Why Didn’t Canadian College Students Want to Hear Ann Coulter Argue Gays Want to ‘Complain’ Like Blacks?
So Ann Coulter’s speech at the University of Ottawa was canceled, supposedly out of safety concerns from hundreds (thousands?) of angry protesters and not because Ms. Coulter is a hate leader and deserves no public forum. But news of her nixing was only announced moments before Coulter was expected to take the stage, and nothing gets protesters angrier than not being able to confront their target subject in person. The scheduled appearance was to arrive after Coulter addressed an audience in Ontario, where after being warned to tone things down (and then claiming she was “the victim of a hate crime” for being asked to censors herself), she reportedly argued “feminists, gays and illegal aliens all want to be black as they complain their rights are being attacked in the same way the rights of African-Americans once were.” Tomorrow she’s headed for the University of Calgary.
So far, it’s still on. And so far, her $24,000 Ontario speech check hasn’t been canceled.
Hey I’m gay AND black. Does it mean I get to complain even MORE?
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I personally can’t stand the hypocrisy and double standards of Ann Coulter (or her either for that matter), but I think she should have spoken IF there was organized, civil discourse.
If the protesters just yell over her and you can’t hear either side, then there would be no point for her to speak.
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What I like about the coverage is that hardly anyone refers to her as an author or commentator.
Most of the references in the straightest of the straight press up here call her a provocateur, an antagonist or when they want to be charitable, a pundit.
And she looked pretty stunned and stupid in the video clip in which she said a muslim student should “ride a camel” if she can’t get on an airplane.
There are a few people who are evoking the right to free speech (even though she has plenty of airtime and books, and it was the police who shut down the show) but I haven’t read any coverage defending her or her vile ideas.
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@scott ny’er: As in the case of Rush Windbag: When the real story of his sexuality finally come out the rightwing lunatics fringe’s heads are gonna be spinning like tops in a schoolyard and popping up like battlebots……..
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Yeah, she’ll have an easier time in backwoods oiltown Calgary… yee haw.
I’m torn really, I think she is just plain ridiculous and obnoxious but she was invited to speak and should have been allowed that right. I don’t want anyone’s freedom of speech taken away. Once you do for one it’s a slippery slope down a road no one wants to go.
Discourse and intellectual debate are the only recourse to bigots like Ms Coulter. Funny that these things could not happen in, of all places, a university.
Absolutely hate her and what she stands for but I will, to my death, defend her right to freedom of speech and the right of those who wish to hear her.
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@jonny:
I hear you. But this is bullshit.
She has books, and an entire television network, and the internet ready to disseminate her poison. Anyone who wants to read her ideas has no problem finding them.
Meanwhile there are activists who are prevented from crossing the Canadian border because the government considers them terrorists (palestinian or tamil).
Coulter is a clown, and no one with any sense takes her seriously. The free speech issue is a complete red herring because she has more of an audience than any of us will ever have.
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@strumpetwindsock: It’s arguably also a red herring because Canadian law doesn’t espouse “free speech” the same way American law does. We have a certain freedom of expression but that doesn’t mean that in this country, under our laws, you can say *any* old thing you want with impunity. If she doesn’t like the fact that you can be prosecuted in Canada for reckless, irresponsible hate speech then she should stay the fuck home and not cross the border.
In the U.S. she might have the ‘right’ to spew poison and promote hatred with no regard for truth or for consequences, but if you come to our country, where our values dominate, you’re subject to our rules.
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@Ken S:
Agreed.
You can say some terrible and hateful things and still not break the law (as the David Anenakew trial illustrated).
But the right to free speech is no excuse for promoting hatred, just as it is no excuse for death threats or any other threat of injury.
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Coulter actually said that she was the victim of a “hate crime” due 2 being reminded of Canadian rules on hate and speech prior to her first talk in Canada. She’s arrogant & stupd if she thinks thse laws dont apply 2 her
she acts offended because gays and lesbians want to end discrimination baded on sexual orientation. Like many people have said here on queerty, our own rights movement is similar but of course not identical to prior movements fighting for the rights of women, people of color and of people with disibilities.
i hope her Canadian audiences dont think she speaks 4 all US citizensor even the main stream!!
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This is all so idiotic.
Coulter claims to be a champion of free speech and that the liberals are dangerous facists, while she also wants to disenfranchise women/liberals/ethnic communities because these groups tend to disagree with her!
Likewise, some so-called liberals try to socially ostrasize those who have opinions contrary to theirs, and are willing to endorse social programs reeking of double-standards!
Both sides silencing their opponents with insults and threats… this is still fascism by any other name. When will the REAL defender of free speech stand up?
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We have no tolerance for people like her in Ottawa. But Calgary is bigot country. She will be much more welcome there.