What do you think of Charlie Hebdo's response -- their next issue?

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:41:22 -0500

This is the cover of the next issue of the "Charlie Hebdo" magazine, due to be released on January 14th. What do you think of this?

The character is the Prophet Mohammed, and the translation is "All is Forgiven" and "I am Charlie"

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 12 at 2015 6:44 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:44:28 -0500

I don't think I get it...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 7:11 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:11:23 -0500

I think it's very courageous of the magazine to come right back with satire depicting the Prophet Mohammed on the cover, one week after terrorists attacked and killed much of the editorial staff. Even civilians can be courageous.

I read that their weekly circulation was typically 60,000 issues, and they are printing 3,000,000 issues this week!

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jan 12 at 2015 7:13 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:13:18 -0500

It's freedom speech. People make fun of Jesus Christ all the time, but I smile at them when the do it; I don't try to cut off their head for it. If someone doesn't like, they shouldn't look at it.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jan 12 at 2015 7:13 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:13:32 -0500

It's a very gutsy move on their part...apparently those remaining in the organization are standing by their principles and continuing with their satire as they always have. Kudos.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 7:32 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:32:15 -0500

This out to incite the terrorist to act again or confirm that they are limited in their operational reach.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jan 12 at 2015 7:40 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:40:10 -0500

Their freedom of speech should not be silenced by the attack. They just got made the most popular circulation....

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 12 at 2015 9:59 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:59:38 -0500

Stupid, just because a terrorist group is linked to a particular religions does not give you cart blanche to disrespect the whole faith. The KKK claims to be Christian, Westboro Baptist claims to be Christian. I would sincerely hope that someone would not lump all Christians in with those two organizations and sling known insults to the entire Christian faith because of some fringe elements.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jan 12 at 2015 10:24 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:24:43 -0500

Curious to hear what everyone thinks of CNN, NYT, and other news stations not showing the new Charlie Hebdo cover in their news reports. Is this bowing to the terrorists? Or is it a smart move by the news orgs & leadership in safeguarding their people? I'm of the opinion that this is exactly what the terrorists wanted. TSgt Joshua Copeland CW5 Private RallyPoint Member CPT Aaron Kletzing SFC Mark Merino.

Instead of Showing the New Charlie Hebdo Cover, Here’s the Image CNN Displayed on Its Home Page

CNN declined to publish the image of the first Charlie Hebdo cover since last week's deadly terror attack. Citing security concerns and the sensitivity of Muslims in their audience, the "worldwide leader in news" instead opted to display the following image on their home page. ...

Response by SPC Charles Griffith made Jan 12 at 2015 11:01 PM

SPC Charles Griffith — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:01:25 -0500

I see it as the only real move forward. But that might just be the Man in me :)

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 8:44 AM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:44:12 -0500

Freedom of speech>your feelings.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 11:18 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 11:18:40 -0500

It's the only thing you can do. Frankly every organization needs to pile on. The more the better. This is about the fundamentals that our countries are founded on. We can't allow that to be stiffled. I don't agree with the pot-smoking, Birkenstock laden, tree-hugging, communist in Berkley protesting their country...but I agree with the idea of a great nation which allows and enables that kind of behavior. America isn't great because we are the greatest economy or have the greatest military...it is great because the values upon which these united states are founded upon are worth fighting and dying for. Bravo CH.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 1:48 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 13:48:12 -0500

While theyre still mopping blood from the conference room floor, Charlie's staff thinks "next week, we'll print 1,000,000 copies..."

That is how you live without fear. That is how you honor your fallen friends.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 1:52 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 13:52:44 -0500

Keep up the work Charlie. All decent people think you have it right.. :)

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 2:06 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:06:06 -0500

I could care less what a media organization decides is news or decides to show or not to show on the news. That is just as much their right under our Constitution and our protection of freedom of speech as anything else.

I do think that everyone would benefit from understanding context. Why does Charlie Hedbo publish a magazine? To make money (I admit my world view on this is pretty simple). But CH is not very good at making money. Drawing nasty anti-Islam cartoons that get the world's attention is about all the CH has been really successful doing, so it does a lot of this (and attacking religion in general). There is clearly a freedom of speech issue there, as well, and CH has gone to great lengths to push the boundaries of freedom of speech, which, it might surprise you to learn, is a very different concept in France. Its quite refreshing actually to see so many self-described Christians standing up for CH, because CH has been dastardly towards Christians and other religions, too. My guess is that most folks who are now so supportive of CH would change their minds a bit if they had a look at CH's archives and free-speech attacks on Christians, say, the one where the Pope is pissing on toilet paper that is taken from the Bible and other holy books, or the one where the Holy Ghost is having anal sex with the Father who is having anal sex with the Son. Good quality freedom of speech social commentary.

