Charlie Hedbo: The Right Decision
By Gary R'nel
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The terror attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo is, in essence, an assault on global free speech and is having a chilling effect on editorial content in the United States.
The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, the Associated Press and other major networks and publications are yielding to political correctness at the expense of unfettered and uncensored journalism. It is precisely this type of journalistic integrity that is a necessary component to a free and democratic society.
News directors and editors in America are confronted with a herculean choice, free speech versus the safety and security of their staff. This is no simple task. Charlie Hebdo suffered the loss of ten staff members. The surviving staff has vowed not to let the deadly attack restrict free speech. Charlie Hebdo will publish a new issue next week. It is increasing its production to one million copies from the normal 50-thousand per week. This decision is courageous and filled with integrity.
Multiple radio, newspaper, and television companies met at the French Culture Ministry to discuss helping to publish Charlie Hebdo, according to the Agence-France Presse. Mitigating factors did not play a huge role in this decision making process. Security will be enhanced and the location of the editorial offices moved to a more secure location.
Charlie Hebdo staff members will mourn the loss of their colleagues forever. All of us in civilized societies that respect human rights will mourn this colossal loss. The twelve people who lost their lives should not die in vain. They would rejoice in the fact that the weekly will publish next week in its largest distribution to date. Democratic governments in the global community should rejoice as well. If we yield to the terrorists, we yield to tyranny. Representative government in a pluralistic society is not possible with a press constrained by fear.