I offer my quickly rendered tribute to the satirists of Charlie Hebdo. Rather than a cleverly glib commentary, here I offer a serious statement. I proudly stand in plain view and loudly utter the phrase, "je suis Charlie (I am Charlie)!" This is what editorial cartoonists do; stand and show ourselves. On every one of our rendered opines we proudly inscribe our names for all to see. Yes, I drew this. Yes, I wrote this. I said this. Me, an individual with a voice. And, I published it, sent it to my syndicate, posted it on the Internet for all the world to see.
The cartoonists killed in the Paris attack today were not hiding unseen in the bushes. Unlike their murderers, the people killed were not nameless clandestine cowards who hide their identity under balaclavas and secret themselves away into hiding after perpetrating extreme violence on unarmed targets. They didn't use guns or bombs. No weapons were among their tools, nor were threats of violence issued. They openly drew pictures that lampooned, that provoked thought, that made a statement through satirical renderings. For that they were gunned down.I appeal to those who cherish freedom to stand united against these cowards, against those who aid them and against those who applaud them. Silence allows them to flourish, so speak out. Let your voices be heard, your pencils unsheathed, your keyboards tapped. #JeSuisCharlie #CharlieHebdo
- Steve Artley
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