Slimdandy
I am not afraid
It’s easy to support the free expression of ideas we agree with. It’s a bit harder to support the free expression of ideas we disagree with. Harder still to support the expression of ideas we actively oppose. And harder yet to support the expression of ideas we find repugnant, revolting, hateful.
But if free expression is to mean anything at all, then it has to protect those voices who mock our beliefs, who sneer at customs we cherish, who insult us for who we are, and who vilify those we love. Charlie Hebdo mocked, sneered at, insulted, and vilified everybody. Everybody, regardless of religion, regardless of social standing, regardless of political persuasion, regardless of the attendant risk that comes from mocking, sneering, insulting and vilifying. It didn’t make them likable. But it made them important.
L’amour plus fort que la haine.
Je ne ai pas peur.
Je suis Charlie.
Editorial note: This photograph is a composite of two other images:
www.flickr.com/photos/valentinacala/16039552937
www.flickr.com/photos/chainsawpanda/296850879
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, greg fallis and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
