From the vigil at the Cannes Festival Palace to the memorial outside the French embassy in Moscow, citizens of the global community are making a clear statement: we will not be silenced. Outside the offices of Charlie Hebdo, roses have been scattered and candles have been lit. But what is most striking is the abundance of pens, pencils and markers that litter the pavement. Not only are people standing with Charlie, but they are willing to speak and write with Charlie in order to express their opinions and their beliefs.
In the wake of the tragic events at the Charlie Hebdo offices, some news organizations including CNN and the New York Times have shied away from republishing the cartoons and covers that ignited the tensions from Islamist groups. Strong Charlie Hebdo supporters are appalled at their reluctance to show the images.
“This cartoon is not just a little figure. It's a symbol. It's the symbol of freedom of speech, of freedom of religion, of democracy and secularism,"
Gerard Biard, editor-in-chief of Charlie Hebdo, has stated in an interview. "When they refuse to publish this cartoon, when they blur it out, when they decline to publish it, they blur out democracy." In such a tense and controversial situation as this, it becomes very hard for major news sources to decide whether to appeal to the supporters or critics of a powerful movement such as Je Suis Charlie.
For now, the world seems to be siding with free speech, stressing the power of pens over guns and words over bombs. It is a reassuring moment for journalists across the world. But the fear is that this movement for the protection of freedom of speech is nothing more than a moment. What happens when anti-speech violence strikes again? What happens when the words that need to be protected are deemed too offensive or provocative? Will the world favor censorship over critique and silence over action? Will this movement be able to keep the media’s attention long enough to make real change? The real question is: will the world still be Charlie?
by Shaye Lynn DiPasquale