Nothing seemed to happen in Paris today that did not relate in some way to the extraordinary attack yesterday at the weekly paper "Charlie Hebdo".  I was so grateful that my French teacher, Vanessa, completely changed her lesson on such short notice to allow us to understand and talk through what had happened.

You may remember several years ago when a Danish cartoonist proposed to publish cartoons that, in the view of some, mocked the prophet Mohamed.  Turns out, the satirical weekly "Charlie Hebdo" in France took the cartoons and printed them.  It's building was burned down.  Other times, the paper was sued in court, but the charges were dropped.  The paper continued to publish such cartoons, working with some of France's most beloved political cartoonists.  Vanessa showed us several.  One of the most funny and least offensive depicted God at the pearly gates while a lot of young men marched toward him.  God is holding up his hands saying, "Stop, stop!  We've run out of virgins."  Others were more pointed and the ones showing a naked Prophet in bad taste.  Nevertheless, they were all aimed at a world view the editorial staff saw as rigid, intolerant and out of place in the modern world.  Free speech, after all, is about being able to say things even if most people would find them in poor taste.

After class, Meg and I went to the Place de la République where a spontaneous gathering of Parisians occurred last night.  Some of the signs and flowers were still there.

Place de la République, 1/8/15

Liberty Muzzled

French class is uncovering a lot more of my chronic errors than I ever knew

I had.  I wish I could continue studying at this pace, taxing though it may be.  Nevertheless, the weekend looms and I am heading by train to Marseille Friday afternoon for a visit with Nathalie, Patrick, Louise and Elliott.  I will have to tell them that a week at school in France has demonstrated that I speak French "comme un vache espagnole" -- that is, that I speak French like a Spanish cow, an expression that is common in the country, but one that we don't usually hear.  At least it's not as bad as the French expression for American coffee (presumably Starbuck's included).  It is described as "café au jus de chausettes" -- coffee made from the juice of crushed socks:).  À bientôt (until next time).