Sitting here on this side of the great Atlantic Pond, my heart and mind had to take a day to absorb and reflect on the killing of Charlie Hebdo‘s cartoonists in Paris. I needed to bring myself to a place outside the borders of shock and horror. The announcement of the shootings arrived like a dagger in the heart.
As an American — or at least an American who has been paying attention — one cannot help but see similar reactions to the Paris shootings as we saw for 9-11.
Yet, even though the alleged perpetrators are the same, the events are different, the countries and cultures are different, and yes, the motivations and causes are disparately different. But what makes these two events similar — Sept. 11, 2001, and the Charlie Hebdo shootings of Jan. 7, 2015 — is that it is an attack of symbols, with the price paid in human life.
As an artist all my life and a political one as well, it is here that we must appreciate and recognize the magnificent, voiceless power of imagery. Image transcends rhetoric, which we misquote and always misuse. Images etch themselves firmly in the minds of those who look at and appreciate them. Images inform how we look at the world, any world, literally and figuratively.
I can only conclude therefore that in the minds of the killers who stormed Charlie Hebdo‘s offices this week, that they must have thought they were killing gods. At least, the gods of mirth.
But I have to wonder: What is it to feel so isolated and threatened that you fear derision enough to kill the one mocking you? For Al-Qaeda and extremist Muslims living in France and throughout the rest of Europe, was there a step between that bridge to understanding that was tried and failed? Was it missed altogether? This is what makes my heart ache, because I am concerned over the timing of the event, its circumstances and most of all, the terrible loss that has ensued because something could have been done to prevent our arrival at this point in time.
Since 9-11, our awakening to the Islamic world has been by its most extreme elements. This is no excuse for our own reactionary movements. Islam has been here along with us for many centuries. Yet for now, Islam is the ‘Other’. The U.S. since 9-11 has seen the rise of ignorance in halls of power, filtering down into schools, local governments and churches. Racism, homophobia and misogyny permeate our law enforcement institutions. And now, does France follow?
France’s home-grown extreme right movement has been using the rallying cry of mistrust against its Muslim population as a distraction from the global economic turmoil and inequity of this decade. This distrust is seething under the surface of European society, indicating the rise of xenophobia through public sympathy and support of politicians like Marine Le Pen. And this movement soon might — given the choice by France’s electorate — rise like a chancre. Things are ripe for an extreme-right uprising. Charlie Hebdo could be the match that sets it ablaze. Something I am sure none of Charlie Hebdo‘s artists would have wanted.
Which brings me to this point in time, mourning and absorbing Dani Voirin’s images above, wondering what to grieve most — the losses of this week? Or the possible loss of yet another republic’s democracy?
Speaking from across the Pond, from a place where I must contend as an artist against the forces of ignorance we have here today, we’re watching as our own price is paid, in social division, class stratification and struggle. In fighting the results of our own tragedy here and now, we ache for you because we don’t want you to make our mistakes.
I ask this of our European brothers and sisters at this hour of grief, shock and mourning: Please — don’t let history, especially recent history, repeat itself. It’s happened before in Europe. Its happened here in America. It doesn’t have to happen again. Its the choice you make. In the days, weeks and months to come, make it the best one.
Indeed. Thank you, Fe. I worry too that it will be justification for the anti-Muslim movement in the US.
These issues are so complex, painful and feel very convoluted. As a friend of mine reminded me last night, they remind us how little cross-cultural resonance we have really achieved, even today. Even those of us non-Muslims, smart enough to know that the people who did this do not represent all Muslims, well we don’t really feel what’s so offensive about the visual representations of Muhammad. I have spoken with Muslims who would never result to murder who feel deeply offended by them.
I’m not saying we don’t get how someone could be offended by something essentially created to provoke and offend, but at the core of it the strain of Western Culture we subscribe to strives to express and push boundaries in just that way.
I’m also not saying there aren’t actions we can take that are peaceful and constructive.
