Le glas sonne dans toutes les églises de France en hommage aux trois victimes de l'attentat dans la basilique de Nice. (-Midi Libre) The death knell is ringing in all the churches of France in homage to the three victims of the attack in the basilica of Nice. (pictured: Catholic church in St. Cyr-sur-Mer)
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Many of you woke to the news of France's latest, most horrific terrorist attack (the fourth in under 6 weeks). Two women and one man were knifed to death this morning in Nice, only a half-mile from the 2016 truck attack in the same Mediterranean city.
The French government immediately put the country under a plan vigipirate (anti-terrorist security alert), at its highest degree. This comes on the eve of the nation's second lockdown.
Adding to the shock are the details behind the murders (certain info will be left out): it took place in a church. One of the victims, an elderly woman, was praying when she was killed. The second woman, who fled, wounded, to a nearby business, died after asking medics for a favor:
Dites à mes enfants que je les aime. Tell my children I love them.
The tears France is shedding and the pain the world is feeling is echoed in le glas: the death knell began ringing at 3 pm this afternoon. Here, on the eve of le confinement, as we process the news, one can't help but ask, How could this tragedy have been avoided?
One answer might be: By keeping quiet! After all, if the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo hadn't drawn…and if the teacher, Samuel Paty, hadn't lectured, had President Macron not spoken out–in the name of freedom of expression–no one would have been offended and thus enraged.
But we all know that isn't the answer, and that the answer isn't as simple as that.
While I am the last person to know the answer, I have a few questions. Is freedom of speech sans exception? Or, is it like the French grammar rule that states: there is an exception to every rule. If so, what is the exception? There must be an exception.
To the victims in Nice: Restez en paix.
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C’est tellement triste!! Je suis desole’!! Nous avons besoin de PAIX pour tout
le monde.
Merci pour vos mots!
Robert
I agree that there must be an exception, or exceptions, to freedom of speech. We do have rules for instance against hate speech, although defining what is hate speech can be problematic.
I wonder how Christians would feel if the cartoon featured Christ, or perhaps Mary. Would Christians be so nonchalant?
Very sad day. So much evil in the world yet so much goodness as well. Have to believe that the goodness will win out over the evil. Stay safe and healthy.
Bonjour:
Ça va?
La liberté d’expression ne doit jamais finir par meurtre!
Je suis Charlie!
Liberté, égalité, fraternité!
Merci
Our dear Kristi,
Such horror,such sadness,we can only ask God to carry this for us and fill us with His absolute courage,strength,and peace.
Prayers for these victims and prayers for their families.
Love
Natalia xo
I know that it is a difficult time in France — two separate killings and the lockdown. In America we have just had another unnecessary killing of a black man (the police showed up when the family had asked for an ambulance for a mental health emergency) as well as growing deaths and no sign of action from our government. Some days it feels like too much.
As to your question about exceptions, I would say exceptions already exist if France has libel laws, etc. I think the exceptions also have to arise from both a more humane and moral perspective. While I realize satire is part of the culture (political satire is huge in America, too) at some point someone has to step back and say, “No, there are many citizens for whom this is a serious issue. I should step back and take their feelings seriously and not tell them ‘get over it; it’s just a joke’. What can I do to engage with them better?”
I understand on one level why laïcité is important in France. But I think the current obsession with it makes it impossible to celebrate and respect the cultures of all the immigrants. Teaching them “how to be French” is telling them to forget everything they were before they or their ancestors arrived. In the U.S., most of us revel in the variety of cultures — Greek festivals, North African food celebrations, Hispanic and Irish parades. I never see such things in France. Don’t say “I love couscous and kebabs” but reject everything else in a culture.
I know many in France would reject what I say because I’m not French, but I know what I see. There is no embracing of the different cultures. And little political power. And I can’t believe there is only one way to be French. So I say free expression may technically be allowed, but one has to also take into consideration its consequences, whether the subject is religion, fat-shaming, racism, or other elements of unkindness or hate. Words have consequences. And when those consequences show up, you can’t blame it all on the target of those words and shrug your shoulders, saying “Can’t you take a joke?”
