Navigation Menu+

Psychology Today am I right

Yes to Free Press, No to Racism: Why I Am Not Charlie

In the wake of the terrorist murders in Paris, one of the best defenses of the importance of satirists to be free to publish without fear comes from historian Simon Schama. He writes, “Irreverence is the lifeblood of freedom. . . Magazines such as Charlie Hebdo are in the business of taking liberties, even outrageous ones, but they exist so that we never take the gift of disrespect for granted.”

Schama, a scholar of French history, points to the role of graphic satire in leading the attack against bigots and entrenched religious and political power. In 18th century Britain, “caricaturists . . . puncture[d] the pretensions of their enemies, expose[d] their hypocrisies, and [brought] down the mighty in a gale of scornful hilarity.”

Schama concludes, “There was a bloody attempt on Wednesday to wipe the smile from our faces. But though the self-righteous have killed the satirists they will never annihilate satire itself. Just the opposite. From now on, Charlie Hebdo will be the rallying point for all those who cherish life and laughter over the death-cult of sanctimonious gloom. So we owe it to the fallen to remind ourselves amid the blood, grief and rage, that just because the unhinged perpetrators are murderers does not mean they are also not clowns.

I agree with Schama. Satire is part of free speech. As such, it needs to be defended. Because the pen is mightier than the sword, there needs, however, to be restraint in using it.

It is one thing to ridicule those in power, but it is another to stoke hatred by spreading racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia or sexism. So it is one thing for a political cartoonist to satirize Barrack and Michelle Obama as Muslim terrorists, as in the controversial New Yorker cover a few years ago, but it is another to portray the president as a monkey.

What channel is the vikings game on? What does bolster mean? What does pre approved mean for a credit card? What does hmm mean in text? What a dummy meaning? How many miles to the moon? what is file helper how to use stop motion helper gmod How to beat zelda ii last dungeon tricks? How its like to work at linus tech tips? How does the president affect the meaning of many of the laws passed by congress? What does macarena mean? What does the name carlos mean? What is the meaning of dereliction? What does fishing in the dark mean sexually? What does xoxo mean from a guy? How to make egg little alchemy? What are nickels made of? How to instantly make pets learn tricks sims 4? What does phenomenal mean? What is the definition of tips? What does the italian horn mean? How to get osteo striga? How to cook risotto? How to do m9 bayonet tricks? How to get your tiktok account unbanned? How to prevent glaucoma? What are low carb vegetables? How to program philips universal remote? How do you decorate with russian cake tips? Why does my avocdo have dry tips as soon as it starts sprouting? What is the meaning hypothesis? What is profit? What does hp stand for? What does dp mean in gangs? How to find area of a circle with radius? What does igm positive mean? how old to be a ups driver helper How to cut up a whole chicken? what is a good pay for an electrical helper What does amelia mean? What does independent variable mean? What grade are you in at 8? What are the symptoms of tuberculosis? How to unclog a stuffy nose?


Related video

The new era of positive psychology
The new era of positive psychology
Profile of William James
Profile of William James
OneRepublic All the Right Moves Today Show
OneRepublic All the Right Moves Today Show
Jennifer Lopez - Get Right Live Today Show New York
Jennifer Lopez - Get Right Live Today Show New York
New Today Is The Price Is Right New Game Show 9/23/13
New Today Is The Price Is Right New Game Show 9/23/13
Social Psychology Today
Social Psychology Today


Related facts

  • "Am I Normal?" is a programme which is broadcast on Radio Four, presented by Vivienne Parry. It enjoyed a brief airing on BBC television, when it was presented by Tanya Byron,but is more commonly presented on Radio Four. It deals with issues surrounding how far...


Related Posts