Shelly:
Thank you for your thoughtful answer. It feels as though the world is walking along a knife’s edge. But there has to be some constructive mechanism to breach the divide. Islam is here to stay, and we may not like the message it conveys to us because it may be reminding us of ourselves. Everything depends on the willingness of the participants on both sides to listen. There is probably too much that needs to be said and not enough volume to say it above the shouting and gunfire.
Fe hopefully enlarging Shelley’s point
Is this shocking event a (fatal) ‘accident’ of ‘culture’ clash – in the west nothing is sacred, in religion all is sacred (part of God/religious life).
Then there is the pudique nature of Islam – the modesty of women (a north African friend once told me when he first moved to Europe he ejaculated constantly – for him the glimpse of an ankle was beyond exciting), and the deference and respect offered to women – in that context these drawings look distasteful and even louche and lâche – a much much more subtle satire would get across, here the offence risks to deafen any message into silence. (i understand that the burka can be a repression, and it can also be a veil – it depends on how you wear it and if you have a choice or not. Even without a choice you can still wear it as a veil. I understand that some men do not treat women well and enforce their agendae – this is true in all cultures tho less in some than others. I understand that Mohammed demanded that the poets were killed who didn’t respect him, I understand that Islam has not passed via the Enlightenment and was a religion of tribal people in a warring environment).
Given the macho nature of some men and middle eastern (and beyond) men perhaps in particular in cultural terms,
given the drive of young/er men towards manliness and the heroic and adventure, add in poverty, orphan, scouted etc etc,
given the ‘I would prefer to die standing than live on my knees’ of Charb, and his insistance on writing what he liked, (and crudely!):
these all feel like elements for a stand off style of encounter
For me there are two big things:
Were all Charbs cartoons necessary or were some just upping the anti (macho posturing). IMO even in ridicule on cherche à meet and transform ourselves and others and situations, there is that step further that is more than just describing/panning a situation. What about an overwhelming concern for the wellbeing of others as living beings over and beyond any culture or creed. Satire/film/writing that releases/allows a way through too
And
Does killing ever solve anything or does it just release chaos. (Better kill the journalists and kill yourselves to limit the killing (ie collateral damage on the way (policemen) and hostages later and a shoot out), so better just kill yourselves and not the journalists (to limit the killing) and make the point some way that way, or actually): just live and make a living point by being live and gifting life to others. Demand to live and that others live. (Surely martyrs die for their beliefs rather than making others die for theirs and then dying as a result of that action).
The positions are so opposed they become similar – almost mirroring?
One commentator wrote at the bottom of a series of cartoons showing the pen being mightier than the sword ‘Le Pen will triumph…’. That is funny too. (And I hope not).
And bridges. Individual responsibility/awareness always. Loving kindness. Building on the good points. We in the west aren’t perfect – if Islam tends towards the conservative and at worst extremism, we tend towards the decadent and military solutions. Is Sharia law any worse than unleashing war round the globe. I am frightened by both. Does humour and the ridiculous need to include creating shame and humiliation and why would avoiding these limit one’s freedom of speech. Isn’t it just a choice of presentation?
Christeen Skinner (?) highlighted that after March’s last Pluto Uranus Square, the next ‘big’ series are between Saturn and Neptune and conducive to more Socialist solutions
Pam, I feel what you state about being on the knifes edge. We are. It feels intolerable! It is a place for choice, the only place that choice ever really exists. Yet this is the highest place we can stand – it is a massive challenge fraught with potential danger – but we are as high as it gets. Hard to fathom.
If we fall off of this edge – it will be to one side or the other – we simply cant split off any part of our truth. Our history has a story of parameters that exist in varying degrees between acceptance and control, but the whole always is. Everything is connected and we cant “actually” separate any part of our self, our wholeness. Maybe if we stop trying to figure out which side is correct, pure and divine – and we just stop looking down and back for the answer – we might look up.
The actual choice is not in trying to find compromise from below, the choice is acceptance of our predicament and a humbly honest attempt to reach the higher state we all know is there. Being on the knifes edge is the peak experience we need to reach for something more. I don’t want comfort unless it includes a new reality – where I am completely awake.
