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200 rally in Tokyo to honor Paris victims

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Was this to decry the attacks or honor the victims? Its a huge difference there. I do the former, but not the latter. I have seen what Charlie Hebdo turns out.

-11 ( +5 / -14 )

'They then held up pieces of paper that read “Je suis Charlie” in French or the Japanese translation.'

@Netminder I think the above sentence makes it clear what the marchers had in mind. The marchers in other cities around the world seemed to be sending out a similar message. I have also seen what Charlie Hebdo turns out including ridicule of other religions and political figures including the President and the bigot Le Pen. Can I ask which groups or figures you think should be exempt from satire? Is it all of them, just the religious or just Islam?

3 ( +8 / -4 )

"Je suis Kosher Super Market"

It was not just Charlie that was targeted.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

and to support freedom of expression.

A pity there aren't many people supporting freedom of expression in Japan. The irony.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Can I ask which groups or figures you think should be exempt from satire?

I think we should be a little more careful about what we are classifying as satire. I think satire has more of a point than to simply offend and bask in the rage. It might be difficult to accomplish legally, but I think Charlie Hebdo and others should be held accountable if it can be proven their intent was simply incitement, and I am sure we can find that even beyond some of their Mohammad cartoons. (notice I said some, not all). Incitement of any group should come with legal repercussions.

Beyond official charges however, many people's freedom of expression has been shut down completely by society for what I view as either lesser sins or in fact, fair commentary. Its kind of sad that Charlie Hebdo was not shut down long ago simply because they could not sell enough print.

You know, I have seen precious few people in my life who were not in favor of shutting somebody up. So I see a lot of hypocrisy here. There are certain cartoons that if Charlie Hebdo had printed, or if people were more aware of, would make the support for Charlie Hebdo crumble fast. Perhaps some of the work of Mike Diana who was jailed for obscenity in America? Or perhaps some graphic child porn toons that are now illegal in Australia and can even be used against you in court in America? Or something that would seem to advocate assassinating Obama?

Really, there is plenty that would be shut down real quick by these so called freedom loving societies if it offended them enough, even if the sickness called Grand Theft Auto does still go on unimpeded. Censorship is more common than you think and if I cited too many examples, trust me, this post would vanish.

-3 ( +4 / -8 )

JapanGal:

" It was not just Charlie that was targeted. "

No, it wasn`t. Jews are leaving France at a staggering rate (amounting to 4% of their population last year) to escape the islamist violence against them in France. But no marches for them. Europe should be ashamed.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

@CGBspender I really don't get your point. There is a world of difference between a tragic accident and religious lunatics massacring people for drawing cartoons. What would an Air Asia rally have as it's point? Stop tragic accidents? A 'rubbish magazine' wasn't simply 'attacked', it's staff were mown down with gunfire by primitive religious murderers, not tragically killed in a plane crash. You do seem suspiciously indifferent to democratic countries having their freedom pressurized by religious lunatics. Not a great fan of freedom of speech, eh?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A city of nearly 30 million including surrounding areas and they can only get a measly 200 people, p!ss Poor.

Wellington NZ a city of not even half a million had more than that at a rally.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

WilliB, bang-on. I'd say Holland and Sewden in particular. They're taking Andre Agassi's 'Image is Everything' a bit too seriously, no?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

50 leaders of the world gathered, how about Mr. Abe? Even the majority of G8 gathered. Not US top, so G8 minus 2 means whatnt the market?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

A city of nearly 30 million including surrounding areas and they can only get a measly 200 people, p!ss Poor.

The Charlie Hebdo shootings have about as much to do with Japan as it has to do with, say, a random country from the Middle East.

Apparently every group now has to form a protest or memorial gathering or they are p!ss poor at best, or aligned with and one and the same with the enemy at worst.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Just to be clear, I deplore the mindless violence perpetrated in Paris last week and there is no justification in the world for it. Secondly, satire is a wonderful tool to hold a mirror to society and should never be censored. On saying that, there is a difference between satire and juvenile stupidity. Some of the satirical Mohammad cartoons published have had a lot to say, but I do think Charlie Hebdo often stepped over the line into just being insulting for the sake of it (that is, not satire at all). A naked Mohammad bending over with a star inserted...well.. you get the idea. That's not satire. Again, though, that is not an excuse for anyone to do what those 3 idiots with guns did. There is no excuse for that, ever.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I daresay whether you are against the satire nation of the Charlie Hebdo prints or just responding to a cry against terrorism or honoring the victims of such attacks, the key thing is the principle of unity people are now showing across the globe. While other disgusting events are taking place in Africa, at least a small measure of international bonding is taking place.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Charlie Hebdo originally Hara Kiri magazine and was once banned for mocking french president, after ten years in hiding this Left-Wing magazine reappear again and started to mock religious figures fomenting violence that end up in this terrible tragedy.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I would willingly have attended had I known about it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am indeed saddened by these incidents… however, almost everyday I see incidents in other small countries Like Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc. being attacked by suicide bombers and mostly with more than 10 innocent people dead but no one marched for them, mostly these news only has tiny spots on CNN. Sometimes I think media is being biased, for big countries like Australia and Paris the whole world watches While we forget about the smaller countries .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@noypikantokuJAN. 13, 2015 - 12:31PM JST I am indeed saddened by these incidents… however, almost everyday I see incidents in other small countries Like Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc. being attacked by suicide bombers and mostly with more than 10 innocent people dead but no one marched for them, mostly these news only has tiny spots on CNN. Sometimes I think media is being biased, for big countries like Australia and Paris the whole world watches While we forget about the smaller countries .

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Your observation of media applies to USA, too. This news is all day long now. Usually big killings in Middle East related countries do not get attention, But don't blame media. If there are mass killings daily in France, I am sure they will be treated like middle east countries massacre news.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A city of nearly 30 million including surrounding areas and they can only get a measly 200 people, p!ss Poor.

Can't build a rally if no one knows about it. Other rallies in the World were announced beforehand and probably through the media. I heard nothing until I watched the news.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Dadude: A city of nearly 30 million including surrounding areas and they can only get a measly 200 people, p!ss Poor.

Can't build a rally if no one knows about it. Other rallies in the World were announced beforehand and probably through the media. I heard nothing until I watched the news

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If someone wants rally, he/she can organize rally and his/her plan to media instead of complaining

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I definitely would have considered attending if I was aware if it, I'm about an hour from toyko

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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