As news has comprehensively covered, the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris, France recently published a satirical cartoon of the prophet Muhammad. The cartoon depicts the prophet, saying “100 lashes of the whip if you don’t die laughing” and was highly offensive to many.
These offended feelings led to the heinous actions that left 12 dead, reportedly to avenge the prophet.
An uproar has since ensued over the matters of freedom of speech, whether offensive or not, and the conversation of tolerance freedom of speech must be met with.
Since the attack in Paris, multiple satire cartoonists have responded with their own cartoons, mourning a gross attack on said freedom of speech.
As a media literacy group, the happenings at Charlie Hebdo are extremely important for us to talk about. It reminds us of the power of journalism and the great responsibility that comes with, sometimes deadly.
As many media outlets have reported, the old adage is true, the pen is mightier than the sword, but at what cost? There are indeed limitations to our freedom of speech, but the consequences for crossing the line this cartoon crossed, should be decided by the law, not acts of terrorism.
To access articles on the topic please visit:
https://twitter.com/satishacharya/status/552834559297867778/photo/1
http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/cursor/when-you-cross-the-limits-of-freedom-of-speech/
Northwest Alliance for Media Literacy 