I doubt Christians (I am one) would go around beheading people no matter what the cartoon depicted. That’s the difference…
There is no excuse for murder or fanaticism.
Bien dit! Je suis vraiment desolee pour la France.
Christian art has long included images of all the sacred figures. Italian churches have magnificent murals of the creation, which includes Michelangelo’s image of God, and the biblical Adam as well. Many other paintings of Jesus mark stations of the cross, the last supper, and other major events of his time on earth. There are statues too.
Islamic art does not feature images of people so much as geometric designs and Arabic script. As I cannot read Arabic script, it looks like a design to me, part of the decor.
Why they do not draw images of the founder of their religion is not something I was taught long ago in school. It is something learned in my adulthood, and seems to be something used now to strike a difference from Christianity, or simply as an identifying mark of their ways.
Some of the Protestant Christian sects removed all imagery from their churches, if they let the church stand, as a feature of their difference from Roman Catholicism, at the time of that break. So my statement about the images likely does not apply to every group calling themselves Christian.
France embodies the art in their churches and as well has a sharp line between church and state.
This is the delicate territory, the way of France since her revolution at the end of the 18th century, and people of Islamic faith who now want to live in France.
I do hope there is a way for people in Islam to understand France, a nation of tolerance, a nation that once endured a too-powerful and material church, and has made separate spaces for religion and the rest of life. These slaughters are horrifying, the actions of hundreds of years ago not fit for the present. We have better ways to resolve differences, better than taking offense and enlarging it.
Amen to that, Edward – a huge difference, indeed! – Janet
Who says Christians are nonchalant about cruelty and murder?
We should all have the right to free speech. But it’s not absolute. The classic example, in the USA, is not shouting “fire!” in a crowded theater.
There is another side to it. Just because we CAN say something doesn’t always mean we SHOULD. As much as possible, we should avoid demeaning what we are criticizing (there is a difference). On can ojbect, for example, to certain aspects of Islam without being disrespectful of all its features, and especially those who sincerely practice it. The same goes for any other religion.
All of the above said, terrorism has to be stopped.
Well said…
thought provoking perspective…….bravo
So true!
A Christian wouldn’t react with violence.
I am so moved by your account of today. Thanks for keeping us apprised of your thinking. You have shown the challenge of living in a free society. I am happy that you allow us to support your website and that you resist simple answers, Kristi!
I am an American-Muslim living in NYC, and Paris is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world. To hear that this kind of atrocity was committed breaks my heart.
As a Muslim I do not condone this kind violence. I respect freedom of speech and expression however sometimes we need to stop and think about the repercussions of what we say, do and create. With that said, I am bothered by the illustrations of Charlie Hebdo but that doesn’t mean I should go out and harm someone. As for the the teacher, he could’ve exercised a little more tact and used this opportunity to teach his students a little bit more about Islam.
Yes, my religion has its fair share of extremists and fanatics but we’re not all that bad. Mahershala Ali, Muhammad Ali (RIP), Malala Yousafzai just to name a few…
We’re dealing with our level of extremism here in the U.S. (as I’m sure you are all aware of) and with this upcoming election it feels like we’re all sitting on a powder keg – and we all know who’s holding the match. I’m worried about what the possibilities of our election will mean specifically for person of color. More specifically – American Muslims.
I’ve experienced nothing but beauty, love and friendship all the times I’ve visited Paris (and even the areas outside of the city). This blog is a reminder of those feelings and I thank the author for that with every email and post.
The people murdered today were not shouting fire in a crowded theatre, or even drawing cartoons. No part of the blame can be shifted from the perpetrators of these horrific killings to society for allowing free speech. As Edward said above, if the situation was reversed and it was Christianity that was being made fun of, people would not be losing their lives. The problem is medieval behaviour that has no place in a 21st century society.
