FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

I agree that there must be an exception, or exceptions, to freedom of speech. We do have rules for instance against hate speech, although defining what is hate speech can be problematic.
I wonder how Christians would feel if the cartoon featured Christ, or perhaps Mary. Would Christians be so nonchalant?

Bonjour:

Ça va?

La liberté d’expression ne doit jamais finir par meurtre!

Je suis Charlie!

Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

Merci

I know that it is a difficult time in France -- two separate killings and the lockdown. In America we have just had another unnecessary killing of a black man (the police showed up when the family had asked for an ambulance for a mental health emergency) as well as growing deaths and no sign of action from our government. Some days it feels like too much.

As to your question about exceptions, I would say exceptions already exist if France has libel laws, etc. I think the exceptions also have to arise from both a more humane and moral perspective. While I realize satire is part of the culture (political satire is huge in America, too) at some point someone has to step back and say, "No, there are many citizens for whom this is a serious issue. I should step back and take their feelings seriously and not tell them 'get over it; it's just a joke'. What can I do to engage with them better?"

I understand on one level why laïcité is important in France. But I think the current obsession with it makes it impossible to celebrate and respect the cultures of all the immigrants. Teaching them "how to be French" is telling them to forget everything they were before they or their ancestors arrived. In the U.S., most of us revel in the variety of cultures -- Greek festivals, North African food celebrations, Hispanic and Irish parades. I never see such things in France. Don't say "I love couscous and kebabs" but reject everything else in a culture.

I know many in France would reject what I say because I'm not French, but I know what I see. There is no embracing of the different cultures. And little political power. And I can't believe there is only one way to be French. So I say free expression may technically be allowed, but one has to also take into consideration its consequences, whether the subject is religion, fat-shaming, racism, or other elements of unkindness or hate. Words have consequences. And when those consequences show up, you can't blame it all on the target of those words and shrug your shoulders, saying "Can't you take a joke?"

There is no excuse for murder or fanaticism.

Christian art has long included images of all the sacred figures. Italian churches have magnificent murals of the creation, which includes Michelangelo’s image of God, and the biblical Adam as well. Many other paintings of Jesus mark stations of the cross, the last supper, and other major events of his time on earth. There are statues too.

Islamic art does not feature images of people so much as geometric designs and Arabic script. As I cannot read Arabic script, it looks like a design to me, part of the decor.

Why they do not draw images of the founder of their religion is not something I was taught long ago in school. It is something learned in my adulthood, and seems to be something used now to strike a difference from Christianity, or simply as an identifying mark of their ways.

Some of the Protestant Christian sects removed all imagery from their churches, if they let the church stand, as a feature of their difference from Roman Catholicism, at the time of that break. So my statement about the images likely does not apply to every group calling themselves Christian.

France embodies the art in their churches and as well has a sharp line between church and state.

This is the delicate territory, the way of France since her revolution at the end of the 18th century, and people of Islamic faith who now want to live in France.

I do hope there is a way for people in Islam to understand France, a nation of tolerance, a nation that once endured a too-powerful and material church, and has made separate spaces for religion and the rest of life. These slaughters are horrifying, the actions of hundreds of years ago not fit for the present. We have better ways to resolve differences, better than taking offense and enlarging it.

Who says Christians are nonchalant about cruelty and murder?

We should all have the right to free speech. But it's not absolute. The classic example, in the USA, is not shouting "fire!" in a crowded theater.

There is another side to it. Just because we CAN say something doesn't always mean we SHOULD. As much as possible, we should avoid demeaning what we are criticizing (there is a difference). On can ojbect, for example, to certain aspects of Islam without being disrespectful of all its features, and especially those who sincerely practice it. The same goes for any other religion.

All of the above said, terrorism has to be stopped.

thought provoking perspective.......bravo

A Christian wouldn't react with violence.

I am an American-Muslim living in NYC, and Paris is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world. To hear that this kind of atrocity was committed breaks my heart.

As a Muslim I do not condone this kind violence. I respect freedom of speech and expression however sometimes we need to stop and think about the repercussions of what we say, do and create. With that said, I am bothered by the illustrations of Charlie Hebdo but that doesn't mean I should go out and harm someone. As for the the teacher, he could've exercised a little more tact and used this opportunity to teach his students a little bit more about Islam.

Yes, my religion has its fair share of extremists and fanatics but we're not all that bad. Mahershala Ali, Muhammad Ali (RIP), Malala Yousafzai just to name a few...

