This article is from the source 'theintercept' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/30/145-pen-writers-thus-far-objected-charlie-hedbo-award-6/
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 204 PEN Writers (Thus Far) Have Objected to the Charlie Hebdo Award – Not Just 6 | |
| (7 months later) | |
| (this article is being updated as more PEN writers join) | (this article is being updated as more PEN writers join) |
| Contrary to media accounts claiming that only 6 PEN members have objected to the group’s decision to bestow Charlie Hebdo with an award, the actual number is currently 145 204 PEN members (6 writers scheduled to be table heads at this year’s event have withdrawn, and the list includes writers who have served as table heads at prior events). Below is the letter drafted by several of the objecting writers, along with the current full list of signatories: | Contrary to media accounts claiming that only 6 PEN members have objected to the group’s decision to bestow Charlie Hebdo with an award, the actual number is currently 145 204 PEN members (6 writers scheduled to be table heads at this year’s event have withdrawn, and the list includes writers who have served as table heads at prior events). Below is the letter drafted by several of the objecting writers, along with the current full list of signatories: |
| * * * * * | * * * * * |
| April 26, 2015 | April 26, 2015 |
| In March it was announced that the PEN Literary Gala, to be held May 5th | In March it was announced that the PEN Literary Gala, to be held May 5th |
| 2015, would honor the magazine Charlie Hebdo with the PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award in response to the January 7 attacks that claimed the lives of many members of its editorial staff. | 2015, would honor the magazine Charlie Hebdo with the PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award in response to the January 7 attacks that claimed the lives of many members of its editorial staff. |
| It is clear and inarguable that the murder of a dozen people in the Charlie | It is clear and inarguable that the murder of a dozen people in the Charlie |
| Hebdo offices is sickening and tragic. What is neither clear nor inarguable | Hebdo offices is sickening and tragic. What is neither clear nor inarguable |
| is the decision to confer an award for courageous freedom of expression on | is the decision to confer an award for courageous freedom of expression on |
| Charlie Hebdo, or what criteria, exactly were used to make that decision. | Charlie Hebdo, or what criteria, exactly were used to make that decision. |
| We do not believe in censoring expression. An expression of views, however | We do not believe in censoring expression. An expression of views, however |
| disagreeable, is certainly not to be answered by violence or murder. | disagreeable, is certainly not to be answered by violence or murder. |
| However, there is a critical difference between staunchly supporting | However, there is a critical difference between staunchly supporting |
| expression that violates the acceptable, and enthusiastically rewarding | expression that violates the acceptable, and enthusiastically rewarding |
| such expression. | such expression. |
| In the aftermath of the attacks, Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons were | In the aftermath of the attacks, Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons were |
| characterized as satire and “equal opportunity offense,” and the magazine | characterized as satire and “equal opportunity offense,” and the magazine |
| seems to be entirely sincere in its anarchic expressions of principled | seems to be entirely sincere in its anarchic expressions of principled |