Acually, it has happened in the U.S. And although it was disgusting and disrespectful, no murders or riots resulted. It was accepted as freedom of speech. However, there is a line past which Americans are not allowed to go. We cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theater, or anything else of that ilk.
We see cartoons poking fun at God, Christ, the disciples, St. Peter, and biblical figures often. Some cartoons are in good taste, some are not, but we are all free to disagree or disapprove. Harming others is unthinkable, to everyone of sound mind, regardless of one’s faith or credo.
Edward is 100% correct!
On one point, there are no exceptions: we do not behead those with whom we disagree.
Why bother asking? Christians have done plenty of killing in the name of Christ (lest we forget the Crusades, never mind all those heretics burned at the stake for one thing or another over the course of history) but they seem to have calmed down lately. Thank G-d.
This was the first headline I read this morning and the only thing I could think of on a dreary, rainy day in Upstate NY was, “il pleure dans mon coeur comme il pleut sur la ville”. I’m devastated by this and my heart goes out to all who mourn.
Dear John,
We must not put the cart before the horse. The first question is not “Is freedom of speech sans exception?” Rather it is “Is cold-blooded murder always wrong, without exception?”
Bud Frawley
This is not an act representing the Muslim religion. It is an act of deranged, fanatic people who, unfortunately, exist in every culture and every religion. Let’s not answer horrific acts of violence with more prejudice, encouraging even more fanaticism.
Unfortunately, there are extremists everywhere,in every religion, and mentally disturbed people who are also responsible for heinous crimes in the name of their God. There is no God in any religion that condones violence.
I’m so sorry for France, but also for all the violence happening around the world now. A very difficult time, aggravated by the pandemic.
All our children need to be taught that education and peace are the future, not ignorance and violence.
Hi Kristi,
Praying for those who lost their lives in France and those who have suffered all over the world.
We have had statues of the Blessed Mother beheaded and desecrated here in the US and one Catholic church in Ocala Florida was set on fire while parishioners were setting up for Mass. Other Catholic churches in Los Angeles and other areas have been vandalized or set on fire. Statues of Jesus have been beheaded. This kind of behavior has no place in civilized society. There is more good in the world but it just seems like we have an abundance of hate and a turning away from God.
People forget that with freedom comes responsibility.. Words, actions, and non-action all have consequences. It behooves us all to think from the end, as the wise Wayne Dyer would say.
If there is a hornets nest, why stir it up?
I am so sorry for the victims! I just heard about these attacks. In America all coverage is about our election. Kristin, you know that in the U.S., we can say anything except “call fire in a crowded theater,” unless there is a fire. The phrase, of course, is a metaphor for causing harm without reason. I would not censor artists. I don’t blame the gentlemen you mentioned. I blame those who committed these atrocities.
I often disagree and get upset by plenty of stuff, but I never feel moved to head out and stab someone. Mental health is the bigger issue here. Even if all speech, cartoons, etc. were reigned in, folks with untreated mental health issues, including feelings of isolation, desperation, being shamed,….so many things, might still find reason enough to join cults, gangs, terrorist groups…or act individually in horribly violent ways. I’m always hopeful that we humans will put greater emphasis on treating each other better, making sure children and teens get love and care they need, and putting more resources toward mental health. Meanwhile, sympathy and condolences to France.
John, we Christians are constantly mocked. We don’t retaliate through violence. In fact, we don’t retaliate. Christ said we would be persecuted because of Him.
I firmly believe in freedom of speech. That being said, humans should be mature enough and responsible enough when not to say something.
A person who writes once posted that he follows this rule: Is it true? Is it kind? Does it need to be said?
If everyone followed those three statements the world would be a better place.
Kristi,
My heart breaks for the people of France. This is so heartbreaking, tragic, and cruel beyond belief. I am so sorry this has happened, it is like an evil has been unleashed all over the world.
Keeping all of you in our prayers.