We're dealing with our level of extremism here in the U.S. (as I'm sure you are all aware of) and with this upcoming election it feels like we're all sitting on a powder keg - and we all know who's holding the match. I'm worried about what the possibilities of our election will mean specifically for person of color. More specifically - American Muslims.

I've experienced nothing but beauty, love and friendship all the times I've visited Paris (and even the areas outside of the city). This blog is a reminder of those feelings and I thank the author for that with every email and post.

Acually, it has happened in the U.S. And although it was disgusting and disrespectful, no murders or riots resulted. It was accepted as freedom of speech. However, there is a line past which Americans are not allowed to go. We cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater, or anything else of that ilk.

On one point, there are no exceptions: we do not behead those with whom we disagree.

This was the first headline I read this morning and the only thing I could think of on a dreary, rainy day in Upstate NY was, "il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville". I'm devastated by this and my heart goes out to all who mourn.

This is not an act representing the Muslim religion. It is an act of deranged, fanatic people who, unfortunately, exist in every culture and every religion. Let's not answer horrific acts of violence with more prejudice, encouraging even more fanaticism.

Hi Kristi,

Praying for those who lost their lives in France and those who have suffered all over the world.

We have had statues of the Blessed Mother beheaded and desecrated here in the US and one Catholic church in Ocala Florida was set on fire while parishioners were setting up for Mass. Other Catholic churches in Los Angeles and other areas have been vandalized or set on fire. Statues of Jesus have been beheaded. This kind of behavior has no place in civilized society. There is more good in the world but it just seems like we have an abundance of hate and a turning away from God.

If there is a hornets nest, why stir it up?

I often disagree and get upset by plenty of stuff, but I never feel moved to head out and stab someone. Mental health is the bigger issue here. Even if all speech, cartoons, etc. were reigned in, folks with untreated mental health issues, including feelings of isolation, desperation, being shamed,....so many things, might still find reason enough to join cults, gangs, terrorist groups...or act individually in horribly violent ways. I’m always hopeful that we humans will put greater emphasis on treating each other better, making sure children and teens get love and care they need, and putting more resources toward mental health. Meanwhile, sympathy and condolences to France.

I firmly believe in freedom of speech. That being said, humans should be mature enough and responsible enough when not to say something.
A person who writes once posted that he follows this rule: Is it true? Is it kind? Does it need to be said?
If everyone followed those three statements the world would be a better place.

Thank you for expressing the anguish and disorientation we are feeling in France today, Kristi. You raise good questions. The depth of evil in the world seems beyond comprehension at times like this. However I do find comfort in the realization that there is one rule to which there is no exception and that is that love will win over hate in the end. Hate causes great harm and it may even rule for a time but it ultimately destroys the haters. Only love is redemptive and restorative. Governments have the right and the obligation to protect their citizens and as an American living in France, I am grateful for the protection the French government provides and the actions it is taking but if I start to hate my enemies, they have won and turned me into them. Praying for all those affected by the recent violence and praying for France.

Well said.

My heart too breaks for France. I am born in America but my parents came from France and Bretagne in 1949. We as children were encouraged to accept others and not be prejudice. That everyone had a right to their beliefs. I am also a Christian and know God is not a hateful God. My family all lives in France. As well as in Nice. I live in the US. Our world has gone down the tube quickly.
Prayers for those who are suffering from this persecution. Prayers for the victims and families.

There have been a lot of hateful portrayals of Christ and Mary. Think of the art exhibit years ago in New a York of a crucifix in urine. As repugnant and disgusting as it was....there were no murders in Jesus’ name. There is no rational or excuses for any of this

Amen, Brother!

That’s a ridiculous statement. When Christians in the West are offended by anti-Christian writing or images, they don’t go out and stab innocent people in schools or churches.

Brings tears to my eyes. How sad and what a waste. Merci for your column.

Kristi,
Thank you for your courageous and questioning post today. As a woman of faith and kindness who is living in the region of this latest attack, you have most likely been shaken by these events. There are no easy answers to your question about the balancing of liberty of expression in France- many of us from elsewhere do not appreciate either the importance of laïcité as enshrined in French law. I suspect that the recent travel history of this terrorist into France will provide the answers to this attack but not to your broader questions. By all accounts so far, he has only been in France for a matter of weeks.

