All of the obvious points have been made elsewhere. It’s gross; it dishonors the Texans who liberated France from the actual Nazi menace; there’ll be no terror attacks over this insult, unlike certain other insults we’re all familiar with. Fair enough. I’d add that it’s … lame. This is the best they can do with a story as vivid as a Biblical flood in the heart of cowboy country? At least work some redneck or Trump jokes in there, for fark’s sake.

Charlie Hebdo cover. If I'm reading this correctly, it says: "God exists! He drowned the neo-Nazis of Texas." https://t.co/dzU1Dc3F73

— Noam Blum (@neontaster) August 30, 2017

But look. This is a paper that’s shed blood for free speech and the right to provoke. They may be the last publication in the western world for which provocation genuinely is an equal-opportunity offense. That’s not an excuse, just a reminder that for Charlie Hebdo, I think, sacred cows of any sort are an irresistible target. What’s the nastiest thing you could write about innocent people suffering immensely from a natural disaster? It’s CH’s mission to figure that out and follow through. In a way, though grievously insulting, it’s not personal.

This comment from conservative radio host Joe Walsh is also making the rounds today:

French rag Charlie Hebdo mocks Harvey victims as Neo Nazis

Charlie Hebdo makes fun of everyone but Muslims. Cowards https://t.co/VUnXuN1ARy

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) August 31, 2017

Did Walsh forget that, er, most of the editorial staff was murdered by jihadis for the alleged offense of drawing Mohammed? Of course not. He remembers; his point is that Charlie Hebdo has vowed not to do that anymore, allegedly proof that they’ve gone soft on Islam. I don’t know, though. How many other western newspapers had something like this on their front page after the Barcelona terror attack a few weeks ago?

Charlie Hebdo's front cover on the #Barcelona attacks: 'Islam, religion of peace' pic.twitter.com/JMtAU8vJME

— Santiago de la Presilla (@delaPR_) August 23, 2017

Anyway. Maybe cartoonists everywhere should take the rest of the week off, eh? A red-state catastrophe isn’t bringing out the best in them.