Well it sure as hell doesn't equal "flotation device"!
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!
Have they seen what Dean has been ranting about lately?
Well it sure as hell doesn't equal "flotation device"!
Amendment I states,
Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
The key word is "Congress." And since the ratification of Amendment XIV, state and local government as well.
With that being the case, private property owners have no constitutional or legal obligation to let any one speak or for that matter to speak about any topic.
LOL. Thanks.
I'd be interested in knowing who else has spoken there.
I would love to know who else has spoken there too. Is this college so backwater that they have been insulated from the public vitriol against Republicans, conservatives, and religious people by Democrats and leftists for the past 50 or so years?
You have a whole scrapbook, huh?
LOL
Did you write this Bozo?
That was excellent!
Liberals flung a pie at her. She said they threw like girls.
Ain't Ann somethin'? Eat your heart out Father Disease!
I get a mental image of this guy clenching his fists and stamping his little feet while making his comments.
Great find. Now, I wonder if Franken said anything hateful and if President Rev. Dennis Dease commented on it.
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