Deranged Defenders

The shocking murder of twelve people at the Charlie Hebdo magazine office in Paris has generated many displays of sympathy for the victims and their families, and support for freedom of speech over disgusting acts of terror, many by fellow artists and colleagues. It's possible that the attack was planned by people who considered themselves defenders of their faith in some way, but they were hardly anything of the sort.

The cartoons that were likely the justification the perpetrators will use for their murder spree were often quite shocking, crude, and yes, offensive. This is hardly the point, though. Even crude and offensive speech should be protected--which is not to say it cannot be protested or criticized! But the standard that we have for freedom of speech, that enables the KKK or Westboro Baptist to have their say in public is the same standard that protects people of other, less noxious, but possibly threatened minority positions from being persecuted.  It is never acceptable that ideas, words, and images, be responded to with violence. To attempt to silence people in this brutal way is an affront to civilization itself.

RIP, Mario Cuomo, 1932-2015

It seems a shame to be starting off the New Year with the sad news that former New York Governor Mario Cuomo has died, about six hours after the swearing-in of his son for his second term as New York Governor.

I think it stands as a testament to the man's qualities that people actively dogged him to run for president, even when it became clear that he didn't like his own chances very much. They knew he was a good guy who could have run well. He suspected that wasn't what would get him in good. So he stuck with the job he had and was good at.

His speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention is hailed as one of politics' great speeches, where he gored Reagan's so-called "sunny optimism" in the ideal of a "city on a hill" to address economic inequality (Brother Mario Knew His Class War).

Maybe he underestimated himself. Bill Clinton used some of that understanding of how to directly address economic issues in his own successful run, and if he was a better person, John Edwards might have gotten further with his "two Americas".

Governor Mario Cuomo was an unusual thing in politics--an honest man, and the degree to which he cared wasn't in doubt.

He, and the environment that let an honest man run and persevere, will be missed--I hope we will see the like again.

(EDIT) Just to add this nice story about him breaking the news to his parents that he was thinking about going into politics, by telling them it was step to possibly becoming something important like a judge. There was talk of him being a possible SCOTUS pick at one time, too.)