Posted on 04/26/2005 5:52:33 PM PDT by wagglebee
Ann Coulter spoke at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and, in terms that should have surprised no one, she flung barbs at liberal icons, calling Sen. Ted Kennedy "a human dirigible" and Sen. Barbara Boxer "learning disabled."
Climbing aboard the anti-free speech express, St. Thomas University president Rev. Dennis Dease wrote in the Bulletin, a university newsletter, that "although [Ann Coulter's] presentation may have been meant as an 'act' or a 'shtick' to entertain by provoking those who disagree, such behavior unfortunately contributes to the growing dark side of our culture - a disrespect for persons and their sincerely held beliefs.
"Such hateful speech vulgarizes our culture and goes against everything the University of St. Thomas stands for."
Coulter was a guest of the school's chapter of the College Republicans and a student newspaper, the Standard. There is no word on whether or not the Rev. Dease will take action against those groups.
Dease, curiously, was not present at the speech he so sternly criticized, but relied on others whose tender sensibilities were offended by Ann's remarks.
"I am told by many people," he wrote, "that Ms. Coulter was unsparing in her vitriolic criticism of 'liberals' and treated in a sarcastic, disrespectful and mean-spirited manner any audience members who challenged her viewpoints."
One offended attendee, Fr. Dease wrote, who "found both Ms. Coulter’s remarks and attitude to be appalling, had an interesting question. He understands the value of hearing 'controversial' speakers and debating issues, 'but where do you draw the line?' he asked. 'When do you say, We’re not going to invite this person to campus, especially if she isn’t going to respect others’ points of view?'..."
According to reports, he said he "heard from people whose views I respect suggest that her performance went far beyond the bounds of what is commonly accepted as civil discourse."
One person who was there told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he understood how Coulter's comments could have hurt others.
"I knew kind of what she stood for," said Dominic Kramer, a senior political science major. "One thing that disappointed me overall, from both sides, was the feeling of tension in the room. I think Ann was very well aware of that. That's what feeds her fire, if you will."
Given that Ann Coulter has made no secret of her antipathy toward liberals - an attitude generously and often humorously reflected in her books and in her campus appearances around the nation - one wonders what Fr. Dease expected from her in her appearance at his university?
If you invite a Hollywood liberal to speak, you're bound to get bloviation. That's what they do. If you invite a pyrotechnics expert, expect fireworks. That's what he's there for.
Memo to Fr. Dease: Don't let Michael Savage speak at your school - he plainly says liberalism is a mental disorder!
Hateful? I'd call that cutting them a break!
Well then he better not invite the Democratic National Committee Chairman who insists on calling the POTUS a liar, corrupt, vile, you name it Bush has been called it this last 5 years!
Awwww, poor little liberals got their feeeeeeeeeeelings hurt. Boo hoo freaking hoo.
"She isn’t going to respect others’ points of view?'"
Of course not. Why should anyone respect Marxists, whose theory has proven wrong everywhere it's been tried, and who refuse to let go of it? It'd be like hiring a person who believed the earth was flat to teach geography or captain a ship. There is simply no point 'respecting' such foolishness. It's counter to the progress of humanity.
lolol, and this is what passes for a head of a school of higher learning?
Gee, I thought that those were their good qualities.
Only Liberals are mind-numbed enough to believe that even erroneous beliefs, sincerely held, are worthy of consideration! That's just another reason why Liberalism must be rejected by all rational beings.
If liberals weren't idiots, they wouldn't be so upset when they're called such. BTW, you know the rules for threads about Ann.:)
Rev. Dease would have undoubtedly said the same thing about Ward Churchill's screechings.
Uh-huh, suuuure.
Dirigible = BLIMP
Hey! I took care of that in #2, maybe you should pick up some of the slack! :)
Thank you for posting the picture. I see that you know the rules. lol
It sounds as though this priest fits right into the liberal academic cradle in the Twin Cities metro. Members of the ELCA can thank much of that very same cradle for it's leadership into left-wing madness also, such as our Bishop.
Sorry, I was writing before no. 2 was published. I thought it was three pics, btw.:)
So calling people little Eichmanns is free speech. But calling Ted Kennedy a drunken slob is hateful.
The liberal university system and MSM can kiss my ass.
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