After two Muslim extremist gunmen killed 12 people last week in a massacre at Charlie Hebdo's French offices, it vowed that it would not be the end of the satirical publication. Various members of the French media worked together to help the surviving staffers put out this weeks' issue on time, and the new cover just dropped this morning, Jan. 13, and it is as button-pushing as ever.
On a bright green background, the Prophet Muhammad is depicted crying and holding up a "Je Suis Charlie" sign under the words: "All is forgiven." The world has literally united after this terrorist attack, and last weekend a million people marched in Paris for peace and unity, plus the refusal to walk in fear. Obviously, it is important for Charlie Hebdo not to be silenced because freedom of speech is its right. The newest newspaper will be available Wednesday, Jan. 14, and there are 3 million copies of this special "survivor's issue" being produced.
But what about this new cover? It is obviously going to inflame the same extremist groups that killed an integral number of the staff and also fire bombed the offices in 2010. Paris is on full alert and investigators believe there are at least six people still roaming free that are directly linked to last week's devastating terrorism. Do you think it is a risky move for Charlie Hebdo to put out this issue right now? Could it be poking at an obviously already-rattled cage?
But if not now, then when should the newspaper be published again? The whole point of this attack was to silence it with fear. It is such a fine line to walk. We are united behind Charlie, but not everyone seems to believe this cover should be out this week. Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