I personally support CH on freedom of speech grounds. These are cartoons, at the end of the day, and apart from generally being quite offensive and perhaps at times bordering on hate speech or at least rejecting any sort of tolerance, these CH cartoons don't hurt anyone, and violence against a cartoonist for drawing a cartoon isn't something that can be condoned.

I do get the feeling, though, as with many issues, folks have just jumped on the Je Suis Charlie band-wagon without really knowing what they're espousing when they do so. I'd hope that folks do a little research and learn about the issue and context before going all-in on something that maybe they wouldn't support with a little knowledge. I'm sure there are a lot of true free-speech warriors out there who have been motivated by the killings to support their cause. I'm a bit concerned that there's more behind the motivations of Je Suis Charlie than free-speech crusaders supporting their chosen cause.

For background on CH, here's a good start: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/01/charlie-hebdo-secularism-religion-islam/384413/. Some key take-awaya: "On the contrary, Charlie’s hope, according to its editors, is to show believers the folly of their faith. This can hardly be called an undertaking of tolerance, that other virtue of liberal democracy." "It is a publication that champions its speech rights with all the crude prurience and vitriol and rhetorical excess the law permits. (While the French public's tastes can allow for extremes of vulgarity, French speech law is in fact fairly restrictive, especially with respect to racist, anti-Semitic, or defamatory speech.)" From the CH editor: "“You’re not supposed to use religion for your sense of identity, in any case not in a secular state,” Biard said. “In principle, the Arabs in France are not Muslims,” he contended—that is, Arabs in this secular, assimilationist nation are citizens like any others, and would be well served to renounce whatever attachment they may feel to Islam. “How is it going to help these people to make them believe they’re Muslims?” he asked." "If he keeps his word, it seems likely that some of the magazine’s new friends, especially those outside France, will be perplexed or offended. They have read into Charlie a set of values Charlie never had."

The "Charlie Hebdo" I Know

One may mourn the dead and condemn their senseless slaughter without celebrating the magazine for values it did not embrace.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Jan 13 at 2015 2:50 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:50:07 -0500

A group of people that take Freedom of the Press seriously.

So, my fellow Americans...we're getting schooled by the French. Take Note.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 3:20 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:20:01 -0500

They are proving no one will silence them and they will continue with what they do best. But I see it as a catch 22 courageous but also maybe stupid. Hopefully it does not bring more retaliation against them.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 3:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:29:50 -0500

What type of world would we live in if we were afraid to make fun of each other? Oh wait let me stop talking about North Korea

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 3:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:32:38 -0500

It is courageous... I just hope they have taken additional security precautions to protect from another attack.

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Jan 13 at 2015 3:40 PM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:40:32 -0500

As long as they know what they are doing. Last time it was only 2 dudes and a driver, next time...

Response by SGT Steven Montgomery made Jan 13 at 2015 7:52 PM

SGT Steven Montgomery — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:52:30 -0500

I like it!

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Jan 13 at 2015 8:00 PM

CPL Rick Stasny — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:00:53 -0500

I just wish I could read French. I would get a copy and enjoy it with a bag of pork rinds.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 11:32 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 23:32:01 -0500

Is it me or did the french media just show moe strength in the face of terror then hollywood.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Jan 14 at 2015 8:50 AM

SFC Collin McMillion — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 08:50:10 -0500

Let us all make sure of one thing. Forgiveness is not forgetting.

Response by SFC Mark Bailey made Jan 16 at 2015 5:55 PM

SFC Mark Bailey — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:55:13 -0500

LOL... the power of the pen multiplied by the power of the cartoonist

LTG Patton had an issue with SP4 Bill Maudlin for drawing his very popular "Willie and Joe" cartoon series back during WWII in the Stars & Stripes. GEN Eisenhower finally stepped in and told the Theater Commanding General “A great deal of pressure has been brought on me in the past to abolish such things as Mauldin’s cartoons. . . . You will make sure that the responsible officer knows he is not to interfere in matters of this kind. If he believes that any specific violation of good sense or good judgment has occurred, he may bring it to my personal attention.”

It was one of the few battles that LTG Patton lost according to later writers...
"The Battle of Maudlin"

Response by CPL Harold Chodnoff made Jan 16 at 2015 6:29 PM

CPL Harold Chodnoff — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:29:26 -0500

I think they acted appropriately and showed they would not relinquish their freedom of speech. I also thought the cartoon was in good taste and any moderate Muslim would understand and would not be offended. Essentially it showed Mohammad's distress at the actions of his followers. If the extremists don't like it, that's OK, they don't like much.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 3:18 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 03:18:51 -0400

My complete thoughts. Je Suis Charlie https://warriorcitizen.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/je-suis-charlie/

Je Suis Charlie

Islamists are also ignorantly aided in their aspiration to maintain a stranglehold on the narrative surrounding Islam by the same mental midgets who claim to hate and want to destroy them.