Je suis Charlie.

I'm sure you heard the news at the beginning of this month (January 2015) when there was an attack on the French satirical newspaper called Charlie Hebdo.  Gunmen entered the newspaper's headquarters and killed a group of journalists along with bodyguards and innocent bystanders.  It was a gruesome attack and a shock to the French and the world.  Their shock quickly turned into resistance against fear, and by the following day, there were peaceful marches across the country by students, businessmen, and everyone in between. This was a similar response that I saw in Norway in 2011, where a violent attack brought together a group to preserve a culture or in this case, freedom of speech.

This attack set into motion the phrase "Je suis Charlie," or "I am Charlie" to represent unity among the French against such violent attacks, and to reinforce the freedoms and rights of the French people.

Now to understand, Charlie Hebdo is known for satirical cartoons which are often offensive to certain religions or groups.  Understandably, what they publish is not accepted by all people.  Yet to rebel in such a way, with death and fear, is not the way to express one's feelings.  At the elementary schools where I work, I saw this cartoon which was meant to explain the attacks to the students.

"These are my drawings for the journal. What do you think? -- If we draw a sun, that will make people mad at us that like clouds and rain! -- You think so? -- Of course. -- And the flowers! You see there's a meaning for flowers: some evoke love, others sadness.  Too risky, that isn't possible either. And black cats, that brings bad luck! -- Great, a newspaper where we no longer have the right to draw suns, flowers, or cats.  And little birds, can I?"

 

Even though this movement has brought unification of the French to support freedom of speech and other rights, it calls into question, yet again, the fear of the "other."  In this case, the other is Muslim, which seems to be a theme from 9/11 to 2011 Norway to France today, and despite a call to unify against fear and terrorist attacks, the fear continues to grow.  It is sad to see that there continues to be misguided "reprisal" attacks, as Max Fisher calls it in his article at http://www.vox.com/2015/1/10/7524731/french-muslims-attacks-charlie-hebdo.  Personally, I have witnessed an increase in police and military force around the city, and in particular near to places of worship, to deter further attacks.  Now the question, why is their such fear for individuals who have done no wrong? 

It needs to be understood that even though an individual may look like another, they are not the same.  These terrorists who killed cartoonists are not the same as the son of immigrant parents who ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This son is not the threat that you're scared of.  He will not "ruin" your culture, nor will he take away your rights.  Besides, he's probably just as mad about the attacks as you are.  Please take a moment to think about your community and everyone in it; we're all different and unique, and that's ok!  We're just trying to make this world a better place; don't mess it up.