Nous sommes tous Charlie: the value of satire

But the most beautiful of all doubts
Is when the downtrodden and despondent raise their heads
And
Stop believing in the strength
Of their oppressors.

Satire provides insight into the personal and the political. Without such insights, bemusement, fog, fatalism and ignorance prevail. For example, supporters of capital punishment somehow persuade themselves that executions show a reverence for life and for their version of freedom. When he was Governor of Texas, the God fearing George W. Bush seldom granted clemency to prisoners sentenced to death; and when invitations were issued for witnesses to Texas executions, there was seldom any shortage of volunteers, moved apparently by their moral, religious or political certainty. In response to such ghoulishness I argued that if there was more satire in America, the justifications for murder by the State would fall away. Such arguments fell on deaf ears.

A couple of years ago, in ABC televised interviews with prominent Arab women, I asked about the nature of humour in their respective countries. These were intellectually critical, high achieving women from fields of literature, business, drama, government and medicine. They gave engaging illustrations of social and economic developments in their countries. They appeared optimistic about the future. They had been confounding stereotypes about patriarchal authoritarianism in the Arab world until. Until I asked, 'Let's turn for a minute to the function of satire in your cultures ? What and who do you laugh at ?'

Silence followed. The interviewees looked bemused. No doubt aware that their answers might be broadcast around the world, they admitted that they could not even laugh at bigotry, at authoritarianism, at the down right sadists – in particular regarding the rights of women. Somewhat ironically, they did laugh when acknowledging that in their cultures, in public at least, there was little to laugh at.

Praising satire and saluting the slaughtered Parisian satirists, does not mean to say that any topic is fit target for such humour, or that any alleged humour could be labelled satirical. Laughter at absurdity is great medicine but attempting to make fun of the powerless is usually cruel and therefore out of bounds. Exposure of radio shock jocks' bullying and derision of opponents could be and has been fit focus for satire. Even if they like to laugh at their own jokes, such radio men seem intent on promoting views which are seldom funny. For example, Alan Jones' pillorying of Bob Brown and Julia Gillard was humourless, cruel, contained no irony but did verge on encouraging violence.

The assassinations in France remind us that those journalists were continuing centuries of struggle to show that satire is salutary, that non-violence is crucial, that freedom of expression is not only part of French notions of liberty but is also an international torch to be held aloft.

Following Charlie Hebdo's example means not being half hearted about freedom of speech. No holds barred irreverence may be problematic but self censorship can mean a blind eye to intolerance. The ink of satire must continue to flow. Nous sommes tous Charlie.