#Je Suis Samuel

20/10/2020

The brutal murder of Samuel Paty, a teacher in France on Friday, spun freedom of expression back into the media spotlight. Freedom of speech is, after all, a bedrock of Western democracy – not only the safeguarding of the expression of thoughts, feelings, and opinions but also, critically, the right and opportunity to be exposed to those of other people and groups too. The same principle applies in liberal education: learning, development, creativity and innovation emerge from the interaction of diverse insights, experiences and ideas; sometimes awkwardly or angrily if they clash, yet vital for healthy growth.

Emmanuel Macron has described the current Kairos moment as an existential crisis: a fundamental conflict between secular, liberal European values and those of radical Islam. A broader cultural backdrop is, however, a struggle between freedom of speech and freedom from harm, where the latter includes freedom from offence. Brendan O’Neill commented last weekend that, in France, “cancel culture turned murderous…the (teacher’s) beheading was a militarised expression of (it).” The silencing of a voice, the no-platforming of a dissenting view, can lead to dire unintended consequences.

Coming from a very different place politically to O’Neill, Douglas Murray struck a strikingly similar chord in, ‘The Madness of Crowds’ (2019/20): “We are going through a great…derangement”. Cultural and technological upheavals are driving humanity at breakneck speed into uncharted territories where many hitherto beliefs, values and assumptions are being stress-tested to their limits. Grasping at simplistic and polarising stances – no matter how irrational – is one way to feel safer and more purposeful in the world. So, question: What do these feverish times call for from us, as leaders, coaches, trainers and OD?

20 Comments

Julie Bullen

22/10/2020 05:18:48 pm

....maybe we need to think seriously about how to bring different cultures to a respectful understanding of each other so that we can live peacefully together with our differences - to do this we may also need to challenge the times when immigration is based on economic exploitation that builds animosity with local workers whose wages are undercut and ultimately animosity in those being exploited...how do we build an ethical basis to immigration? How will we develop a mutual appreciation of cultural sensitivities and acceptance as well allowing for challenge and respecting difference.

Nick Wright

22/10/2020 05:35:20 pm

Hi Julie and thank you for posting such a thoughtful response. I think you illustrated well how broad political, social and economic factors can influence different perspectives, experiences and actions. I believe this is something we need to take into account in our leadership, coaching, training and OD. Nothing we and/or our clients perceive and/or experience takes place in a cultural-contextual vacuum.

I guess that, from what I have read of Samuel Paty's ethos and stance, he would have agreed with much of what you said about e.g. allowing for challenge and respecting difference. It was in the context of exploring the notion and boundaries of freedom of expression, and how 'appropriate boundaries' are perceived differently by people who hold different beliefs and values, that he was murdered.

My sense is that one of the real challenges we face now is what happens when people and societies with a worldview that holds 'respectful understanding' as a core value come into contact with people and groups that hold a diametrically opposed value. In Paty's case, he encountered people who believed he should be silenced, dismissed from his teaching post or, ultimately, murdered for his secular liberal stance.

22/10/2020 06:47:09 pm

Its so complex! Maybe we need to start talking more with people we tend not to talk with! Maybe there could be some TV discussions set up on this basis to help us see what could be possible and how to steer a way through difficulties. And again, we often use immigration to exploit people in England - in countries where that is not the core intention, they are more careful who is admitted and there are attempts to help people understand the culture.

22/10/2020 07:00:33 pm

Yes, it is complex! In my experience, dialogue with people and groups from very different backgrounds who are interested and motivated to reach common understanding, greater respect for one-another etc. can be very fruitful.

It is, however, very different to trying to dialogue with people and groups that have no real interest in or respect for others who are different, and who seek only to impose their own worldview, culture etc. onto them.

I have met people and groups ranging from neo-Nazis to radical Muslims who absolutely despise liberal values. My attempts at engaging in meaningful dialogue with them have often failed - like talking to a brick wall.

I've also discovered that, sometimes, trying to reach out across a divide can be perceived by others as collusion with those on the other 'side'. I give some examples here: http://www.nick-wright.com/trouble-d.html

23/10/2020 10:28:55 am

Shall we try something together Nick?

23/10/2020 10:30:05 am

Intriguing. What do you have in mind?

25/10/2020 03:54:16 pm

No idea -yet! Shall we talk? Skype/Zoom etc....

