Like many of us, I was anxious to see the first cover design by the surviving artists at Charlie Hebdo. Here it is…
“All is Forgiven” is the main message! And a sobbing Muslim holds a sign saying “I am Charlie”.
First of all, the cowardly slaughter of journalists and artists for expressing their point of view is NOT FORGIVEABLE. To offer forgiveness to the these monsters is an insult to the victims of this slaughter and to each person who values freedom of expression. For this was, first and foremost an attack on our freedom of expression; the artists and writers were the sacrificial lambs.
Incidentally, I don’t understand the artwork: Is the unidentified Muslim man Muhammad? Or is he a terrorist? Or perhaps an everyday Muslim? It’s anybody’s guess.
All I do know, is that if this offering of forgiveness is the sentiment of the staff at Charlie Hebdo, they are colleagues with whom I would not want to work.
So, I just had to create another cover design that would point out the bad guys—the terrorists—and offer NO forgiveness. Since free speech is what offends these lunatics, free speech had to be the weapon we’d use in retaliation.
So here’s my humble attempt. I did two versions, English and French:
I’d love to hear from you out there in internet land!
-A. Stout
On this cover this is Muhamed prophet, which is crying because terrorists kill people in his name.
The message is that the prophet doesnt agree with these terrible acts.
Explained by Charb on a french television
Hi Orel,
Yes, I have since learned that the intend of the artist at Charlie Hebdo was to depict the Muslim prophet, Mohammed, on the cover, portraying him as being saddened by the attack on the staff at this magazine. Well I have two points: Firstly, it isn’t clear (to me) who this anonymous person is supposed to be (especially since no drawing of him is allowed). Secondly, it is outrageous that Mohammed—of all people—should be characterized as SYMPATHETIC to such an attack. This historical figure was a blood thirsty conquerer who enjoyed personally beheading enemy soldiers who were captured. Mohammed even commanded his own army to slaughter his own people, contrary to the sentiments of his soldiers. The Hadith reports this and many other such atrocities for which he was responsible. So, for this merciless tyrant to be portrayed as a sobbing soul, forgiving a (relatively insignificant) attack on infidels—whom he denounces—is more than grossly absurd, it is an insult to those who were murdered.
Orel – thanks for your comment. You are right, that is what they (Charlie Hebdo) were going for with the cover. But would Muhammad cry over such attacks? I’m not so sure. The Quran and Hadiths are contradictory AT BEST over what should be done with blasphemers and “disbelievers”.
For example, this verse:
Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment. Truly, if the Hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the City, desist not, We shall certainly stir thee up against them: Then will they not be able to stay in it as thy neighbours for any length of time: They shall have a curse on them: whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy).
— Quran 33:57–61
So, we were perplexed that this Charlie Hebdo cover seemed so certain of how Muhammad would feel, buying into the “Islam is a religion of peace” narrative. After they had been the victims of such a brutal attack.
Regardless of which side you want to argue or which verse you want to quote as you try to understand these ancient texts, the real problem is that these books are revered at all, and that 1400 years later people are looking to them for guidance on how to live TODAY.
For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_blasphemy
– Mark