Sticks and stones can break our bones but words can never hurt us

In response to Steven Benko's Article: "What Charlie Hebdo says about laughter, violence, and free speech":
You say “Any whiff of censorship”.  Proposals in Australia from Finkelstein  read very similarly to Putins blogger laws.  Much more than a whiff !!!

You say “Most cherished beliefs and figures lampooned”. In Melbourne on Christmas eve, the "Life of Brian" was on National TV.   You would have to scrape the barrel to find someone threatening let alone harming for ridicule of Christianity.  Indeed, lifted academics do it all the time !  Do you remember “Piss Christ” exhibited by no less than the National Gallery in Melbourne.  The totally gutless art community would never try that with any other religion.

“Sticks and stones can break our bones but words can never hurt us” is not “odd advice”, but a sadly forgotten maxim attempting to make exactly the “Charlie Hebdo point” that there is no equivalence between verbal expression and physical violence.

The dangerous concept of “verbal violence” has become “accepted wisdom” in our society and is creeping into our laws.

The failure of intellectuals to see the dangers that they have unleashed through the rejection of the “sticks and stones” distinction is stunning:  If I feel hurt by your words, then my violent response is understandable. e.g. if a husband feels hurt by a wife’s dismissive comment, then a back hand across the mouth is understandable ? If a child, hits a child after being teased, it is understandable?  If a citizens hits a protester with a “hurtful” banner, it is understandable?  If a muslim sees a cartoon......

I would suggest that instead of learning from your daughter, you started to take responsibility for teaching her that violence is not an acceptable response to verbal inadequacy or a thin skin..... or she may grow up into a world, where speaking her mind may end her life.

You say "Laughter and violence have two things in common: first, they are both non-verbal; second, both occur when words fail".
Philosophy and stupidity have 2 things in common: the letter “s” and their prevalence in universities.