Posted on 10/02/2001 9:14:04 AM PDT by truthandlife
Conservative columnist Ann Coulter, fired from her contributing editor perch at the National Review Online, blames it on free-speech hysteria in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. In a recent online column, Coulter opined that the United States should respond forcefully to the terrorist attacks: "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity," she said. The comment provoked an uproar, and the National Review Online subsequently refused to run another Coulter piece in which she referred to "swarthy males." When Coulter complained, she was fired. Tuesday's Washington Post quotes Coulter as saying she doesn't need friends like that. "Every once in awhile they'll throw one of their people to the wolves to get good press in left-wing publications," she told the newspaper. National Review Online Editor Jonah Goldberg told the Post, "We didn't feel we wanted to be associated with the comments expressed in those two columns." Coulter told the Washington Post she's getting great publicity as a result of the flap.
Wow, tell us how you really feel....
P.S. right on
The groupthink is spreading.
Well, let's be fair. I don't think Ann is saying we should invade every country that's not Christian. Just the countries that explicitly and implicitly support the Islamic Revolution.
But she may have gone too far. I'm not sure we'd have to actively convert anyone. I'd bet that after a couple of generations of benevolent occupation (as opposed to installing yet another despotic "royal" family) most of the young people would either just become secular consumers like most of the West or actually adopt Christian values by choice.
But, to be even more fair, except for the conversion bit, what Ann said wasn't so much different from what the Ayn Rand Institute said. Peikoff just said things slowly and less emotionally. (The essay has been multiple posted, but this is the only thread I have handy: Hey Libertarian! The Ayn Rand Institute Has A Message For YOU! )
Mark W.
Indeed... it must be a terrible strain to lose a friend in such a way.... which is why I would be inclined to forgive her comments.... but defending them is misguided at best.
Good to see you my friend.
The current freedom of Afghani Moslems is the freedom to live under a system of Islamic law which punishes conversion/"apostasy" with death. Exactly how free is that? The contrast is hardly so stark and clear.
His mummy wouldn't let him.
I'll give Ann this, she is more concerned about their souls than I am.
Bombs away!!!
Is this the same Jonah Goldberg who called our allies, the French, "cheese-eating surrender-monkies"?
Does anyone actually picture Anne participating or supporting an organization dedicated to converting Muslims to Christianity. I don't. I interpret her words as an attempt to stake out the extreme position which would mirror the expectations of the terrorists. I have heard her make exaggerated statements in the past which were designed to keep the discussion lively.
There are, in fact, people being charged right now in Afghanistan for teaching Christianity. I believe that the penalty could include death. How's that for extreme.
The stated position of the United States is that Bin Laden is a terrorist killer and that the Taliban leadership which supports him is to be treated the same as he if they refuse to turn him over. Anne's statements are hardly extreme given the grave situation in which the USA finds itself.
Where Jonah Goldberg is Anne's boss?
They do, if they buy their own ink and paper.
A lot people can no longer comprehend satire, after living in PC land for so long...
force them to convert to Christianity at gunpoint just like good old Ann said we should.
Just as dishonest as before.
Thank you! I thought I was the only one who saw the remark for what it was, a tongue in cheek exageration.
What you're referring to isn't capitalism, it's Hypocrisy. - If a writer's column is nothing but an echo of the publisher's thoughts, then they would make an excellent replacement for Dan Rather.
NR is the BIG loser in this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.