Charlie Hebdo and its biting satire, explained in 9 of its most iconic covers

[NYC_SKP]

44. "Charbonnier had famously shrugged off threats, saying: 'I'd rather die standing than live kneeling"

It's sort of a battle cry among martyrs.

Editor Stephane Charbonnier had famously shrugged off threats, saying: 'I'd rather die standing than live kneeling'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900259/Gunmen-kill-11-Charlie-Hebdo-attack.html#ixzz3OGKwIn2D
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France lost five of its most prominent political cartoonists yesterday. For decades, they had mocked the powerful, the sacred, the dictators, and all those who believed themselves above criticism. These cartoonists felt there was no better way to fight fundamentalism than through derision and laughter. The late Charb, Charlie Hebdo's editor-in-chief, was killed, evoking the words of Spanish republican icon Dolores Ibarruri, who was known to boast: "I'd rather die standing than live kneeling."

It is this very impertinence, this freedom to rebel against ideologies, structures and hierarchies through art and literature, that has been targeted. France is known for its triad "liberty, equality, brotherhood" engraved at the helm of every school, on all official buildings. This motto attributed to French theologian and writer Francois Fenelon at the end of the 17th century was popularised during the French Revolution, when popular unrest toppled religious and authoritative powers. This philosophy was central to Charlie Hebdo's editorial line and promoted by Charb, known for his firm leftist stands, and for advocating for more justice and wealth redistribution.

Yet, the likely beneficiaries of this heinous act will be the very opponents of this libertarian and humanist stance. A few hours after the events, extreme right leader Marine Le Pen immediately seized the opportunity to unleash her short-sighted Islamophobic attacks. While spontaneous gatherings and demonstrations took place across the country to show the country's grief and support for the victims, Le Pen dissuaded her supporters from participating. She later set conditions for taking part in the Republican march organised for next Sunday.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/01/defining-moment-french-right-20151812591698588.html

"Yet, the likely beneficiaries of this heinous act will be the very opponents of this libertarian and humanist stance. "

I'm not alone in questioning the efficacy of this approach to fighting fundamentalism...

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