| disdain toward organized religion. But in an unequal society, equal | disdain toward organized religion. But in an unequal society, equal |
| opportunity offence does not have an equal effect. | opportunity offence does not have an equal effect. |
| Power and prestige are elements that must be recognized in considering | Power and prestige are elements that must be recognized in considering |
| almost any form of discourse, including satire. The inequities between the | almost any form of discourse, including satire. The inequities between the |
| person holding the pen and the subject fixed on paper by that pen cannot, | person holding the pen and the subject fixed on paper by that pen cannot, |
| and must not, be ignored. | and must not, be ignored. |
| To the section of the French population that is already marginalized, | To the section of the French population that is already marginalized, |
| embattled, and victimized, a population that is shaped by the legacy of | embattled, and victimized, a population that is shaped by the legacy of |
| France’s various colonial enterprises, and that contains a large percentage | France’s various colonial enterprises, and that contains a large percentage |
| of devout Muslims, Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of the Prophet must be seen as | of devout Muslims, Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of the Prophet must be seen as |
| being intended to cause further humiliation and suffering. | being intended to cause further humiliation and suffering. |
| Our concern is that, by bestowing the Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award on Charlie Hebdo, PEN is not simply conveying support for freedom of expression, but also valorizing selectively | Our concern is that, by bestowing the Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award on Charlie Hebdo, PEN is not simply conveying support for freedom of expression, but also valorizing selectively |
| offensive material: material that intensifies the anti-Islamic, | offensive material: material that intensifies the anti-Islamic, |
| anti-Maghreb, anti-Arab sentiments already prevalent in the Western world. | anti-Maghreb, anti-Arab sentiments already prevalent in the Western world. |
| In our view, PEN America could have chosen to confer its PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award upon any of a number of | In our view, PEN America could have chosen to confer its PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award upon any of a number of |
| journalists and whistleblowers who have risked, and sometimes lost, their | journalists and whistleblowers who have risked, and sometimes lost, their |
| freedom (and even their lives) in service of the greater good. | freedom (and even their lives) in service of the greater good. |
| PEN is an essential organization in the global battle for freedom of | PEN is an essential organization in the global battle for freedom of |
| expression. It is therefore particularly disheartening to see that PEN | expression. It is therefore particularly disheartening to see that PEN |
| America has chosen to honor the work and mission of Charlie Hebdo above | America has chosen to honor the work and mission of Charlie Hebdo above |
| those who not only exemplify the principles of free expression, but whose | those who not only exemplify the principles of free expression, but whose |
| courage, even when provocative or discomfiting, has also been fastidiously | courage, even when provocative or discomfiting, has also been fastidiously |
| exercised for the good of humanity. | exercised for the good of humanity. |
| We the undersigned, as writers, thinkers, and members of PEN, therefore | We the undersigned, as writers, thinkers, and members of PEN, therefore |
