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BBC News
Cited
'13 January 2015 Last updated at 02:23 ET
Defiant Charlie Hebdo depicts Prophet Muhammad on cover'
Cited
'This week's edition of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will show a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad holding a "Je suis Charlie" sign.
Above the cartoon are the words "All is forgiven".
This comes after Islamist gunmen last week raided the magazine's Paris office, killing 12 people.'
Cited
'The slogan in French "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie") was widely used following the 7 January attack on the magazine, as people sought to show their support.
Three million copies of Wednesday's edition are being printed.
Normally only 60,000 are sold each week. Charlie Hebdo's lawyer Richard Malka told France Info radio: "We will not give in. The spirit of 'I am Charlie' means the right to blaspheme." Survivors of the massacre have been working on the magazine from the offices of the French daily newspaper Liberation. Five of Charlie Hebdo's cartoonists - including the editor - were killed in the attack. The new edition will be created "only by people from Charlie Hebdo", its financial director, Eric Portheault, told AFP news agency.
Contributions from other cartoonists were declined.'
End Citations
I agree philosophically that for the sake of liberty and freedom of speech, the satirical magazine should continue, if those that operate it wish to do so.
However, in agreement with my senior colleague and security officer at work, I would take some issue with the concept of...
"...The spirit of 'I am Charlie' means the right to blaspheme."
The right to blaspheme does not necessarily mean it is right or wise to blaspheme.
Consider
Romans 12:15-21
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but [a]associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. [b]Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [c]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes: Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things Romans 12:17 Lit Take thought for Romans 12:19 Lit give a place New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
I ponder on especially here in this context, 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Yes, one should not submit to terrorism or Islamic terrorism, but as was discussed with my Sikh co-worker, why throw fuel on the fire by risking purposely offending more Muslims at this heated historical point?
Rather than creating a satirical intellectual environment, where dialogue could take place at least in theory, these latest actions by Je suis Charlie read like a declaration of war or continuation of war, if one prefers, after a brutal and horrible attack that killed twelve.
Those creating such satire also unfortunately risk further criminal, terrorist acts committed by those within radical Islam.
I am not stating the satirical magazine should stop presenting what it believes is true in satirical form.
If this disagrees with Islam, or another worldview, so be it.
Intentional blasphemy against Islam to irritate the other side, is not a right or wise action when done for the sake of intellectual war.
In the context of intellectual debate it might be reasonable to blaspheme, or commit what is understood to be blasphemy, as in presenting unorthodox religious, theological and philosophical views which may offend some.
I state this as a definite non-Muslim that is a Christian theologian and philosopher.
Browning lists blasphemy as a deliberate assault on the majesty of God punishable by death. (p.46).
BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
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