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In reply to the discussion: We should not kill people for speech. But I am not Charlie Hebdo. [View all]Denzil_DC
(9,101 posts)That one was on a roll! I hadn't seen the second hide.
I've had some really good discussions on other threads the last couple of days. There's no concensus on this. I am seeing quite a bit of browbeating and attempted bullying.
One argument I've seen others put forward (on this very thread, in fact) is that if I don't applaud or link to or promote the cartoons in some way, I'm doing what the murderers wanted.
I hold a contrary view: if I forced myself to buy into the tone of some of the worst cartoons I've seen (I'll leave aside their intent as those who know for sure what it was have been murdered), I'd be doing what the murderers wanted. Juan Cole framed it as the terrorists' desire to "heighten the contradictions" - to increase tensions, leading to more bloodshed, mistrust, alienation of those from a different culture. I won't let them manipulate me posthumously and abandon my values. Then they would win.