I cant fix what ails this reality but I can reach for a new one and being on the peak is the best chance I have. There is an answer to our dilemma but it comes from a level above our current pay scale. We are close to knowing. Like Eric said, cause and effect are never separate – The enemy is me.
Pam,
You have not only enlarged the discussion, you have focused it on the broader problem. A clash of cultures is not an understanding. It’s an initiation for both sides to look at themselves. There is no excuse for the attack on Hebdo, or our droning Afghanistan. It’s the pattern of demonization and attack since the Crusades. But with technology the way it is, it’s also brinkmanship. When will the next step prevail, and the calmer elements of both sides meet and confer with mutual respect to stem the violence?
“Le Pen will prevail”. Sadder nor truer words were ever spoken.
Yes Fe you are quite right: I came back to clarify/acknowledge the brinkmanship too when I realised.
?Another bridge is people. People are people. Where we see each other and can make human contact we are humanised and humanise each other?
Won’t France vote for M Sarkozy rather than Mme le Pen? Those Danielle Voirin pictures show the essentially civilised core of French people? Delicacy, charm, the occasional vulgarity, their own terms, – very like siamese cats. Hope no one minds the comparison!
I was very taken by praise of Gladys Aylward (Inn of the 6th Happiness) ie she didn’t see people as good or bad but like children – this one needs clothes, this one a home, this one a bath, this one food etc etc. It is only one element but something I hadn’t appreciated before.
http://members.planetwaves.net/self-awareness-mars-ingress-pisces/#comment-2007
Maybe more hope in the mix than we fear Fe!
Fe here are two small elements of hope http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30739509 (we do not shoot civilians) and that they exited the building and their hostage was saved even if they are dead.
Do you remember in 1999 there was an Algerian guy killing women in France/Europe who hanged himself in Portugal. I met him on Nice station – of course I did not know him but I didn’t like how he was with me and left my ‘Venice’ treasures with him while I went to the toilet (just to escape). When I came back my bag was there and he wasn’t and I waited for my train until I heard a train leaving behind me and realised that the train was on the platform but not where I was facing.
I jumped on the moving train and the handles of my treausure bag broke – it fell and I chose to leave it – the last train for Marseilles that day. Was your passport in it shrugged the guard who was also standing on the step of the moving train. No? then tant pis! I went inside and found myself sitting with a couple of Algerian women. At some point the guy walked through the train but I was with them and they invited me to stay with them in Marseilles and I gladly accepted. We left the station by car, and the next day I caught a train to Valence and not realising that you couldn’t get off and on the TGVs at will got off at Avignon. Perhaps that also saved my life if ever I was followed – my (future) husband has a story of taking the train to Paris that night and someone repeatedly opening the door of his sleeper to Paris – held by the chain until he slammed the door shut on the hand. Was it the same guy that same night?
In any case I am convinced the 2 Algerian women saved my life. My moon line runs through Algeria. I am so grateful. So reconnaissante.
I am a mother of sons. Right or wrong I feel many tears over this whole story (all of it), and of mothers (of sons who die in whatever circumstances).
Pam:
Lovely. As Len and Be said in the article you linked — its in the details that this bridge is made.
I am adding Oakland political blogger Davey D’s comments to the mix on the Hebdo attack:
Ya gotta love good ole CNN and their coverage of what is unfolding in France..Last night one of their anchors in describing what was on the ground, noted that there are Muslim Parisians and ‘Normal’ Parisians. yes, she did say that indicating that over a billion people who live on Planet Earth are ‘abnormal’..
This morning CNN had on a guest who was asked to explain why so many Muslim youth have become ‘radicalized’. The gentlemen on the show started to explain major world events that struck a chord and impacted folks.. He began talking about the United States torturing folks at GITMO.. Just as he was laying it out.. He was cut off and the anchor directed us to the second hostage situation in Paris.
Keep in mind, minutes earlier CNN had already reported from that location and when they cut homeboy off to retun, there had been no significant change.. 30 minutes later that guest has not returned.
