http://worldmeets.us/images/voltaire-judge-fast_quote.jpg

Voltaire: Still, it seems, ahead of his time.

 

 

After the Attacks: Still Pursuing the Voltaire Revolution (Publico, Portugal)

 

"In 1741, a still youthful Voltaire presented for the first time his tragedy Fanaticism or Mahomet the Prophet, the protagonist of which is an impostor and cruel messenger. Catholic censors were pleasantly surprised. Voltaire was already a notorious provocateur, but it now seemed he had returned to good Christian faith with an attack on infidels - and they let the play go. Right up until the day a bishop went to see the play and realized that Voltaire was talking about religion in general and Catholics in particular. … The 18th century was not just about the idealized Enlightenment, but a revolution of underground, sensual and satirical ideas - which is still with us today."

 

By Rui Tavares

                          http://worldmeets.us/images/Rui-Tavares_mug.jpg

 

Translated By Brandi Miller

 

January 12, 2015

 

Publico – Portugal – Original Article (Portuguese)

In 1741, a still youthful Voltaire presented for the first time his tragedy Fanaticism or Mahomet the Prophet, the protagonist of which is an impostor and a cruel messenger. Catholic censors were pleasantly surprised. Voltaire was already a notorious provocateur, but it now seemed he had returned to good Christian faith with an attack on infidels - and they let the play go. Right up until the day a bishop went to see the play and realized that Voltaire was talking about religion in general and Catholics in particular (it was true, he admitted later). There was then an about-face, the play was prohibited and Voltaire, who had already been imprisoned once and had hated the experience, cooled his heels.

 

The irony is being remapped by today's censors. In Saudi Arabia, there is a kind of Muslim Inquisition called the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Tired of being persecuted and censored, a blogger named Raif Badawi decided to simply write something like “We are grateful to the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice for promoting virtue and preventing vice.” Saudi censors heard through that ostentatious non-critical statement the mocking laugh of the young blogger and sentenced him to 50 lashes every week for twenty weeks [video below].

 

 

MORE ON CHARLIE HEBDO:
Le Monde, France:
Dominique de Villepin: Let France 'Resist the Spirit of War'  
Kurier, Austria:
After Paris, Freedom Writ Large is at Stake  
Huanqiu, China:
Condemn Paris Attacks ... and Western Cultural Insensitivity  
Corriere Della Sera, Italy:
'Europe's 9/11': If this is Islam, here's What We'd Like  
Die Zeit, Germany:
Charlie Hebdo: Time to 'Impose the Enlightenment' on Islam  
Le Figaro, France: War has Come to France - and France Must Win it

Corriere Della Sera, Italy: On Pope Francis' Secret Service: Confronting ISIS Threat

 

http://worldmeets.us/images/voltaire-folls_quote.jpgThere is a line that ties the stories of Voltaire and Badawi to the Charlie Hebdo writers killed in Paris last week, and in a way it also begins in 18th century France. That was not only the time of Voltaire and the first encyclopedia, or irony as fine as Badawi, but also of ideas conveyed via pornographic books like Thérèse Philosophe, which was the biggest hit of the season, and cheap pamphlets containing ferocious satire, grotesque caricatures and scandalous intrigues. The authors of these books and pamplets, often marginalized and destitute, brought progress to the era through the shock effect. Today, when we think of Charlie Hebdo, we recall the libertarian-left born in May of 1968, but the tradition is much older. The 18th century was not just about the idealized Enlightenment, but a revolution of underground, sensual and satirical ideas - which is still with us today.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

Voltaire didn’t want martyrs, particularly among the defenders of liberty. Where he could, he advised people to write and then flee, use a pseudonym and protect themselves. Of course he would have wanted to see Charb, Cabu, Wolinski, Tignous and all the others who died in the attack on Charlie Hebdo safe and sound. And perhaps Voltaire taught us the difference between barbarians (etymologically, those that don’t speak Greek, or “foreigners”) and fanatics (in its original sense, those who leave the temples inspired by a furious God), and would have wanted us to fight the latter without repressing the former. “Those that hear voices are enthusiasts,” he said, “those that kill are fanatics.”

 

It would be preferable for there to be no fanatics and no martyrs for freedom. But since there are, it is important to always remember that love is stronger than hate, as Charlie Hebdo put on its cover. Because love is a love of laughter and freedom. And so the hearts of good people around the world were together in Paris yesterday at the Place de la République - toward which Boulevard Voltaire leads.

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGUESE VERSION

blog comments powered by Disqus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted By Worldmeets.US January 12, 2014, 8:44pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Support