| respectfully wish to disassociate ourselves from PEN America’s decision to | respectfully wish to disassociate ourselves from PEN America’s decision to |
| give the 2015 Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo. | give the 2015 Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo. |
| Chris Abani | Chris Abani |
| Hosam M. Aboul-Ela | Hosam M. Aboul-Ela |
| Leslie Absher | Leslie Absher |
| Elizabeth Adams | Elizabeth Adams |
| Ali Jimale Ahmed | Ali Jimale Ahmed |
| Lauren K. Alleyne | Lauren K. Alleyne |
| Sinan Antoon | Sinan Antoon |
| Judith Appelbaum | Judith Appelbaum |
| Nicole Aragi | Nicole Aragi |
| Michael Archer | Michael Archer |
| Tony Ardizzone | Tony Ardizzone |
| Sarah Arvio | Sarah Arvio |
| Gabeba Baderoon | Gabeba Baderoon |
| Deborah Baker | Deborah Baker |
| Russell Banks | Russell Banks |
| Susan Bell | Susan Bell |
| Naomi Benaron | Naomi Benaron |
| Helen Benedict | Helen Benedict |
| Christopher Benfey | Christopher Benfey |
| Cara Benson | Cara Benson |
| Charles Ramírez Berg | Charles Ramírez Berg |
| Susan Bernofsky | Susan Bernofsky |
| Eric Bogosian | Eric Bogosian |
| Robert Bononno | Robert Bononno |
| Barrie Jean Borich | Barrie Jean Borich |
| Blanche McCrary Boyd | Blanche McCrary Boyd |
| Adam Braver | Adam Braver |
| Donald Breckenridge | Donald Breckenridge |
| Rita Nakashima Brock | Rita Nakashima Brock |
| Ami Sands Brodoff | Ami Sands Brodoff |
| Karen Brown Brooks | Karen Brown Brooks |
| Edward Burlingame | Edward Burlingame |
| Janet Burroway | Janet Burroway |
| Viola Canales | Viola Canales |
| Helene Cardona | Helene Cardona |
| Peter Carey | Peter Carey |
| John Casey | John Casey |
| Bryn Chancellor | Bryn Chancellor |
| Myriam J. A. Chancy | Myriam J. A. Chancy |
| Hayan Charara | Hayan Charara |
| Bell Gale Chevigny | Bell Gale Chevigny |
| Rita Zoey Chin | Rita Zoey Chin |
| Angie Chuang | Angie Chuang |
| Catherine Chung | Catherine Chung |
| Jane Ciabattari | Jane Ciabattari |
| Carmela Ciuraru | Carmela Ciuraru |
| Patricia Clark | Patricia Clark |
| Tony Cohan | Tony Cohan |
| Teju Cole | Teju Cole |
| Michael Cunningham | Michael Cunningham |
| Emily M. Danforth | Emily M. Danforth |
| Tod Davies | Tod Davies |
| Annabel Davis-Goff | Annabel Davis-Goff |
| Siddhartha Deb | Siddhartha Deb |
| Jason Diamond | Jason Diamond |
| Junot Díaz | Junot Díaz |
| Stephen Dobyns | Stephen Dobyns |
| Geoff Dyer | Geoff Dyer |
| Erin Edmison | Erin Edmison |
| Brent Hayes Edwards | Brent Hayes Edwards |
| Brian T. Edwards | Brian T. Edwards |
| Marshall Efron | Marshall Efron |
| Deborah Eisenberg | Deborah Eisenberg |
| Susan Eisenberg | Susan Eisenberg |
| Hedi El Kholti | Hedi El Kholti |
| Trey Ellis | Trey Ellis |
| Eve Ensler | Eve Ensler |
| Elizabeth Enslin | Elizabeth Enslin |
| Barbara Epler | Barbara Epler |
| Jennifer Cody Epstein | Jennifer Cody Epstein |
| Ali Eteraz | Ali Eteraz |
| Percival Everett | Percival Everett |
| Joshua Ferris | Joshua Ferris |
| Marlon L. Fick | Marlon L. Fick |
| Boris Fishman | Boris Fishman |
| Stona Fitch | Stona Fitch |
| Frances FitzGerald | Frances FitzGerald |
| Peter H. Fogtdal | Peter H. Fogtdal |
| Seánan Forbes | Seánan Forbes |
| Ashley Ford | Ashley Ford |
| Linda Nemec Foster | Linda Nemec Foster |
| Lauren Francis-Sharma | Lauren Francis-Sharma |
| Edwin Frank | Edwin Frank |
| Judith Frank | Judith Frank |
| John Freeman | John Freeman |
| Ru Freeman | Ru Freeman |
| Nell Freudenberger | Nell Freudenberger |
| Molly Friedrich | Molly Friedrich |
| Joshua Furst | Joshua Furst |
| Gretchen Gerzina | Gretchen Gerzina |
| Keith Gessen | Keith Gessen |
| Francisco Goldman | Francisco Goldman |
| John Guare | John Guare |
| Conner Habib | Conner Habib |
| Jessica Hagedorn | Jessica Hagedorn |
| Brian Hall | Brian Hall |
| Theodore Hamm | Theodore Hamm |
