“I’d rather die standing than live standing on my knees.”
Jan. 7 became a day that will now live on in infamy. Early that morning, two Muslim men entered the Charlie Hebdo building to seek revenge for the controversial illustrations of Muhammad they created. Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly magazine, that ranges from non-conformist reports to extraneous cartoons. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles, a shotgun, and an M80 Zolja anti-tank weapon, the men cowardly took 12 lives and injured 11 others.
That’s 12 lives taken due to the ignorance of others. That’s 12 lives that won’t get to accomplish the things they thought they had time for, just for simply doing their job. That’s 12 families that must be completely obliterated right now. The lack of value for human life becomes sickeningly apparent when such warped people as the two gunmen feel disrespected.
In the past, Charlie Hebdo has been known for their attention attracting content and their ability to push limits. A depiction of Muhammad may have been insulting to a large number of their, 50% Islamic, French population, but the magazine has the right to freedom of speech and were willing to exercise this right. But even more than that, Charlie Hebdo is a newspaper and these journalists and cartoonists were just doing what they were hired to do in the first place.
This act of terrorism stands as an attempt to intimidate the idea of a free-thinking mind and that in itself is something of a crime. On Jan. 7, individualism world-wide was threatened. When it comes down to it, as people, we have the right to criticize, to judge, to completely slander anything we wish. The beauty of this, whether you may agree with an idea or not, is that that we have the ability to express what we want, without the fear of judicial or deathly consequence. No matter how offensive a piece of writing or artwork may be, the tolerable response will never be violence.
Later in the week, a Charlie Hebdo march across Paris was held. This march was purely in efforts of support. Leaders from all over the world came to show France their complete backing of the cause. French President, Francois Hollande, was front and center of the march, accompanied by leaders of the U.K., Germany, Israel, Palestine, and an abundance of others. Many carried signs alongside them that said “Je Suis Charlie” (I am Charlie). These kinds of events are much more than they appear at first. They are symbols and true catalysts of freedom. People joined from all across the country for not protest finally, but to honor the ones fallen and to support France in what they desire to stand for. Freedom. If some weren’t originally fans or supporters of the Charlie Hebdo style of journalism, it was necessary for all that believe in freedom of speech, and just plain freedom, to march.
In midst of such a positive symbol was a message, or a lack there of, coming from the U.S. leadership. In time of moral chaos in France, President Barack Obama was seemingly the only one to be absent from the Charlie Hebdo march. Obama’s absence struck a hole in the act of valor by making the U.S. appear unengaged. If Obama’s presence was too much to ask for, then Vice President Joe Biden should have been on a flight as fast as he could, demanding freedom of speech while supporting the French through their tragic endeavors. There is absolutely no excuse that I can even imagine for the U.S. not finding anyone from their leadership to travel. Even former President, Bill Clinton, would have been an exceptional choice do to his history of public service and his willingness to help whomever needs it.
To live in such a diverse and growing world as we do, it is a necessity that we must learn to not only tolerate independent ideas, but to value them.