Tolerating Intolerance

The author contends that while concerns about double standards in terrorism and the targeting of Islam by publications like Charlie Hebdo are legitimate, the solution lies in upholding liberal values and the rule of law. The text argues that Islamic fanaticism fuels anti-immigrant bigotry and that the 'Je Suis Charlie' movement represented a genuine expression of solidarity and a defense of civil liberties. It concludes that the state must protect citizens from terrorism without succumbing to authoritarian 'national security state' measures, emphasizing the need for minority participation and transparency.

• The author argues that the 'Je Suis Charlie' demonstrations were not a mask for anti-Islamic sentiment, as organizers excluded neo-fascist parties and advocated for civil liberties and the integration of Arabs into civil society.
• Islamic fanaticism is described as a catalyst for xenophobia and the reinforcement of negative stereotypes about Arabs and Islam, which the author suggests may be the extremists' intended purpose.
• The text asserts that freedom of speech is a fundamental right that allows artists and writers to choose their targets without permission or a requirement to be 'even-handed,' regardless of whether the content offends religious or ethnic sensibilities.
• The author warns that responding to terrorism with counter-terror measures risks creating an authoritarian 'national security state' and argues that democracy should not be defined solely by what it opposes.

APA

Bronner, S. E. (2015). Tolerating Intolerance. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/tolerating-intolerance/

Chicago

Bronner, Stephen Eric. Tolerating Intolerance. Green European Journal, 2015. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/tolerating-intolerance/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bronner |first1=Stephen Eric |title=Tolerating Intolerance |publisher=Green European Journal |date=5 February 2015 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/tolerating-intolerance/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bronner2015tolerating, author = {Bronner, Stephen Eric}, title = {{Tolerating Intolerance}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/tolerating-intolerance/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }