While some may think that the French State could have done a bit more to stop these attacks, we see that they are making honest efforts to curb the liberal attitude that makes terrorism such an effective method of attack. Many people are mobilising to do more than just condemn terrorism, but to take an active role in weeding it out and ensuring the future prosperity of humanity.
These barbarous attacks are not only personal, but are a full frontal assault on freedom in general, and freedom of speech specifically. This terror attack has been specially designed to terrorize people into self-censoring, and that we cannot allow! No person should ever have to live in fear of speaking out against evil. Especially religious and nationalistic evil.
The phrase: I am Charlie, is a reminder that while those poor people died that afternoon, as long as we live in the shadow of terror, we are dying too, a little bit, every day. Every time we have to live in fear of more terror, and more attacks, we die. We are Charlie, every man, woman, and child in the western world is Charlie, today, and sadly, perhaps forever.
How can we, as a nation, as a people, as a civilization ever recover from the loss of innocence? There is something about this attack that is perhaps more horrifying than even 9/11, though that attack on freedom was horrible enough. We thought it couldn't get any worse. We were wrong. Now we know how bad it can be. The personal nature, armed gun toting terrorists running into a quiet office where cartoonists are busily readying their next edition; these masked weapons of hate moving from room to room, cubicle to cubicle, mercilessly killing our freedom. What monsters! What horrific demons could do such a thing? What men could do it?
We should all pause to give that some thought. The irrational hatred of the radical terrorist, his unquestioning belief in his doctrine of terror, his poise and calm as he murders our heart and soul, our freedom.
These here are now the shots heard round the world, here are the anguished cries of a dying era. Gone forever is our innocence, it is drowned in blood; it is a puddle of life below the fallen guardians of law and goodness: Those brave men and women who gave their lives to try and thwart an act of terrorist tyranny. Our hearts go out to those valiant French Police, whose ultimate heroic sacrifice stirs within us an unquenchable lust for justice.
Our hearts go out to the victims, to Charlie, but let us not forget also those shoppers at the Jewish Market, let us never forget any of this. Ever.
How must we do that? By remembering that We Are Charlie.
Reader Comments
@carefix:
As I have persistently campaigned for on Sott, this is free speech.
I have no idea who J. Martin is. This piece could have been placed on any newspaper editorial page in Amerika or the EU. It is pretty stupid, gullible, naive or 'something-or-other', I agree. Not really what you would call, 'astute', more like dribble. Maybe it is sarcasm?
'Don't eat the yellow snow,' that is my advice.
But that doesn't mean people can't piss (talk, mumble, debate, shout, display their idiocy). If you stop people from pissing they explode. Then, you've got a real mess, which we, as you (carefix) maybe know, do.
J. Martin is entitled to free speech. For what reason Sott published this, I don't know. But I'm cool with it and with any comments to follow ours.
FREE SPEECH.
I gotta run.
Ramble on, everybody.
I really do gotta go.
ned
Charlie Hebdo is NOT about FREE SPEECH; it’s about inciting World War 3
[Link]
"The Right of FREE SPEECH has been warped and perverted beyond belief, especially for those who understand the notion of Dharma or Righteousness."
KRIEG IST FRIEDEN
FREIHEIT IST SKLAVEREI
UNWISSENHEIT IST STÄRKE...[Link]
I honestly don't know what to say. I am honestly surprised to see an article like this from a SOTT editor. Although I definitely agree with the contents and find them both rational and sentimental at the same time, and in line with my own Jeffersonian leaning, I must admit that when I read it, my first thought was that SOTT had been hacked, or that this was an early April Fools joke. I don't expect this article will get much positive feedback here, although I could be wrong, it has happened many times before, I commend the author, J. Martin, for intestinal fortitude. Well done!
No. You will have to elaborate. I read based upon the common understanding of what was written, not looking to find meaning in the tea leaves, so to speak.
It's time people start to think critically again. Stop letting the mainstream media tell us how to think and do. By understanding just who does what, this article is very truthful and accurate.
I have no compelling reason to suspect that the shooters are anything other than what the mainstream media says they are at this time, which are resentful Jihadists. If any evidence comes out to the contrary then I will take it into consideration and adjust my position accordingly. That's as critical as it gets. However, the whole, 'they found one of their IDs in the getaway car, how convenient, that is proof that it was a false flag' is not compelling, especially when one of the shooters, the passenger, lost his shoe after exiting the vehicle and later picked it up and tossed it in the car. If that shooter kept his ID and cash in his shoe, which some people do, then it is plausible that it fell out. And the fact of the existence of NATO's Operation Gladio, a defunct stay-behind guerrilla force in Italy in case of a Soviet invasion, does not prove anything in and of itself. All of that speculation makes as much sense as saying, 'they used AK-47s, that is proof of Russian involvement'.