As we look at what’s unfolding, one might take a look at the magazine that has been in the center of all this. Charles Hedbo considers itself a ‘satirical magazine’ and has in the past gone out of its way to publish cartoons and articles that have caused unrest in the past.. So for example, a while back (2005) there was unrest in Denmark over a cartoon deemed offensive to Muslims that made fun of the Prophet Mohammed. Riots broke out.
The way the unrest was framed was that Muslims couldn’t take a joke and that they reacted to a cartoon. The truth of the matter was there were long simmering tensions between Danish folks and Muslims many who were immigrants. These tensions were not limited to Denmark but found all over Europe and Scandanavia. We saw ugly riots play out in places throughout Greece and the emergence of a far right wing racist political party that many liken to the KKK and Neo-Nazis called the Golden Dawn.
The year before last the Golden Dawn folks killed a popular Muslim rapper who rapped about racism and fascism named Pablo Fyssas. His death set off clashes between Muslim immigrants and Golden Dawn Party members. In fact things are so bad there that, those under constant attack formed a Black panther Party to protect themselves..
We saw this play out in the most horrific ways in 2011 in Norway when a man named Anders Behring Breivik who identified with a far right wing party that expressed hatred toward Muslims. He dressed as a police officer and came upon a youth camp. He killed 69 people most of them kids.. He was considered a lone wolf in spite of his ties to extremist parties..
All over Europe for the past few years we’ve seen a slew of anti-immigrant laws and violence directed at those who are perceived to be a part of that population. On the flip side we seen incidents of folks reacting to these crack downs.. Most notably was the killing of UK soldier Lee Rigby. Here we saw two men with bloodied hands explaining that they killed the soldier in response to UK troops killing Muslims.. There were reports that Rigby tried to recruit his assailants to be double agents to go against Muslims.
In France itself, there have been long simmering tensions. We caught a glimpse of those tensions in 2005 when huge riots erupted after two youths were detained by police and later killed. The unrest was so massive that France was put under a state of emergency for over 3 months with leaders within their government blaming popular rap artists for inciting folks with their music. In fact over 200 law makers issued sanctions on the rap artists..
The French Government came up with a series of harsh anti-immigration laws. Folks on the ground expressed anti-African and anti-Muslim sentiments constantly being directed at them with police being the main culprits.
Earlier this year in July there was unrest in France during the assault on Gaza. The attacks were labeled Anti-Semtic riots with many Jewish shop owners claiming they were attacked and made to feel unsafe by Frances Muslim population.
There were riots in France in 2013 when French officials attempted to deport Muslims. Thousands took to the streets to decry the police.
There was also major unrest in France in the Fall (October 2014). When Ferguson was in flames so were parts of Paris when police killed and an eco-activist named Remi Fraisse was killed by a police grenade. Thousands took to the streets .. It was not reported too much in the news over here, but was extensively covered everywhere else. My guess is folks in power here in corporate sectors didn’t wanna make this global connection to folks in Ferguson fighting police violence, while folks in Paris were doing the same thing and setting parts of their city ablaze.
It should be noted that in the on going around the clock coverage of whats been going down in France, that these past incidents of massive unrest is not talked about..What you do hear in the coverage is how the assailants wanted to be rap starts and how the French government will have to increase crack downs and surveillance on the radicalized Muslim population.
Black, Arab, Immigrant and poor have been forced to move to the far outskirts of Paris. If you wanna see where gentrification in the US is headed, take a look at Paris. The poor neighborhoods where there is rampant police terrorism, the marginalization of immigrants and mass surveillance of Muslims is in the so-called suburbs, where many live in the most deplorable conditions.
I mention these on going tensions that have played out violently over the past few years along with the unrest all over Europe so folks understand the political and social backdrop that magazines like Charlie Hebdo operated.
Their satire and them poking fun of Muslims happens in an environment where Muslims and Immigrants are under constant attack. Its kinda like Black face depictions at the height of Jim Crow segregation and lynchings in the south..
This is not to condone or make excuses for any of the killings that took place in France. But all of us should be aware that what’s unfolding is not some simplistic notion of folks getting upset over racist, anti-Muslim depictions in a magazine.