| Lis Harris | Lis Harris |
| Kathryn Harrison | Kathryn Harrison |
| Jonathan T. Hine Jr. | Jonathan T. Hine Jr. |
| Edward Hoagland | Edward Hoagland |
| Laura Hoffmann | Laura Hoffmann |
| Nancy Horan | Nancy Horan |
| Marya Hornbacher | Marya Hornbacher |
| Sandra Hunter | Sandra Hunter |
| Megan Hustad | Megan Hustad |
| Randa Jarrar | Randa Jarrar |
| T. Geronimo Johnson | T. Geronimo Johnson |
| Paul Kane | Paul Kane |
| John Keahey | John Keahey |
| Uzma Aslam Khan | Uzma Aslam Khan |
| Dave King | Dave King |
| Gilbert King | Gilbert King |
| Robert Spencer Knotts | Robert Spencer Knotts |
| Ruth Ellen Kocher | Ruth Ellen Kocher |
| Nancy Kricorian | Nancy Kricorian |
| Amitava Kumar | Amitava Kumar |
| Rachel Kushner | Rachel Kushner |
| Amy Lawless | Amy Lawless |
| Zachary Lazar | Zachary Lazar |
| David Leavitt | David Leavitt |
| Jonathan Lee | Jonathan Lee |
| Katherine Leiner | Katherine Leiner |
| Ben Lerner | Ben Lerner |
| Ted Lewin | Ted Lewin |
| Ed Lin | Ed Lin |
| Michael Lindgren | Michael Lindgren |
| Julie Livingston | Julie Livingston |
| Craig Lucas | Craig Lucas |
| Doug Magee | Doug Magee |
| Ann Malaspina | Ann Malaspina |
| Janet Malcolm | Janet Malcolm |
| Charlotte Mandell | Charlotte Mandell |
| C. M. Mayo | C. M. Mayo |
| Patrick McGrath | Patrick McGrath |
| Clarissa McNair | Clarissa McNair |
| Deena Metzger | Deena Metzger |
| Thais Miller | Thais Miller |
| Kyle Minor | Kyle Minor |
| Rick Moody | Rick Moody |
| Skye Moody | Skye Moody |
| Lorrie Moore | Lorrie Moore |
| Dolan Morgan | Dolan Morgan |
| James McGrath Morris | James McGrath Morris |
| Bradford Morrow | Bradford Morrow |
| Judith Nies | Judith Nies |
| Idra Novey | Idra Novey |
| Stephen O’Connor | Stephen O’Connor |
| Joyce Carol Oates | Joyce Carol Oates |
| Alfa-Betty Olsen | Alfa-Betty Olsen |
| Michael Ondaatje | Michael Ondaatje |
| Peter Orner | Peter Orner |
| Duvall Osteen | Duvall Osteen |
| Raj Patel | Raj Patel |
| Chris Pavone | Chris Pavone |
| William Pierce | William Pierce |
| Francine Prose | Francine Prose |
| Marcus Rediker | Marcus Rediker |
| Adam Rex | Adam Rex |
| Clay Risen | Clay Risen |
| Roxana Robinson | Roxana Robinson |
| David Roediger | David Roediger |
| Paul Rome | Paul Rome |
| Mark Rotella | Mark Rotella |
| Jess Row | Jess Row |
| Gina Ruiz | Gina Ruiz |
| Luc Sante | Luc Sante |
| Steven Schroeder | Steven Schroeder |
| Sarah Schulman | Sarah Schulman |
| Taiye Selasi | Taiye Selasi |
| Elissa Schappell | Elissa Schappell |
| Danzy Senna | Danzy Senna |
| Vijay Seshadri | Vijay Seshadri |
| Kamila Shamsie | Kamila Shamsie |
| Jeff Sharlet | Jeff Sharlet |
| Wallace Shawn | Wallace Shawn |
| Matthew Shenoda | Matthew Shenoda |
| Nancy Shiffrin | Nancy Shiffrin |
| Russell Shorto | Russell Shorto |
| Elisabeth Sifton | Elisabeth Sifton |
| Charles Simic | Charles Simic |
| Tom Sleigh | Tom Sleigh |
| Holly Goldberg Sloan | Holly Goldberg Sloan |
| Alexis M. Smith | Alexis M. Smith |
| Jill Smolowe | Jill Smolowe |
| Linda Spalding | Linda Spalding |
| Scott Spencer | Scott Spencer |
| Betsy Sussler | Betsy Sussler |
| Emily Gray Tedrowe | Emily Gray Tedrowe |
| Roy A. Teel Jr. | Roy A. Teel Jr. |
| Michael Thomas | Michael Thomas |
| Ted Thompson | Ted Thompson |
| Kathleen Tolan | Kathleen Tolan |
| Joanne Turnbull | Joanne Turnbull |
| Chase Twichell | Chase Twichell |
| Padma Venkatraman | Padma Venkatraman |
| Jasmine Dreame Wagner | Jasmine Dreame Wagner |
| Eliot Weinberger | Eliot Weinberger |
| Jon Wiener | Jon Wiener |
| Elizabeth Winthrop | Elizabeth Winthrop |
| Sung J. Woo | Sung J. Woo |
| G. K. Wuori | G. K. Wuori |
| Matvei Yankelevich | Matvei Yankelevich |
| Dave Zirin | Dave Zirin |
| Photo: Marechal Aurore/Sipa/AP | Photo: Marechal Aurore/Sipa/AP |
Previous version
1
Next version