Accordingly, I don't agree with the way the situation with Charlie Hebdo was handled. The magazine was not presently threatening the lives of anyone and they have their right of press. The lives lost in the attack are tragic. However, what they were publishing was offensive to Islamic religion and culture and I recognize the frustration that it must have caused in the Muslim community. Charlie Hebdo poorly represented Islamic beliefs. Yes, there are sects of Islam that are extreme in their actions and what they believe to be manifesting love and support for Allah, the god of Islam. But Charlie Hebdo's use of satire is entirely focused on these extremist groups and generalizes these views to all of Islam with the usage of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, often considered by non-Muslims to be the founder of Islam.
Examples:
(With my lack of knowledge and my understanding of the faults in google translate, I have determined that "100 coups de fouet, si vous n'êtes pas morts de rire" and "l'amour plus fort que la haine" essentially mean "100 lashes if you aren't dying of laughter" and "love is stronger than hate" respectively.)
This is entirely unfair. From my knowledge of Islamic views (which is limited of course), I understand that Islam is one of the most peaceful belief systems at its core. Muslims have a strong focus on personal religious devotion and support of the needy. The views of extremists groups don't align well with Islamic beliefs. To generalize the views of these groups on the entire population promotes prejudice based in ignorance. I am so grateful that I do not have to answer for the horrible things that Christians have done in the past due to my personal belief in Christ. So who am I to require all members of the Islamic community to answer for the actions of extremists? The actions of one are almost never representative of the whole.
The ignorance and slander being presented by Charlie Hebdo does not, however, justify the violence against the magazine (it's important to note that this was carried out by extremists). This attack, unfortunately, sparked violence across both Europe and the Middle East, on both sides of the issue causing even more loss and pain. Which leads me to the point of this very scattered article. Both sides are in the wrong. Claiming satire does not justify prejudice against any group of people (though no matter what, the right of press allows its publication). But offensive articles and cartoons do not justify the use of violence either.
I think what irritates me the most about this issue and other recent issues involving racial and religious discrimination is the blatant disregard for human life. In the issues in Ferguson, New York, Boko Haram, etc. we consistently see a person or group dismissing the fact that the person or group they are targeting are no different than themselves. It's not just an issue of black lives, Islamic lives, Hispanic lives, white lives or any other specificity. It is an issue of human lives. And before you close out of this window because you no longer think this issue is important to you on a personal level, I'd like to point out that disregard for human life is not solely murder or violence. Dismissing the rights of a group of people based on their looks or beliefs is also included. As soon as you discriminate against another person, you are disregarding their life because you are claiming that somehow you are more than that person. Thus you are rejecting the idea that their life is worth just as much as yours. And guess what, it is. All of us, depsite of what gender, race, or religion we might be, deserve to be recognized as human beings equal to one another. As a human race, their will always be inequality of wealth, health, and other circumstances. But we can reach the point at which there is not inequality based solely on skin color, gender, belief system, etc. And that's what we should be moving towards.
Life is incredibly beautiful. Each day we are allowed to interact with other amazing beings and witness the wonders of nature. We are able to experience happiness, sadness, heartache, love, and fear. There is very little reason for you or I to come between a person and their right to this life and all the joys and trials that come with it.
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