Long Live Charlie Hebdo! Charlie Hebdo Still Works

Charlie Hebdo Mocks Europe’s Response to Migrant Crisis With Cartoons of Dead Syrian Boy, read Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Bad Taste Doesn’t Taste So Bad Section correspondent.

Two French illustrators have been denounced on social networks for publishing editorial cartoons inspired by harrowing photographs of Aylan Kurdi. The picture of little Aylan, drowned and brought to shore, had traumatized a continent but has galvanized the satirical paper to challenge its readers and others into thinking a bit more about what it means and why Europe tolerates dead children on its beaches. Meanwhile they are accused, once again, of bad taste.

So far no Muslim groups are threatening to shoot up the editorial offices for a representation of a dead little boy. That, apparently, is reserved for pictures of Mohammed. Marquel wondered whether there was any formal punishment for dead baby pictures, or for bad taste, even.

He spoke to a Muslim cleric who said Charlie Hebdo had little to worry about. “Maybe a few gunshots into the window, no massive murder raid,” he insisted.

“But what part of the Quran is that based on? And for what?” Asked Marquel.

“Interestingly it’s based on halal requirements, “said the cleric. “It’s called pig conduct. Charlie Hebdo is acting like a pig with such bad taste. So it’s really punishment for bad taste.” He said.

“Muslims are concerned with bad taste?” I asked.

“Oh yes ever since Mohammed entered heaven on the back of an ass, it’s important that you look as marvelous as you can at all times.” He said.

“But this picture is meant to shame Europeans into offering help to refugee Muslims,” I pointed out.

“But it’s still a little drowned boy. Shameful to exploit him in that way.” He said.

“But are they exploiting him or giving his life some last meaning, however tragic?” I asked.

“He does not look marvelous, does he?” Asked the cleric.

“Frankly, he looks dead.” I said. “That’s tragic and it seems to me a good image to use to shame inaction.” I said.

I went to speak to other Frenchies who thought that Charlie Hebdo had gone too far once again. An editor of a mainstream publication told me that,

“Charlie Hebdo is merely looking for publicity in the case of a poor dead boy.” He said.

“You think this is like the Mohammed cartoon?” I asked.

“Yes, in a sense. They go for the sensational.” He said.

“But isn’t it actually sensational to have this poor boy float up on a French beach as if he were driftwood?” I asked.

“We didn’t use it and certainly didn’t cartoon it. You have to lack something basically human to do that.” He said.

“You think Charlie Hebdo is inhuman?” I asked.

“Well there’s something wrong there.” He said.

“But they say they’re not exploiting the boy but giving his life meaning.” I said.

“I don’t think making a dead boy into a cartoon gives his life meaning.” He said.

“But you defended Charlie Hebdo for the Mohammed cartoon. What’s the difference?” I asked.

“Mohammed is dead.” He said.

“But so is Aylan.” I noted.

“But not as long.” He said.

“Quoi du feutre?” I said. My best French attempt at ‘what the fuck.’

“It makes a difference. This little boy should be given some peace.”

“That sounds very Christian for modern secular France.,” I said. “The boy’s dead. He has whatever peace he’s going to get. I think you just don’t want to be shamed into preventing other Aylans. And that’s what Charlie Hebdo said. They’re still my heroes. And you’re just buying time with the ‘bad taste’ argument.”

We both had another espresso. I felt very French.

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By MARQUEL: Long Live Charlie Hebdo! Charlie Hebdo Still Works