen to set up camp here, and that will obviously never change. If for some extraordinary reason--though it will never happen--a racist word or drawing is ever published in our "hebdomadaire" (weekly)-- we will all quit immediately and without any fracas.
Nous refusons de nous cacher derrière notre petit doigt, et nous continuerons, bien sûr. Même si c'est moins facile qu'en 1970, nous continuerons à rire des curés, des rabbins et des imams, que cela plaise ou non. Nous sommes minoritaires ? Peut-être, mais fiers de nos traditions en tout cas. Et que ceux qui prétendent et prétendront demain que Charlie est raciste aient au moins le courage de le dire à voix haute, et sous leur nom. Nous saurons quoi leur répondre.
We refuse to hide ourselves under our pinky fingers, and will continue, of course. Even if it's not as easy as in 1970, we will continue to laugh at curates, rabbis, imams, whether that makes people happy or not. Are we in the minority on this? Perhaps, but we remain proud of our tradition. And those who claim--or will claim-- that Charlie is racist should at least have the courage to shout it out, and under their own name. We'll know how to respond.
I just thought Charlie should have a say in this.