So, security was forced to shut down a speech by controversial pundit Ann Coulter at the University of Ottawa yesterday after a protest sparked concerns for her safety. I think this is sad and embarrassing.
Listen, I know she’s a controversial figure who uses shocking satire and sarcasm to make her points, but if Ahmadinejad can speak at Columbia U, surely Ann Coulter can speak at Ottawa U without being intimidated into silence.
You don’t have to agree with what she says but you have to respect her right to say it. That’s the hard part of freedom of speech: Hating what they say but defending their right to say it.
Agree or disagree…I’d like to know what you think.
I don’t like her. I think she’s rude and offensive. But I think you’re right. Just because I don’t agree with her, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to speak.
- Mrs AI just won’t listen.
I am all about freedom of speech. But why give her a stage to say these offensive things. We do not have to provide such a platform especially for her. Would we provide such a stage for KKK it is freedom of speech doesn’t mean we have to condone it.
- TraceyShe has a right to speak just the same as the protestors have a right to speak. She chose not to speak that night – the University did not tell her she couldn’t. However, anyone in Canada has a right to freedom of speech but when that speech incites hate – that right should be taken away. We live in a multi-cultural society and celebrate the various creeds and colours of our citizens – to have someone from another Country come in and spread her hate is insulting ALL Canadians – not just those of a different religion. Ann Coulter is disgusting and is the posterchild for what is wrong with this world.
- AmandaI agree she should be able to speak. I also agree that it was right for the University to give her warning that she might want to check out how our laws look compared to the U.S. She has to have a platform for her ideas just anyone else does. To have her start making slanderous comments about the IQ of Canadians only brings her out as the person she was thought to be.
- Jennifer“We live in a multi-cultural society..”
No EVERYONE thinks that’s such a good thing, Amanda! The problem is, you voice any opposition to this forced ‘multiculturalism’ or immigration and you’re branded ‘racist’ or ‘hater’. The liberal/left believe in free speech as long as you agree with their ideology. They bully you into silence if you don’t comply.
- sispatIn the spirit of free speech, you are right sispat. In the spirit of tolerance, understanding, and an attempt to help protect these people escaping violence, hate, and plain terror in their home countries. I would think that you would be proud of that fact rather than mock it. Put yourself in their shoes and try and understand what it is that made them feel it was necessary to move their entire family across an ocean, or even one person in the family coming here to work for minimum wage, living below our poverty line so they can save enough money to bring their families over. No one is bullying you into silence, this is a free country you are free to leave and go somewhere that these people have come from. Then maybe you’ll have a much greater tolerance for those less fortunate than you. Have a nice trip, be sure to send us a card before you go in front of the firing squad for running your mouth in a country that isn’t as tolerant. Now that’s Free Speech!
- JenniferI agree that she has the right to free speech and was disappointed she did not go through with it, but I feel like she manipulated the media in many ways as this story unfolded. The protesters, according to everybody but her, were peaceful and never truly threatened her safety as her people stated. The police simply suggested that a larger venue might have been a good idea so as to allow everyone that wanted to view it a chance to. The protesters have just as much of a right to be there as she does with their freedom of speech so that argument seems a little odd to me. There is little doubt in my mind that she wanted this media frenzy as she was at “Canada’s University” and she knew it would create an uproar across the country. Finally the venue was changed from Carleton to the University of Ottawa leading up to the event because of regulations that Carleton has on hateful speech on campus, yet they seem to have escaped all of the media’s attention. Why? because they aren’t “Canada’s University”. When The University of Ottawa talk was called off, Coulter blamed it on not only the University of Ottawa but all of Canada, it was exactly what she wanted. Sorry Ann, but if you truly believe in everything you say, you shouldn’t be afraid to say it because you’re in the capital of one of the greatest countries in the world and have very little support. You had your chance to speak, and YOU wasted it. If you choose to come back I hope you make the right choice and follow through with your talk, it might gain you a tiny bit of respect.
- Matt