A chanson for Charlie Hebdo
mainHinse Mutter, double bass player and composer in Rotterdam, gathered local musicians of several nationalities to record a song he had written on the words of Stéphane Charbonnier, cartoonist and editor: ‘je préfère mourir debout que vivre à genoux’ (I’d rather die standing than live on my knees).
Je suis Charlie!
This all very sad and music does soothe at times like these.
But the media frenzy surrounding Hebdo has been blown out of all proportion.
There have probably been over hundred Africans dying of Ebola in the last few days, but nobody cares too much about that.
Not blown out of proportion at all, it is the principle informing downright murder. Strange, there is not a third choice among two as though those were the only options. Living while standing, or standing while living, means to stand up for your own values and not let anyone come close. Whatever one needs to do to protect the third option (like throw out the nutcases) is correct and utterly acceptable.
Thanks for the musicalic translation of the moment