Hedy
Thank you for expressing the anguish and disorientation we are feeling in France today, Kristi. You raise good questions. The depth of evil in the world seems beyond comprehension at times like this. However I do find comfort in the realization that there is one rule to which there is no exception and that is that love will win over hate in the end. Hate causes great harm and it may even rule for a time but it ultimately destroys the haters. Only love is redemptive and restorative. Governments have the right and the obligation to protect their citizens and as an American living in France, I am grateful for the protection the French government provides and the actions it is taking but if I start to hate my enemies, they have won and turned me into them. Praying for all those affected by the recent violence and praying for France.
I weep for the people of France. Such hatred and horrible violence is shocking and heartbreaking. I pray for France and send you my love and my hope for healing and peace, in France and everywhere.
Well said.
I don’t think that you can claim that for all Christians, just as all Muslims would not behead someone.
My heart too breaks for France. I am born in America but my parents came from France and Bretagne in 1949. We as children were encouraged to accept others and not be prejudice. That everyone had a right to their beliefs. I am also a Christian and know God is not a hateful God. My family all lives in France. As well as in Nice. I live in the US. Our world has gone down the tube quickly.
Prayers for those who are suffering from this persecution. Prayers for the victims and families.
I saw the cartoon on the cover of the magazine that caused so much consternation and terrorist activity. I am a Christian and do not harbor any ill will toward Muslims, but I’m certainly not a fan of Erdogan. While I certainly believe in democracy and freedom of the press, I don’t know what they were thinking when they put that particular cartoon on the cover. Surely they would have known it would have upset millions of people, and to tell you the truth, let’s face it, it wasn’t in good taste.
There have been a lot of hateful portrayals of Christ and Mary. Think of the art exhibit years ago in New a York of a crucifix in urine. As repugnant and disgusting as it was….there were no murders in Jesus’ name. There is no rational or excuses for any of this
I am not one who encourages quick, angry responses. That said, France needs to crack down relentlessly on those who enter with less than a pristine record of behavior. Our own careless, casual admissions process for noncitizens led to the 9/11 tragedy. However, the sheer number of incidents of terrorism in France demands a much more cautious, firmer approach than it has been taking, apparently. A “one and out” enforcement against noncitizen trouble makers protects everyone. For those who have become citizens, France needs to realize that patience with anyone who exhibits both a violent, anti-France attitude and its accompanying behavior is a risk to every peaceful resident on the nation. We have visited France many times in our lives and have a soft spot in our hearts for the French people. Enough is enough.
Amen, Brother!
Kristi, so sad to hear of this. And it’s happening everywhere. We’re all asking these questions and no one has answers at the moment. I guess it’s time for positive, intelligent and thoughtful answers. ♥️♥️♥️
That’s a ridiculous statement. When Christians in the West are offended by anti-Christian writing or images, they don’t go out and stab innocent people in schools or churches.
It’s a sad day in France. You have elicited very thoughtful responses to your post and I appreciate others’ words. I wish you and your family well. And I look forward to returning to celebrate the Nice we all know and love.
Chris
Brings tears to my eyes. How sad and what a waste. Merci for your column.
Fear extremists of any religion who believe murder is justified by their faith All faiths have the blood of innocents on their hands, but equally the vast majority of the faithful are abhorred by these attacks. France faces a difficult fact — two of the country’s greatest strengths (very broad free speech and a multicultural population) sometimes come into conflict.
There is no simple solution; if there was it’d already be in place. A little common sense and moderation all round would go a long way – extremists could chill a bit, and Charlie Hebdo could resist the temptation to publish things likely to incite murder.
Kristi,
Thank you for your courageous and questioning post today. As a woman of faith and kindness who is living in the region of this latest attack, you have most likely been shaken by these events. There are no easy answers to your question about the balancing of liberty of expression in France- many of us from elsewhere do not appreciate either the importance of laïcité as enshrined in French law. I suspect that the recent travel history of this terrorist into France will provide the answers to this attack but not to your broader questions. By all accounts so far, he has only been in France for a matter of weeks.