Of Pens, Guns and Bloodshed: Thoughts on the Charlie Hebdo Tragedy / R. W. Watkins

Of Pens, Guns and Bloodshed:

Thoughts on the Charlie Hebdo Tragedy

R. W. Watkins

If there’s one thing we most definitely learnt from the barbaric and tragic events in Paris on January 7th, then it would have to be the sheer and surprising power still inherent in the humble cartoon.

Some people insist that the single-panel cartoon has been dead for some time; that the days of Robert Ripley astounding the world with his sensational Believe It or Not, or even Terry ‘Aislin’ Mosher being denounced in the House of Commons for his ‘criminal’ and ‘unCanadian’ work, are well behind us. Well, the likes of Family Circus and Dennis the Menace may be innocuous enough in their apoliticism and antiquated styles, but judging from the shocking events of January 7th, it is safe to say that the cartoon is alive and more powerful than ever — at least in such European countries as France and Denmark. At the end of the horrid day, what lies dead is not the cartoon, but rather four of its regular creators, the Charlie Hebdo editor and other staff members, two police officers, and a busload of naivete and innocence. (Not to mention the victims and perpetrators of the hostage-takings that are unfolding as I write this on January 9th.)

A cartoon that (more or less) turns on its cartoonist and kills him is far from obsolete and irrelevant.

But that’s just one interpretation of the gruesome events that have transpired.

On the other hand, given the bloody outcome, one might find oneself asking if the pen truly is mightier than the sword. Well, maybe in the long run or in the grander scheme of things — and if we’re only talking about swords. Let’s not kid ourselves, people: I don’t think the pen stands much of a chance against multiple automatic rifles in the hands of trained snipers with fanatical religious leanings.

And how should cartoonists, comics artists, and those of us on the fringes of their mediums react to this tragedy? Well, we can learn to be good little serfs and chimps and keep our noses clean — that’s one option. But that would be bowing and acquiescing to militarised dogma and tyranny, from my perspective. Another option would be for us to create a ‘hit list’ of our own — to take aim at those who threaten us, utililising means beyond the drawn image and printed page. This seems to be the preferred response of the ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous, who have already announced via a YouTube post out of Belgium that they will be sabotaging jihadist websites.

Whatever the chosen response, it will not be bringing the victims of this dark episode back from the grave anytime soon.

Of course, the ultimate goal of any concerned party should be peace — peace... and justice.

The two are rarely spoken in the same breath, sadly.