"Yes, It Is Muhamad"
The cartoonist Luz illustrated the first post-attack cover of Charlie Hebdo. (AFP photo)
An unprecedented print run of three million copies was carried off by Charlie Hebdo. In mourning at the loss of eight of their journalists and cartoonists, the remaining staff of the satirical irreverent magazine carried on through the most adversarial of horrible adversities. And they produced the latest of their issues with a spectacular cover.
A weeping Muhammad with a sign reading "I am Charlie". The words "All is forgiven" hovering above him, in place of a halo. One of the magazine's journalists, Zineb El Rhazoui, commented that the cover represents the forgiving nature of the journalists. The slaughter that was produced by the two men dedicated to the vicious realization of Islamist revenge on those that dare to mock the Prophet is generously forgiven.
Breathtaking in its brilliant innocence and naivette. It is a stab at the conscience of the Islamists. Or it would be if they had anything remotely akin to a conscience between them all. Puncturing the victory of Islamist jihadists with forgiveness? Rather a hollow gesture, if it fails to impress those to whom it is directed, isn't it?
As for forgiveness, perhaps it would be better left to those whose lives were taken so prematurely and so violently, to consider whether or not they feel it is given to them to forgive. Those who retain their lives and live with the memory of the horror of the bloody assault have no right to speak for those who may no longer speak for themselves.
The cartoonist who drew the cover image, Renald Luzier, explains that the image is representative of "just a little guy who's crying". Muhammad. Raising the implacable ire of Islamic countries from Tunisia to Iran, furious that anyone anywhere in the world would dare to mock their sensibilities over the representation of Prophet Muhammad.
Forbidden to the faithful, it is no less forbidden to those without faith.
If, on the other hand, it was a deliberate ploy to once again anger the militant Islamists frothing at the mouth with the rage of unappeased revenge, to taunt them and tempt them to launch yet another attack on an already battered and bereaved magazine, then it exemplifies a tactic that has missed its mark.
To imply that Muhammad grieves that his followers have emulated his own actions and dictates is beyond absurd.
Perhaps the atrocity that roused the international community of the West and the faux sympathy of the Middle East has addled too many brains, and if so, it's a piteous shame.
People waited for kiosks to open to buy the magazine
Labels: Atrocities, France, Islamists
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, January 15, 2015
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