The Golden Rule & The Golden Mean: Creating Understanding From Attacked Ideals in Paris

To be or not to be? To create or to destroy? To understand or to dismiss? These are the questions that I think of when I think of artistic freedom and cultural competency. The events worldwide this past week say much about how sophisticated world politics has become as well as the snowball effect of technology and media on human behavior. I am talking about the Parisian killings at "Charlie Hebdo" last Wednesday, January 7th, and the struggle between freedom of expression and maintaining human decency.

Here is Vox Media's in-depth coverage of the whole situation on a timeline: http://www.vox.com/2015/1/7/7507849/charlie-hebdo-attack-terrorists-paris-shooting 

From @BBCNews

When we were kids, we were taught simple life lessons like "Say what you mean, and mean what you say because the people who mind don't matter, and the people who matter don't mind," and "If you have nothing nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all." This struggle for democratic free speech alongside patriotism against bigotry and destruction of immigrant cultures in pluralistic society is simply the summation of these simplest, humblest of lessons: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

"Charlie Hebdo", as everyone now knows, was famous for its very outspoken approach to satire--never afraid to publish thought-provoking and critical comics and material, hitting every major faith group in its view. This targeted attack was very much an attack on the ideals of free speech and artistic expression, but in many ways this was the work of terrorists who refuse to understand the values that make our societies successful and free, and rather dismiss or blame the western world for the "corruption" of their homelands or people. It is a case of institutional self-pity, the very same that causes bullying in teens, but on an international scale. The terrorists realize their inadequacies, and instead of working hard to combat them in diplomatic or peaceful ways, they choose destruction of the enemy.

(From the Vox article)"Attacks on French Muslims from January 6 to January 10 (Tell MAMA UK)"

As far as I know, in international warfare, there is a rule of proportionality--the damage caused to civilians must be equal and measured, to achieve a "just" outcome. This rule almost seems as old as time, "An eye for an eye," though the international statutes are surprisingly as recent as the 20th century. In their response to Charlie Hebdo's outspokenness, the attackers are deliberately creating mountains from molehills. The resulting retaliation by French nationalists against Muslims, attacking mosques and inciting fear in their immigrant groups, causes division amongst the ranks of the French people.

Terror is not supposed to cause unity: its goal is to destabilize those core values that we tend to take for granted. In France, these values are Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: freedom, equality, and brotherhood. I think that people are missing that empathy, and events like these reinforce the mentality that immigrants never truly belong in their adopted countries, no matter how many generations their families spend in their new homelands. This forever foreigner syndrome is prevalent in the United States, and the microaggressions it causes never have dissipated.

As someone who values voicing my thoughts and opinions and ideas, I am definitely for free speech,  but for every person in the arts and media-- it is important to question the Why's and How's. Why are you creating this work? and How is this work contributing to society? And having the wisdom to reevaluate and reassess if the work does not have a good reasoning or a purpose. Even jokes should make one think, not just ridicule and criticize another faith, people, and way of life.

Emad Hajjaj of Al Araby (Qatar). The top line reds "in condemnation of the terrorist attacks against Charlie Hebdo" (from Vox Article)

It is important to exercise the Golden Rule in all things, and the Golden Mean. The idea of "everything in moderation" extends to one's approach to self-expression in that one should be mindful of the consequences of whatever they say or create. Artists are responsible for changing conversations and inciting debate and making people think. They should bear that burden honorably and not create gratuitous hurt towards other people. And we, the consumers of that media or art, should react appropriately.

Even media that offends you can renew your perspective on whatever topic the artist chose to highlight. This can help you to create or craft a response, creating a conversation through media. The pen, ultimately, is mightier than the sword, for ideas have lives of their own. The value of free speech lies in conscious and responsible dialogue, creating a just and fair society that values every voice equally in its improvement.

This is what I am thinking about whilst planning and writing for my new venture: a talk show on public access in my hometown. How to create mindful conversations about current events and what is going on worldwide, educating the public on how to be better citizens, and how our neuroscience influences us subconsciously. I think that crafting what one puts out there is essential, and having a keen eye for the influence one has is paramount to achieving success and creating understanding.

XOXO,
Maithreyi

Maithreyi 'Ray' Shankar
@reyisofsunshine
http://raysofsunshine.me