25/10/2020 05:59:42 pm

Hi Julie. I had an idea after speaking with a Syrian psychologist friend in France today. She has some deeply profound insights, experiences and ideas in this area; particularly vis a vis how to build peace, respect and understanding across cultural boundaries. I'll email you with further details.

Aida Bermudo S

22/10/2020 05:38:15 pm

From the short article, Nick, I don't see why this happened. Can you explain in a sentence or two why was he murdered?

22/10/2020 06:00:36 pm

Hi Aida. That's a very good question...and a very difficult one to answer because there are so many complex dimensions to this issue.

At its simplest, a French teacher was stabbed and beheaded by a young Muslim man for showing caricature images of Mohammed: in the context of a classroom discussion about liberal-secular freedom of expression and its boundaries.

Here's a Wiki attempt at explaining some of the different dimensions to this terrible incident: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Samuel_Paty

Chaima Ayassi

24/10/2020 02:30:46 pm

Je ne suis pas Samuel
C'est vrai le meurtre de Samuel est brutal mais Macron a fait une grave action ce que donne une grave réaction .La liberté d'expression n'est jamais un moyen pour insulter,humilier ou faire mal au gens . Ce n'est pas de la liberté si je me moque de votre culture,religion,émotions. La France fait le terrorisme sous le nom de la liberté d'expression. Mais ce qui m embête que tout le monde sait parfaitement ce qui se passe mais personne ne réagis. Il n'y a plus de moralité.

25/10/2020 03:52:17 pm

Merci, Chaima, d'avoir présenté un défi aussi réfléchi. Oui, si la «liberté d'expression» n'est pas combinée avec d'autres valeurs profondes, comme un engagement à aimer, respecter et honorer les autres, elle peut créer un environnement très hostile. Je défends le droit à la liberté d'expression de tout mon cœur. Je crois aussi passionnément que nous devrions utiliser notre liberté pour de bon, et non comme une excuse pour abuser des croyances chères aux autres.

25/10/2020 05:56:15 pm

Bien dit.

25/10/2020 05:56:35 pm

Merci!

Abdelhak El Gataa

25/10/2020 04:02:12 pm

Nick, it's not true, he was conscious that he what he was showing hurt the sensitivity of a part of the class. Your liberty of expression doesn't allow u to heat others and lose respect of them. There are thousands of means to talk and explain about without humiliating any one. Respect and acceptance are the keys of the living together in peace.

25/10/2020 04:46:08 pm

Hi Abdelhak and thank you for posing a constructive challenge. I think there are at least two different issues here: (a) freedom of expression and (b) how we use that freedom. I agree with freedom of expression in a liberal democratic society. At the same time, I believe that such freedom should be used for good and not, say, to hurt or insult the treasured beliefs of others.

I would not seek to block freedom of expression, but I would advocate strongly that it is exercised in a spirit of love and respect for others. To murder someone for discussing these issues in a public forum is, for me, absolutely reprehensible - even if I disagree profoundly with the showing of images that some people would find so deeply hurtful and offensive.

Yes, I agree there are so many other ways in which the teacher could have made the same point; not because he shouldn't have been allowed to show the images, but because to do so would cause such deep and unnecessary hurt to some people. Showing such intentionally-offensive caricatures could easily and understandably be perceived as a provocation.

25/10/2020 06:02:44 pm

I totally agree with u. I don't agree either with the assassination. The teacher was doing so intentionally at the point to ask Muslim students to leave the class if they want. But why have a part of the classic to be pushed to leave? We all know that there's always some people who miss react when they are provocated. For me both are died killed and both are to blame.

25/10/2020 06:13:18 pm

Hi Abdelhak and thank you for the honesty in your response. My impression from reports I have read in the media is that the teacher was wanting to illustrate the boundaries and limits of 'freedom of expression', as part of a classroom discussion on free speech in France as a secular liberal society.

Tragically, the actions of the young man who murdered him illustrated the point he was making in the most graphic terms possible. I hope we, as human beings and societies, can find better ways to dialogue through these issues with far greater freedom, care, sensitivity and respect: on all sides.

Stephen Whiteley

6/12/2020 05:57:44 am

Yes, we have two directions we can go in. More violence and aggression or more love and compassion. Each one begets more of itself. Let's choose love and compassion. ❤ 😊

6/12/2020 06:03:21 am

Yes indeed to that, Simon! 😃🙏💛 What’s your sense of what love and compassion could/should look like in, say, the current situation in France?

#Je Suis Samuel

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