Hate speech is Free Speech. It is the very reason for that speech. For Friendly speech doesn’t need protection, just the ones some of us don’t want to hear.
The First Amendment guarantees repulsive opinions are protected, but so is the criticism of the hateful speech. Coulter and company are trying to spin protests as intolerant but it’s only manipulation.
If anyone’s right to free speech was violated, it could only be Ms. Coulter. That is an argument that can and should be made. But not by me. I plead utter ignorance of the circumstances of her planned talk. But if she was to be paid for her appearance, then I’m sure there is a clause in the contract that allows the sponsor to withdraw the invitation and presumably pay a cancellation fee. If there is money involved, then I would argue that it is not “free speech” in either a figurative or a literal sense.
What Darsan points out mirrors what I have said in these comment pages multiple times in the past. It is the height of hypocrisy to scold me for not tolerating your intolerance.
The thing is, I’ve listened to trump supporters, I’ve listened to the tea party, I’ve listened to the religious right, and I’ve listened to Coulter, Limbaugh and O’Reilly, I’ve paid close attention to the republicans for many years. That’s exactly why I am no longer a middle-of-the-road republican anymore. The stuff they spout is largely ignorant and stupid. I HAVE been paying attention to them. The problem is that these folks never seem to make sense in the real world where people actually live. If the conservatives have such great practical and sensible ideas to promote, then exactly what are those ideas?
Coulter has a right to speak and the protesters have a right to protest. The university has an obligation to provide safe venues for such activities. There’s no place for violence, but it’s really easy to see how violence can break out. Both Coulter and the protesters are at fault. Coulter herself, because she is hateful and inflammatory. The protesters because a few were violent. But make no mistake, Coulter’s entire sick, twisted shtick is simply self-promotion. She’s like poor demented trump in that regard. Or PT Barnum.
Some of these folks do incite violence so that is an issue too. I guess the kkk and nazis are protected, but we can’t allow them to railroad us under the guise of free speech.
The hard thing is that all the protests was to give more weight to the message of Coulter. Her free speech was violated by the protestors and the University. I can understand why they were protesting her message, because I do not like her messages either. But, shutting her down like they did gives her message more power, and makes freedom of speech a much shakier proposition. Who will be powerful enough to stop the next message…. perhaps one we would want to hear?
A similar situation occurred at the university at which I worked. The university held that disgusting opinions were educational, that students should hear both “sides” of the story and make up their own minds. I can’t remember, though, whether he was eventually cancelled or not.
Coulter took to her verified Twitter account Wednesday to say the university canceled her speech, but UC Berkeley said it had never been officially scheduled.University spokesman Dan Mogulof said: “Ms. Coulter and speakers regardless of their position are welcome on this campus.”
There was NO violation of free speech as specified in the First Amendment. Ann Coulter could have gone to Berkeley and started talking – unless she gets arrested for this, there isn’t a violation of free speech. Protesters were allowed to protest, so again – NO VIOLATION.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 7 years ago
Hate speech is Free Speech. It is the very reason for that speech. For Friendly speech doesn’t need protection, just the ones some of us don’t want to hear.
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
The First Amendment guarantees repulsive opinions are protected, but so is the criticism of the hateful speech. Coulter and company are trying to spin protests as intolerant but it’s only manipulation.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Both Night-Gaunt and Darsan are right.
If anyone’s right to free speech was violated, it could only be Ms. Coulter. That is an argument that can and should be made. But not by me. I plead utter ignorance of the circumstances of her planned talk. But if she was to be paid for her appearance, then I’m sure there is a clause in the contract that allows the sponsor to withdraw the invitation and presumably pay a cancellation fee. If there is money involved, then I would argue that it is not “free speech” in either a figurative or a literal sense.
What Darsan points out mirrors what I have said in these comment pages multiple times in the past. It is the height of hypocrisy to scold me for not tolerating your intolerance.
billsarar almost 7 years ago
Everyone’s was violated. When one voice is silenced, all should listen harder.
RonnieAThompson Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I agree with BILLSARAR.
twclix almost 7 years ago
The thing is, I’ve listened to trump supporters, I’ve listened to the tea party, I’ve listened to the religious right, and I’ve listened to Coulter, Limbaugh and O’Reilly, I’ve paid close attention to the republicans for many years. That’s exactly why I am no longer a middle-of-the-road republican anymore. The stuff they spout is largely ignorant and stupid. I HAVE been paying attention to them. The problem is that these folks never seem to make sense in the real world where people actually live. If the conservatives have such great practical and sensible ideas to promote, then exactly what are those ideas?
Coulter has a right to speak and the protesters have a right to protest. The university has an obligation to provide safe venues for such activities. There’s no place for violence, but it’s really easy to see how violence can break out. Both Coulter and the protesters are at fault. Coulter herself, because she is hateful and inflammatory. The protesters because a few were violent. But make no mistake, Coulter’s entire sick, twisted shtick is simply self-promotion. She’s like poor demented trump in that regard. Or PT Barnum.
Robert Allen almost 7 years ago
Is that Trump hiding under that hat?
montessoriteacher almost 7 years ago
Some of these folks do incite violence so that is an issue too. I guess the kkk and nazis are protected, but we can’t allow them to railroad us under the guise of free speech.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 7 years ago
The hard thing is that all the protests was to give more weight to the message of Coulter. Her free speech was violated by the protestors and the University. I can understand why they were protesting her message, because I do not like her messages either. But, shutting her down like they did gives her message more power, and makes freedom of speech a much shakier proposition. Who will be powerful enough to stop the next message…. perhaps one we would want to hear?
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 7 years ago
“Ms.” Coulter is ALL for “Free Speech”…as long as she is PAID for it.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Coulter has been “silenced”? Really? Seems like she was just on TV. That’s not “being silenced.”
magicwalnut Premium Member almost 7 years ago
A similar situation occurred at the university at which I worked. The university held that disgusting opinions were educational, that students should hear both “sides” of the story and make up their own minds. I can’t remember, though, whether he was eventually cancelled or not.
braindead Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Ann Coulter’s freedom of speech is being totally violated.
You know, like totally.
.
I mean, all her published press releases, all her interviews, all her tweets, and her TV appearances said so.
.
And I’ve heard she will have a book coming out about it.
Radish the wordsmith almost 7 years ago
Coulter took to her verified Twitter account Wednesday to say the university canceled her speech, but UC Berkeley said it had never been officially scheduled.University spokesman Dan Mogulof said: “Ms. Coulter and speakers regardless of their position are welcome on this campus.”
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/us/ann-coulter-berkeley-speech-canceled/
Nantucket Premium Member almost 7 years ago
There was NO violation of free speech as specified in the First Amendment. Ann Coulter could have gone to Berkeley and started talking – unless she gets arrested for this, there isn’t a violation of free speech. Protesters were allowed to protest, so again – NO VIOLATION.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 7 years ago
Even protesting is okay just so long there is no move to intimidate others to not come. That would be a violation.
Radish the wordsmith almost 7 years ago
The violation is that the right wing is making a big stink over something they created.
dogday Premium Member almost 7 years ago
See, it’s all a matter of prepositions: One side is talking about freedom OF speech; the other side is talking about speech FOR free.