After giving it some serious thought, I have decided that the Le Monde should publish all the cartoons. I have come to this decision base on four reasons. The importance France placed on free speech in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, our inability to please everyone, our willingness to accept criticism for our work, and the application of philosophical ideas that back the decision.
In article IX it says, “The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the most precious rights of man.” Printing these cartoons will uphold our belief in this law. This law allows us to inform our public and aide in the exchanging of ideas and we should use the law to its full potential. American abolitionist Frederick Douglass once said, “To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker”. Information and viewpoints are meant to be heard so that people are able to develop their own opinions.
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Anyone who is not in favor of what we print has the right to criticize it. If there is a large controversy sparked from this law we will respect those who criticize our decision to print these cartoons. I think author Brad Thor put it best when he said, “I have the right to write whatever I want. And it's equaled by another right just as powerful: the right not to read it. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend people.”
The reason I say we should print all the cartoons is one has already been sent out to the public, why not let them see the rest. Our paper commissioned these cartoons; we should want the public to see them. We owe it to our staff, our readers, and the public at large to provide them with information and insight. As long as this newspaper has thought through the decision, has made sure the facts are accurate, and is willing to withstand any controversy we might face, I would consider these cartoons fit to