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Faith, Freedom, and Respect

Religion grows in the very depths of our being. Mocking it, ridiculing it, can be especially hurtful.

by FRANÇOIS HUGUENIN

Unanimous France has marched on January 11 in the name of Charlie to defend freedom of expression. Is it useful to say at the start that, at this moment of national unity, I agree with the condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism and that I welcome hearing some courageous voices dare to finally name the danger — radical Islamism? But I am surprised and worried to see a France that, with the resultant “diversity” noticeable in its absence, is becoming a supporter of a newspaper that it never bothered to read. The defence of freedom of expression seems to have created an epidemic of blindness with respect to the problems, not of the freedom to express ideas, but of the manner in which that freedom is used.

It is clear that freedom of expression is regulated in France, since some words (such as those inciting racial hatred) are legitimately subject to prosecution, while there are no laws against blasphemy. But the question posed by the humour of Charlie Hebdo, that everyone will enjoy according to their own standards, seems to be beyond the law. If liberty is a core value of our society, conquered after many struggles, is it assigned an absolute value that is greater than all the others? Doesn’t the motto of our republic put it at the same level of equality and fraternity? In the name of fraternity, we can not take seriously a value that is unlikely to be framed in legal texts, as it is impossible to codify, and yet is inherent in the dignity of man and entered in the heart of everyone: that of respect for others. This is precisely what makes a large contribution to the charm of life: giving up one’s seat on the bus to let an elderly person sit; politely asking your neighbour to lower the volume of his music instead of yelling in the stairway “Turn it down!” — none of this is prescribed by law, but it makes life better.

Now, if there is a value to be respected in others, it is his religion. The faith of a human being is probably the strongest commitment possible. It grows in the very depths of our being. Mocking it, ridiculing it, can be especially hurtful. It is a choice that involves the deepest part of our existence and thus deserves to be respected. Let us be clear: it’s not a question of restricting freedom of expression through legislation, it’s that everyone is responsible for the way in which he or she says things. One can engage in the critique of religions — the debate of ideas is always rewarding — but insult and mockery are always hurtful while advancing anything. Let us not hide behind the right to humour. You can laugh without hurting: I think of the late Pierre Desproges [Ed: French humorist known for his eloquent but virulent diatribes], in particular his skit about the Jews.

It’s impossible for a law to codify this clearly, but I propose a simple rule that we could all apply amongst ourselves: It’s that I will not publish that which I am incapable of telling a person when I encounter him face-to-face. Behind the pen, it’s easy to forget that one’s addressing living people with real feelings. Some will say that with this rule I discredit an entire polemical tradition which French literature takes pride in: the nastiness of Saint-Simon, the curses of Leon Bloy. Dare I admit that these writers fail to inspire me?

Contrary to what one hears these days, we’d do well to learn freedom and respect at school — including respect for religions. We are committed to respect racial differences and rightly so: why not also respect religion? Behind our neutral secularism lurks a secularism that does not like religion: It is wrong. Religions are indeed part of the common heritage of all, whatever our belief. In a world increasingly materialistic and ever more desperate, they bring a breath, a hope, a different way of looking at the questions of life. They carry aspirations for a transcendence that, in the heart of the world, is an affirmation of the dignity of man, a rejection of universal commodification, a reminder of the existence of good and evil. They have learned to engage in dialogue.

That Islam — not just the terrorists — poses serious questions with regard values ​​seems to me self-evident. It must make critical analysis. For this, it must dialogue, but in order to dialogue it is necessary to feel respected. If I feel personally outraged by the drawings of Charlie Hebdo on the Catholic Church that I love as my mother, then it’s possible to be disgusted by the now too-famous caricatures of Mohammed. Is a stroke of the pen worth it when it hurt thousands of people?

It’s not a question of laws, but of morals. It can’t be forced on anyone, but everyone can think about it. It is also a matter of peace. Failure to respect belief is a way of setting people up one against the other: the laughers and the indifferent against the humiliated. Of all our common goods, peace is the most essential, St Augustine wrote in the City of God. Mutual respect is one of the foundations of peace: we would do well not to forget it.

First published 20 January 2015 at lefigaro.fr as
Liberté d’expression, religions, caricatures : le decryptage de François Huguenin.
The historian François Huguenin is the author of Le Conservatisme impossible : libéralisme et réaction en France depuis 1789 and L’Action française, Une histoire intellectuelle.
Published at 4:40 pm on Monday 16 March 2015. Categories: Church France Tags: .
Comments

Excellent! This was both moving and thoughtful. Thank you for posting this.

— James Martello 11 Jan 2016 12:57 pm
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