Should Our Press Publish Those 'offensive' Cartoons?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/i-editors-letter-charlie-hebdo-and-the-battle-against-stupidity-9967446.html

/// Will the attack affect editors’ decisions about what to publish? Not at this newspaper. If anything, editors will be more determined to speak stridently, to show fearlessness in the face of bigotry. ///

Since they have decided not to print the cartoons, apparently the attack has affected editor's decisions what to publish.

[jim360]

I doubt the Independent would have published the cartoons if the attack hadn't taken place, though, so perhaps it hasn't had an effect necessarily.

The press should be free to publish those cartoons, but equally they should be free not to if they so choose, and I don't think it's necessarily fair to criticise those who decide not to publish them.

[ichkeria]

No, not as 'inyerface' acts of bravado.
They should,of course, not be deterred from publishing them as part of a news story, as the Times for example did yesterday
Better for their cartoonists to continue to do their own thing as always. Whatever that might be

[Zacs-Master]

'apparently the attack has affected editor's decisions what to publish.'
It has but I think it's more likely that they have done it as a re-evaluation their staff's welfare in light of recent events rather than a lack of backbone as i think you're intimating.

[Gromit]

The cartoons were not published recently, nor were the Danish ones. The British newspaper editors have had pletty of time to reprint them, if they thought doing so would tell a story. But they didn't. We know that insulting the prophet, or even just his depiction, is offensive to muslims, and we have nearly 3 million muslims in this country.
It could be argued that reprinting them, is standing up to fascist fanatics. But you might also offend 3 million of your countrymen in doing so.
I see little to be gained by newspapers now printing them. If anyone wants to see them, they can find them on the internet. If newspaper editors want to make a stand, they should commission their own cartoons with a British perspective. Though I doubt any will.

[jno]

anyone who feels strongly about it shouldn't wait for the press to do it; they can put the cartoons up in their own windows and see what happens.

[maggiebee]

It is offensive to many Christians in this country to portray Jesus/God in "offensive cartoons" or toys. The difference is we do not go with guns and attack the newspaper offices and shops .

[Gromit]

// It is offensive to many Christians in this country to portray Jesus... We do not go with guns and attack the newspaper offices and shops . //

And neither do muslims in this country.

[ludwig]

It's easy for anyone to say they should do this or that, who isn't in the position of putting themselves in danger. I admire the people at Charlie Hebdo, but I'm not sure I could have been as brave.

However, I'll do my cowardly bit and continue to insult Islam anonymously for the load of old nonsense that it is.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

// It is offensive to many Christians in this country to portray Jesus... We do not go with guns and attack the newspaper offices and shops . //

/// And neither do muslims in this country. ///

Nothing to say they wouldn't Gromit just as you have pointed out.

/// But you might also offend 3 million of your countrymen in doing so. ///

[youngmafbog]

You have a point jno, but I suspect the first people to be round would be Plod to accuse you of being racist, having been called by a member of the public who wishes to take offence on behalf of others.

Gromit, I am pretty sure there are a fair few Muslims (the nutter ones) in this country that would attack.

[Gromit]

Ymb,
You may well be right.
There does not seem to be a rush by newspaper editors to test your theory.

[jno]

I doubt any sane editor would want to put the lives of his staff in danger. But people who want to endanger their own lives can try it.

[jourdain2]

A German newspaper has published them all.