The murder of satire is no laughing matter. The horrifying carnage at Charlie Hebdo is a reminder, if ever we needed it, that irreverence is the lifeblood of freedom. I suppose it is some sort of backhanded compliment that the monsters behind the slaughter are so fearful of the lance of mirth that the only voice they have to muffle it is the sound of bullets. Magazines such as Charlie Hebdo are in the business of taking liberties, even outrageous ones, but they exist so that we never take the gift of disrespect for granted.
對諷刺藝術的扼殺是件需要嚴肅對待的事。發生在《查理週刊》(Charlie Hebdo)的這場恐怖屠殺提醒我們(如果我們需要提醒的話):「不敬」是自由的命脈。執行這場殺戮的惡魔對歡笑的長矛是如此恐懼,以至於他們只能用槍聲代替話語,以求封殺這種歡笑,我認爲這是種間接的誇讚。《查理週刊》這樣的雜誌以無禮的(甚至是放肆的)嘲弄爲主業,但他們存在的價值,就在於使我們永遠不會想當然地對待「不敬」這份禮物。