Last week, 12 people lost their lives in the tragic attack on the offices of the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
In the seven days since the attack, numerous worldwide dialogues have started. Many have shown support for the magazine, starting the trend of #JeSuisCharlie. Comedians, as always, are coming out in defense of the First Amendment. Some have even pointed out the racist and xenophobic nature of some of Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon depictions of religious figures, including the prophet Muhammad.
Tensions are rising within these dialogues, making it nearly impossibly to pick a side and stick to it. If you support the magazine, you’re supporting offensive caricatures of Muslims and black people. When you question the magazine’s problematic nature, someone nearby is suddenly yelling at you about how you’re an anti-free speech terrorist.
To attempt to understand these tensions, I talked with Lucas Roberts, founder of LSU’s own satirical TV show, “The Funyon.”
Regarding his opinion about the relationship between free speech and offensive materials, Roberts said, “By adhering to satire, you’re running a risk of offending someone. So I think they knew what they were doing, and I find that passionate and brave.”
This attack, more so than other attacks in the past, is forcing the Western world to re-evaluate its feelings for the First Amendment. Even though Roberts admits that Charlie Hebdo’s material could be considered offensive, he’s a proponent of the right to free speech, saying “The main thing everyone could find agreement in this situation is the incredible importance of freedom of speech.”
SidneyRose Reynen is a 19-year-old film and media arts sophomore from New Orleans. You can reach her on Twitter @SidneyRose_TDR.