Feel better now? ;^)
Posted on 10/24/2007 9:20:46 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
Listeners must discern among the riffraff
From the editors
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Opinion
Known for her mudslinging and immature name calling - she once called Al Gore a "total fag," like a bitter bully in the schoolyard - Ann Coulter comes to campus today as part of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, billed by its organizers as "the biggest conservative campus protest ever."
The controversial pundit, whose fame derives almost solely from appearances on cable news networks and a handful of inane, weightless books - is - if not a welcome speaker on our campus, at least a reflection of our willingness to let nearly any political viewpoint speak its case. By bringing such a polarizing figure as Coulter to our campus to voice her opinions, we reaffirm the freedom of expression that rests at the heart of our values. We must allow extreme or discomfiting views to be voiced in order to protect the core of our public discourse, and by extension the nation's covenant - the First Amendment of the Constitution. ,p>
But discourse does not necessarily mean one must stand by passively as a speaker like Coulter attempts to spread her virulent strain of hatred by grabbing sound bites on the evening news or headlines in the next day's paper. Discourse also means engaging opposition viewpoints through intelligent, in-depth questioning or even protest.
We ask students who attend Coulter's speech, which will be followed by a 30-minute Q-and-A, to challenge her to defend her views without resorting to cheap insults. Asking questions filled with a depth of understanding and nuance will show our university to be the place of higher learning we purport it to be. Intelligence can combat the ignorance with which pundits like Coulter fill our collective culture in ways no insult or personal attack ever can. Coulter's opponents could even carry signs expressing their distaste for her views, allowing her to speak - and in the process supporting the free expression we hold so dear - while proving her hateful message echoes only to the edge of the room.
Such steps allow students, as active, engaged citizens, to participate in the discourse on which our democracy is founded. But such a free flow of words permits extreme views alongside those more moderate, and we, as listeners, must fight hateful or hurtful messages by employing a discerning ear.
Protest they will do. Intelligent, in-depth questioning is not any part of their MO. WILL--NOT--HAPPEN.
DON'T TASE ME BRO!!!
Aren’t there rules that apply for the Ann Coulter threads? Or, did that get changed? Anybody?
Expect the anti-Ann contingient to disrupt any chance of Ann to speak. I hope her personal security team is prepared.
I thought she called Edwards a fag.
Neoliberalism truly is a mental disorder.
I saw something funny while at Target last night, and I took a picture of it with my phone.
The funny thing was 4 books line up next to each other, with the authors well-known.
They were, from left to right:
Alan Greenspan, Laura Ingraham, Bill Clinton, and Ann Coulter.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I don’t know, I kind of like her.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“Asking questions filled with a depth of understanding and nuance will show our university to be the place of higher learning we purport it to be...”
Somehow when I hear OJ being interviewed I don’t think of USC being a place of higher learning.
Well, at least somebody in the administration had the cajones to allow her to speak (see Columbia Univ.)
They will probably be well-prepared. Last year, Daniel Pipes was invited to speak on campus, and the security was tight.
And, as Ann has said, fortunately they throw like girls.
Feel better now? ;^)
Quite a "depth of understanding and nuanced" editorial.
USC, which was founded by Methodists in 1880, had, until fairly recently, a reputation for being a conservative school. The leftward shift seemed to accelerate after James Zumberge became the university’s president in 1977.
Arrested for their thoughtful, intelligent protest of Coulter.
I've found this to be true ever since I began debating liberals in the 1960's. Liberals tend to base their arguments on emotion, whereas conservatives tend to base theirs on facts and logic.
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