Lastly we should note that in the past when folks have made fun of religious leaders there has been harsh penalties extracted. Remember when Sinead O’Conner tore up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live? The backlash was fierce and that clip hidden away from public view. We can hand a long list of folks who been called to the carpet and shut down for anti-semitic remarks. Heck, it was just this summer that high profile folks who spoke out against Israel for her attacks on Gaza found themselves being hemmed up.
The backlash over the film makers making fun of North Korea’s leader who is damn near seen as a Deity should give us all an indication that some things just ain’t that funny for many and while I can clearly understand satire and freedom of speech and fully support it, I also understand the backlash especially when other forces are in play. Below is some of the satire including the Prophet Muhammad laying naked. (not included – FB) Also folks should note in the aftermath of all this a number of Muslim businesses and mosque have been attacked.
You can see these images and links to articles referencing events in Davey D’s post here:
https://www.facebook.com/mrdaveyd/posts/10155042820750720:0
Its all just a fight for control of – the accepted collective belief. Belief creates and controls our reality. No belief can ever win – it just appears so for a time. Never can we Kill off the other. Never can I separate one aspect of me from another (although I can pretend to). The thought that I need to must be challenged. I must wake up to the fact that this drama is just a play. After it is over we should all have a party and drink the night away. There is something more coming into expression.
Just want to add that on Sunday, the day of the Unity Rally in Paris, January 11th, is the day Juno is quincunx Chiron as she, Juno moves into position for the Boomerang opposition to Mercury and Venus. It is also when the Sun, symbol of Consciousness (conjunct Vesta symbol of Invested In) makes a quincunx to retrograde Jupiter (Large Picture) in Leo (theatre).
The next day Sun (and the day after that, Vesta) will square Eris with Neptune mid-way between them. It is the day both Venus and Mercury will occupy 11+ Aquarius. That degree is not only the unifying degree between Pluto, Neptune and Uranus, it is where Pandora (unleash) is located in Eris’ Discovery chart.
The tension this pattern suggests will continue until the New Moon at 0+ Aquarius on January 20, but will probably dissipate after the Mercury and Venus oppositions to Juno (partnership, defender of the disenfranchised) on the 14th.
If it is possible, we should not let go of the concept that we are in a process, a healing process and from time to time the poison comes to the surface to be washed away. If you or I feel overwhelmed with grief and shock we need to find a place where we can get away from the insanity and reflect on the larger picture. Otherwise, we might become part of the problem. This too shall pass.
be
Thank you Fe, Be, Cowboyiam
(My moon line also goes through France, east of Paris).
Pam, I love the metaphor in your story of France. You left your baggage behind so you could step into a new life.
I have pondered the plight of American settlers who took horse and wagon to California in the 1850s, where no matter how much (invaluable) stuff they had at the beginning, before they got over the final mountain range most all of it had been discarded. Baggage is our biggest hurdle. We just drag it along until we cant anymore.
I sense this (very challengin)( healing process too, dear Be – also in myself. Thank you, once again, for your huge astrological knowledge and sane, wise words.
Fe – wonderful video of Guardian cartoonist Sreve Bell:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/jan/09/steve-bell-cartoonist-charlie-hebdo-attackers-video
Fe, still on the same theme of violence – and what answers.
A few possibilities –
Kung fu 1 and 2 – Master Oogway, and the teaching of a drop of water (these are stunning films).
Karate Kid, seeking to give a good account of yourself rather than winning or losing and so gain respect ( no win, no lose: respect).
Kung fu with David Carradine – some good things – an enduring impression of calm (tho you get the impression finally that he uses Kung fu as a solution (set piece in each episode) rather than to meet attack and turn it).
Because it is that isn’t – to turn the attack and render it harmless to all and flowing otherwise.
Other ways: dispelling darkness with light (Love, true note,no point of view just many viewing points, ‘real’ questions etc)) and that is things like ideas, books, art, humour, film which deal with rites of passage (to manhood etc), humanising experiences, another way, and moments of pivot where lives turn completely around.
