‘Offended’ Italians sue Charlie Hebdo for Amatrice pasta cartoons

[webfact]

‘Offended’ Italians sue Charlie Hebdo for Amatrice pasta cartoons

 

 

AMATRICE: -- The Italian town of Amatrice is suing French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for depicting earthquake victims as pasta dishes.

 

Amatrice, the home of “amatriciana’ pasta sauce was flattened in August by a deadly quake.

 

One cartoon, entitled “Earthquake Italian Style” captioned drawings of a bloodied and bandaged man “Penne in tomato sauce”, a scratched and swollen woman “Penne au gratin”, and a collapsed building with blood and feet emerging from it “Lasagne”.

 

After Italians responded angrily, the magazine, famed for its provocative, taboo-busting cartoons, published a second one, showing a person half-buried under rubble saying: “Italians … it’s not Charlie Hebdo who built your homes, it’s the Mafia!”

 

The construction sector in Italy has long been plagued by inattention to regulations, and both regular building work and post-disaster reconstruction has at times been infiltrated by organised crime.

 

Among the buildings that collapsed was an elementary school that was supposed to have been upgraded to modern anti-quake norms four years ago. The National Anti-Corruption Agency was looking into how the contract for that work was awarded.

 

Many Italians responded angrily to the cartoons, despite their prime minister marching in support of press freedom alongside a host of world leaders following last year’s attacks on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris headquarters.

 

Freedom to offend?

“Both Amatrice and all Italy have been offended,” pointed out Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi. “We’re preparing the paperwork and through the consulate we’ll sue them in France as well. In case we win, the funds will be used for reconstruction or given to needy families.”

 

Following the attacks on Charlie Hebdo’s offices, the UK’s then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that in a free society people have the right to offend each other. He said we have no right not to be offended.

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry also spoke out, saying that free expression and a free press are universal values that can be attacked but never eradicated.

 

Earthquake

The quake in the central Apennines Mountain region, claimed nearly 300 lives, injured hundreds of people and left thousands of residents homeless when their towns and villages were destroyed.

 

Amatrice was the town hardest-hit by the tremor on August 24.

 

230 bodies were found in the debris.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-09-13

[baboon]

Note Italians are suing Charlie Hebdo. Not bursting into their offices and slaughtering the staff. Just saying...

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that in a free society people have the right to offend each other. He said we have no right not to be offended.

Being offended is a free choice made by the receiving party not the offender.

Edited September 13, 2016 by klauskunkel

[mike324]

human beings should know the limits and be more respectful...

[shirtless]

The comic was in bad taste but hey many things offend me , litigation is a bit rich.Where is the pain and suffering from this cartoon. Italy is ready to implode they need money.

[Skeptic7]

This skinned, ultra-sensitive world today. People gotta learn to get over themselves and get on with life. Below a couple quotes on being offended...

 

To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

David A. Bednar, former president of Brigham Young University

 

If you're offended, it's your problem.

Salman Rushdie, Author 
 

 

[tifino]

 

... could have been worse...

 

... what if the tower of pizza had been flattened?

[jhonnie]

no wonder they ( the magazine ) got paid a visit; i would probably lock the doors

[Rc2702]

When was the world less offended?

 

Why are people joking about people dying. They did it for 911 too btw made sick cartoons of planes approaching etc. Not sure they did it for the Paris "911" ? Maybe they had an ounce of self respect left. 

[Skeptic7]

13 hours ago, jhonnie said:

no wonder they ( the magazine ) got paid a visit; i would probably lock the doors

So you're saying that subjective offense taken by the overly sensitive from a satirical publication justifies brutality and murder?!? REALLY??? That pen to paper or by spoken word justifies a response of maiming and death??? You're comment says that you agree with the brutal murders of the Charlie Hebdo staff. 

 

W-T-F?!?

 

What F'd up country are you from? Certainly can't be one that puts freedom and personal liberties on it's list. Based on your comment, most comedians should be murdered then...because they offend and say bat-shit crazy HILARIOUS stuff and no doubt someone, somewhere is ALWAYS offended. So you think they should 'be paid a visit'? UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 

NOW I'M OFFENDED

 

Please scroll up to Post #6 and read those quotes...

 

 

Edited September 14, 2016 by Skeptic7