Charlie Hebdo

Here's an explanation why Islam forbids any visual depiction of the Prophet. The French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, had previously published not just cartoons depicting the Prophet visually, but often in a derogatory manner, including the controversial ones in 2006 of the Prophet's head attached to a dog, and the one with his turban in the form of a bomb.

For their controversial work that sparked off the Charlie Hebdo episode earlier this year, see Article 2 below....

ARTICLE 1:













ARTICLE 2:












 
 
 
 









ARTICLE 3:


Here are some of the cartoons that were generated in retaliation to the massacre at Charlie Hebdo earlier this year.....Read Article 4 below for the details.

Qns:
  The pen is mightier than the sword. Can written language really be so powerful? (Cam 2007)
[NOTE: you CANNOT use Charlie Hebdo or the cartoon examples here for this qn, as the pen here refers to written language, not drawn cartoons! Close reading of the qn is required!!!)


 

ARTICLE 4:
 
Cartoonists raise nibs in salute to Charlie Hebdo, press freedom

=Note that the coverage of the Charlie Hebdo episode appears to be largely one-sided, with sympathy more towards the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists than the Muslim killers. While what the Muslim killers did cannot be condone, many appeared to have forgotten that it's the cartoonist who responsible for the provocation first.  This is mentioned briefly towards the end of this article.
If such a scenario were to happen in Singapore,...actually it won't happen, as the govt here would not allow the publication of such cartoons that poke fun at other religions in the first place....
Incidentally, if u think about it, the cartoonists were doing something bad under the name of freedom of speech. Is this not like what the terrorists are doing in the name of Islam? When people do terrible things, they like to invoke some lofty ideals to justify and excuse their actions. In doing these bad things, they want to come across as some crusaders or heroes -- protectors of free speech, protector or Islam!!!!

=Even the Pope himself was widely quoted as saying that if someone insults his mother, he can jolly well expect a punch from him! Useful quote in the light of this issue on how there has to be limits to freedom of speech, It should not be use as a rallying call or licence to commit acts that are detriment to others.

=Another issue brought up in this article is how cartoons as a form of satire, can be a powerful weapon against influential people who misuse their power. Note cartoons can be a form of the Arts.

=Another interesting parallel: mentioned in the article below is that comment that the Muslim killers who carried out the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists  'can't defeat ideas through these means, and they won't succeed.' Now isn't this an uncanny resemblance to the view that we can kill terrorists with weapons, but the same weapons cannot 'kill' terrorism. Terrorism is an idea or ideology, much like freedom of speech or people's idea about Islam (albeit a misguided one). Weapons are powerless against ideas. As long as the idea continues to live (and take root) in people's mind, it will germinate and surface one fine day....

=Mentioned elsewhere is also the observation about the profile of the Muslim killers. They do not hold permanent jobs and are those that drift about.....Where people, esp youth, cannot find employment, it is easy for them to blame the nation and have little sense of belonging. It is people who fit this kind of profile that are often lured into terrorist acts, be it the lone wolf type or those that join terrorist network. So one of the ways to curb terrorism is perhaps for govts to grow the economy, create jobs....which will keep the dreams of these disenfranchised youth alive, so that they will find meaning and purpose in life without having to look for it in anti-social, destructive ideologies.

=If the youths happened to be from a minority group, then the failure at building an inclusive society
will also gear them towards other directions where they may feel accepted and get a sense of fulfilment, even if it involves violence.



Qn:
1) 'For the majority of people, the Arts are irrelevant to their daily lives.' How true is this of your society? (Cam 2014)
2) How far, in your society, should unpopular views be open to discussion? (Cam 2013)
3) Do you agree with the view that comics and cartoons are strictly for children? (HCI Prelim 2014)