Well played, Charlie … (01/14/15)
What with the Charlie Hebdo magazine’s long history of producing words & images that often obliterated the envelope of “good taste” — and with their long-standing tradition of flagrantly offending any & all, I was frankly a bit concerned about what their first post-massacre publication would contain. Would they shoot back fire for fire? Would they show their “strength” by being doubly provocative towards Islamic extremists? Would they continue down the road of ridicule and possibly inspire yet another attack?
Well, as they so often are, my fears were unfounded; and not only unfounded — they were completely off-base — for instead of retreating to retaliation, Charlie Hebdo took the highest of roads. Instead of sinking into slander, Charlie Hebdo took the only path that will ever lead to Peace …
Yes, instead of firing back at their attackers with disgust and denigration, Charlie Hebdo plastered this week’s front cover with a picture of Muhammad holding the now famous “I am Charlie” sign … and over that image wrote the words “All is forgiven”.
That’s right, the one group who had the most poignant right to be enraged — the one group who had the most reasonable cause to lash out in anger & condemnation, reached out with Compassion instead.
I don’t know if we are going to make it as a species, my Friends, and yet if we do, it will be because of actions like this one.
Well played, Charlie Hebdo … Well played.
“Love is the only force that can turn tragedy into triumph.
Love is the only power that can turn suffering into strength.” ~ anonymous
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