As of right now, I think the shooters were trying to avenge the prophet Mohamed as they stated. Some people are just that crazy. And they are ultimately trying to achieve an Islamic Caliphate, which they already have. I know there are many that believe in this whole 'everything is a lie but we know the truth' type of thing, but that it is kind of like those that believed that the Emperor was wearing beautiful clothing that only the wise could see but the fools could not and then a little girl points out the fact that the Emperor is naked and everyone realized it. Sometimes you simply have to acknowledge what is right in front of your eyes. There are elements within the Islamic community that want an Islamic Caliphate, which already exists in Iraq and Syria, and they support the mentally unstable to commit acts of terror.
There is no mention of "Muslim Terrorists". The terrorists as we suspect are the same ones behind all the false flag acts of terror.
.....and for Obama, and Cameron, and Harper, and Ibn Saud, and all the rest of the merry band of psychopaths running our world:
>
... or ticks, or lice, or whatever vermin they happen to be hosting.
Seems the message got nuked. Does not seem possible to edit the posting. This is it:
IF YOU SLEEP WITH DOGS, YOU WILL CATCH FLEAS
I know a lot of people believe that every terrorist attack is carried out by the CIA, Mossad, MI6, or whomever, and therefore, in some way, act to shield Muslims as a whole, or at the least regard them as patsies and thus refuse to acknowledge a Muslim element out of fear of Islamophobia. But, these Jihadists are killing more Muslims than non-Muslims, not so different than what Christians did to fellow Christians during the wars resulting from the Protestant Reformation. Now, I don't know who has committed all of these Jihadists acts. Most of the alternate theories are speculative. Not saying they are untrue, just that they are not based on a firm footing for the unbeliever. But, this Islamophobia-phobia is paralyzing in and of itself and is enabling to those that hide behind it. There shouldn't be any blanket condemnation of Muslims, because not all Muslims were involved in terrorist attacks, nor do all Muslims condone them. But the knee-jerk reaction to protect those that commit these acts out of a fear of Islamophobia, seems to be a part of the problem. People are committing these acts and there is an element within the Islamic community that supports it. Now, did the CIA, Mossad, or MI6 manipulate the situation and create these Jihadists. I don't know. But, as to the ideological roots, rage and resentment behind these Jihadists, I can simply say that seeds will grow in fertile soil, whether they be deliberately sown, carried on the wind, or were planted from the droppings of birds. Regardless of how they got there they take on a life of their own. Any religion, or ideology, can be poisoned to sow the ideological seeds of rage and resentment that lead to these kinds of acts of barbarity. I would simply ask, would mainstream Christianity in the US have drifted from its Puritanical roots, including the burning of witches, without society challenging its negative elements? Would white supremacists ideology in the US have drifted to the margins of society if it was left unchallenged? In both of those cases, the repulsive acts that emanated from those ideologies, including their poisoned ideological underpinnings, had to be exposed and recognized for what they were. Then, they faded (not entirely eliminated though, but no longer mainstream).
Thanks for your wisdom & insight, Jason. I had been stuck on the "I'm not Charlie, I'm not an infantile xenophobe" anti-meme. But we are all victims of these jihadists, as you say.
Stay safe, you all.
I was immediately struck by the author's child-like acceptance of the supposed facts of the slaughter in France and 9/11. My first thought was "is this a joke?" It seems a lot like some of the drivel that Fox News or Stephen Colbert (in character) would spew in support of official US government policies or pronouncements under Bush/Cheney. Yes, people died in these events and that is a loss to all humanity, but it appears that the Anglo-American Empire is in an eye-for-an-eye contest with the rest of the world, many of whom have dark skin and/or choose the Muslim faith. The deaths of innocent women and children in Pakistan who are collateral damage from drone strikes carried out as part of the US War on Terror are also a loss to all humanity, but to Mr. Martin they are apparently of less importance.
Mr. Martin's question - "How can we, as a nation, as a people, as a civilization ever recover from the loss of innocence?" - really astounded me in its lack of historical awareness. The world has been awash in the blood of treachery and wars throughout recorded history. Since when could an honest and sane person propose that this world we live in has any innocence to be lost.
As mfranzl said: "This text is deeper than you think. Read beyond the words. It has more than one meaning. Can you see it?"
I'm seeing it and so is mfranzl...can you maybe read this piece again with an observant mind?
Maybe it is pure sarcasm, maybe we are a meant to read between the lines ... but why is that?
"No person should ever have to live in fear of speaking out against evil. Especially religious and nationalistic evil"
Is the author not saying what he really wants to say?
My problem is that the sentiment of what "je suis Charlie" should mean does not reflect the actuality ... very few of those 4 million were holding up placards to make a point to the CIA, NSA, Mossad ... most were just sheeple wrapped up in the general anti-muslim propaganda ... a spectacle that Leni Riefenstahl would have been proud to have organised
Then we have the planned 5 million copies of the "survivor" edition ... how many purchasers of that are going to be "informed" of the situation, not many I suppose
meanwhile ...
"More predictably, anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala was arrested on charges of “apologising for terrorism”. A week dominated by questions of democratic values and freedom of speech ended with the arrest of the serial provocateur for being provocative"
....isn't this more "War on Terror" propaganda?