They probably have to be refound in each life but the one’s I found in childhood (before 13) that have passed the test of time were
The Almond Bough in lady of the linden tree by Barbara Leonie Picard
The Lion Aslan in The Narnia stories by CS Lewis
The My Friend Flicka Trilogy by Mary O’Hara
A book of princesses (puffin) many different archetypes – long nosed princess (character more valuable than beauty), the princess and the pot, the light princess, the birthday of the infanta, the princess where flowers grew in her footsteps, the princess whose fairy godmother put a doll in her place because her father’s people didn’t laugh when they wer happy or cry when they were sad and were quite happy with the doll who said please and thank you appropriately. The princess grew up with a family of fishermen and when she was 18 her fairy godmother took her back to the palace. Complete disaster – the princess couldn’t bear not to live and the court couldn’t bear the real thing, so the fairy godmother gave them back their doll and the princess married the fisherman’s son. These are the ones I remember – I have looked for it but never found it. Is there an equivalent of male archetypes for boys growing up?
The angel and the paint box in 7 minute tales – I’ve never refound this either.
I am David by Ann Holm(e)
Dibs in search of Self by VM Axline
Mr God this is Anna by Fynn
The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
A story like the wind and a Far off place by Laurens van der Post
Albert Campion books by Margery Allingham
The Keys of the Kingdom by A JCronin
The Nun’s story by Kathryn Hulme
If you know these books they lead in several dimensions, several openings.
Of course the position of Mercury in your chart and your natal chart and astrocartography and various progressions can give leads as to where to find helpful material – even on a global level not only personally?
Faced with a rock and a hardplace what is the middle way, the ‘miracle’ that turns things on a pin. What will lever us out of this type of deadlock?
All ideas welcome!
Anyone?
xxxp
A friend mentioned the good Samaritan yesterday and actually it is the only (pre)muslim story I have from childhood – my references African or European or Chinese/Tibetan (by way of Kuan Yin).
If you look at it it works quite well for Paris – A lawyer asking what he must do to inherit eternal life – perhaps possible to say instead; what is of ultimate value? And from the books he gets ‘Love the Lord your God (or your freedom of speech) with all your heart and mind and soul and strength’ (which they all have), ‘and your neighbour as yourself.’ Less sure.
And the lawyer asks ‘who is my neighbour’ , and the reply is the story of the good Samaritan. Luke 12:25 ff:
Anyone and everyone is my neighbour…
Isn’t that beautiful? Stop stop stop – remember we are all neighbours.
(Is life so full of symmetry? Look how those two Algerian women were neighbourly to me)
‘The neighbour was the one who showed mercy to him’
Today In Paris…. Watching this on cspan – BBC broadcast. This is a Woodstock moment. People are saying we are all one! As this we are not afraid. All of the different factions of society mingling in a state of fearless loving connection. Our deepest inner longing for complete acceptance and absolute free expression. It overrides fear and without fear control is unnecessary. Without control love flows. Think how easily fear could be causing a fearful reaction that just continues the cycle…..But hear is an outstanding turning point in the collective approach to separation crisis…. Our drama is making a turn and the new world is breathing on its own!!!!
And the call is to be neighbourly oneself (and bring everyone else into that relation). The beam of reflection always returning to the individual – have you got that, can you do that yourself too. Is your thinking big enough, is yourheart, your mind, your strength. And out again to the world.
Just lovely.
Cowboyiam – offering you the dropped baggage analogy if you want to take and run with it into a new life – if that plays for you.
Thanks Pam, I needed that. Just this moment that really plays for me.
(In the interests of ‘good scholarship’)
Looking up Samaritan, I find that they were (according to them) Israelites rather than non Israelite as I had assumed/gathered. Just an internal schism and so they were ostracised. Still the impact of neighbourliness is there even without an Arab link: ie doesn’t need a link?
Reading this week, there are also middle class youths these days who are attracted to extremism – is that life-too-‘pretty’-looking-for-grit to make pearls?
And how to address that?