Keeping quiet and not giving up freedom is not the solution because Islamic is just a bloodthirdty ideology, they will keep searching excuses for killing people. They have been regularly killing innocent people in all Western countries, the victims are mostly people who even do not read a newspaper. And they kill each other in Islamic countries like mad dogs without any reason. The solution is taking hard action against any kind of religious extremism by governments and educating people against it.

☮️ "All we are saying...is give PEACE
a chance" (J.L.)I stand with FRANCE
Sorry for all of you in France. Very sad.
Beautiful people. Kind and Welcoming.
I need to keep focusing on the good. Too
Much right now.
Patty ... Canada

We might be offended, we might think cartoons featuring Christ were in terrible taste (there are many!) -- but we would not use that as an excuse to murder! Different cultures...though I fear there are more and more jihadists, or whatever they might be called, in the United States as well.

Debra, the situations you cite were from the Dark Ages, many centuries ago! We are now in the 21st century and to cite what happened 6 - 7 century and more ago to justify this is totally insane on your part!

This Christian thinks it’s fine for people to be angry when their or my beliefs are mocked - and that anger does not justify murdering anyone.

Deport them, they are not fit to live amongst the civilized French. They are NWO invaders.

Thank you Suzanne. Well said, as well as so many other posts here.

We certainly would not behead people over it. We Christians have had to see "art" work of Christ peeing, copulating and other disgusting things and we aren't allowed to even protest it because the artists have free speech and we have to accept it. Charlie Hebdo was warning about this. They were not mocking Islam, they were making it crystal clear what radical Islam is.

Amen to that, Deborah!

Well said....

Bon Courage Kristi 🇫🇷

John:

We Christians regularly see profane gestures against our religion. Statues of Christ on the cross and of the Virgin have been shown throughout the world being urinated upon. We hope to forgive; we hope to educate; we hope not to kill. There are no excuses. Universal humanism must be embraced by all.

Dearest Insightful Kristi,

Your questions regarding Communication are so thought-provoking. And needed!
Years ago, standing outside La Sainte Chapelle innocently talking about our tickets, the Frenchman behind us must have overheard our American accents. He sneered with disgust and gritted the words, “You like George Bush, don’t you?” We were shocked and so were the people from Toulouse standing behind him who felt the need to apologize for him! What causes such vitriol? Words and images, no doubt. Words have more power than a gun. (Are we not campaigning against bullying on the Internet?) And pictures communicate a thousand times greater an instant impression. I am an artist, and, of course, relish freedom of expression, but when art is mostly made to insult, stir up, and create mass anguish, a line must be drawn.
When I was a child, transistor radios were a new hand-held invention, and so was the 10-inch TV. If our President at the time (Eisenhower) who had just traded in his combat boots for the White House, had any notion these would become highly effective means of weaponry to fester fear, incite riots and war, or to motivate terrorists, what would he have said? What would he have said about intentionally ‘poking the bull’ in Parisian cartoons?
Discrimination, discretion, respect for all, and most importantly, love one another!
Blessed are the Peacemakers.
My heart goes out to all of France and the whole world. ❤️🙏❤️

Bonjour John,
Christians have LONG been subjected to ridicule and mean-spirited criticism. Consider "art" work where the Blessed Mother is smeared in feces. Consider a crucifix submerged in a jar of urine, also passed off as "art". Your criticism of nonchalant is truly ill-founded. If you are not a Christian, then you have not experienced these things and so do not know first hand.
We have rights to freedom of speech; but does that mean that we must exercise them without the filters of any love of neighbor? The failure goes back to how we are raising the young, in my opinion. Respect is dying; selfishness is becoming exponential. I think Charlie Hebdo was mean-spirited and I would never stoop to such vile satire, but the reality is that free speech must remain.
A quote I learned in French class in high school, from Voltaire: Je n'approuve pas un seul mot ce que vous dites, mais je defenderai jusque a la morte votre droit de le dire.
Peace.

There are many good and heartfelt comments to your post Kristi and I echo many of them. My heart goes out to La France for this despicable and inexcusable act of violence. Je prie pour ton paye. Bon courage.

There have been LOTTTTS of defaming plays, paintings, performances, and movies over many years and continue to this day.......the difference is we Christians kill the offending person or person and especially don't behead a person for defaming our Christ!

Absolutely! Christians are being killed in Europe, North Africa, various countries south of the Sahara, the middle east and elsewhere awful ...

A film I like, some believed it was blasphemous, 'The life of Brian' BUT I have not heard of anyone killed for their association with it.

French people CANNOT be blamed for this terrorism - we sympathise and support nos amis les Francais!