SubscribeThe Daily Trojan’s Take On Coulter’s USC Visit
From the University of Southern California’s student newspaper, the Daily Trojan:
Ann Coulter comes to campus, criticizes liberal politics
The controversial author speaks at an event for Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.
By: Radomir Avila
Posted: 10/25/07
Conservative author and media personality Ann Coulter spoke to more than 200 people at Annenberg Auditorium on Wednesday, a night that included political jabbing inside and a gathering of protestors outside.
The event was part of “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week,” a nationwide effort by the David Horowitz Freedom Center to “confront the two Big Lies of the political left; that George Bush created the war on terror and that Global Warming is a greater danger to Americans than the terrorist threat,” according to Horowitz’s Terrorism Awareness website. It was sponsored by the USC College Republicans and USC Objectivist Club and underwritten by both the Freedom Center and the Young America’s Foundation.
Coulter, self-admittedly notorious for making controversial and offensive remarks, addressed why she believes the Democratic Party enables Islamofascism, criticized liberal stances on both international and domestic policy, with a focus on foreign policy in the Middle East and the Iraq War, and addressed the threat of religious fundamentalism.
She said that 9/11 was “the greatest hate crime in world history” and that Guantanamo Bay looks more like a freshman dorm than a detention center, in response to a recent report that some detainees have gained 20 lbs.
Much to the amusement of the audience, which, judging by frequent applause and the content of the Q-and-A session following the talk, was composed largely of Coulter supporters, the best-selling author doled out her signature jabs at the Democratic Party.
“There’s always a conflict of interest when people who hate America are asked to lead it,” Coulter said about the Democrats’ midterm election victory, soliciting laughter from the auditorium.
For many, the heart of the debate over the week is the term “Islamofascist,” a phrase loaded for both sides…
“Fascism is a national movement while Islamic extremism is a fragmented one,” said Wais Hassan, a graduate student studying public administration at USC Sacramento, who was not at the event. “When you use fascism, you assume there is a united front trying to start World War III.” …
When asked by a Daily Trojan reporter to define fascism, Coulter said the reporter should look it up in a dictionary.
Organizers of the week, both at USC and across the country, said the goal of such speeches is to increase discourse on an issue of national importance.
Both Shipp and Kip Payne, vice-chair of USC College Republicans, said they felt a lack of discussion was the reason why college campuses were targeted for the week.
“We should be discussing terrorism because it is what is happening around the world,” Payne said. “Any time an issue is discussed at a national research university like USC, it will get national attention.”
“It’s mind-boggling that more people are not marching in the streets protesting women being third-class citizens, the absent freedom of the press and other injustices,” said Omri Ceren, a doctoral candidate in communication. “In the classroom, it’s difficult to bring the subject up.”
Others confirmed the need for debate and dialogue on Islamic extremism, but questioned the choice of Coulter as the event’s speaker.
Shipp said representatives from campuses were asked to extend a hand to the Muslim community to encourage open debate and dialogue.
Both the Muslim Student Union and Students for Justice in Palestine said that no such offer was made at USC.
Though organizers praised Coulter for her brash personality and bold, attention-grabbing statements, some critics say these characteristics are a detriment to promoting thoughtful discourse on controversial issues.
“I think she was a bad figure to pick,” Hassan said. “She is not going to convince liberals because of her past. I’m not sure if she is an expert on the Middle East or was picked to get attention and press.” …
Some attendees said Coulter’s polemic remarks are appropriate for a political pundit.
“She’s not a centrist,” Ceren said. “Her job is not to persuade; it is to speak to the faithful … Her job is to express a conservative viewpoint.” …
The article doesn’t mention it, but one suspects that the Wais Hassan cited is a probably the same Wais Hassan who used to be on the staff of UC Berkeley’s Muslim Student Association publication (pdf file).
Still, this is a giant step up from yesterday’s “editorial” by the sages who put out the Daily Trojan:
Listeners must discern among the riffraff
From the editors
10/24/07
Known for her mudslinging and immature name calling - she once called Al Gore a “total fag,” like a bitter bully in the schoolyard - Ann Coulter comes to campus today as part of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, billed by its organizers as “the biggest conservative campus protest ever.”
The controversial pundit, whose fame derives almost solely from appearances on cable news networks and a handful of inane, weightless books - is - if not a welcome speaker on our campus, at least a reflection of our willingness to let nearly any political viewpoint speak its case. By bringing such a polarizing figure as Coulter to our campus to voice her opinions, we reaffirm the freedom of expression that rests at the heart of our values. We must allow extreme or discomfiting views to be voiced in order to protect the core of our public discourse, and by extension the nation’s covenant - the First Amendment of the Constitution.
But discourse does not necessarily mean one must stand by passively as a speaker like Coulter attempts to spread her virulent strain of hatred by grabbing sound bites on the evening news or headlines in the next day’s paper. Discourse also means engaging opposition viewpoints through intelligent, in-depth questioning or even protest.
We ask students who attend Coulter’s speech, which will be followed by a 30-minute Q-and-A, to challenge her to defend her views without resorting to cheap insults. Asking questions filled with a depth of understanding and nuance will show our university to be the place of higher learning we purport it to be. Intelligence can combat the ignorance with which pundits like Coulter fill our collective culture in ways no insult or personal attack ever can. Coulter’s opponents could even carry signs expressing their distaste for her views, allowing her to speak - and in the process supporting the free expression we hold so dear - while proving her hateful message echoes only to the edge of the room.
Such steps allow students, as active, engaged citizens, to participate in the discourse on which our democracy is founded. But such a free flow of words permits extreme views alongside those more moderate, and we, as listeners, must fight hateful or hurtful messages by employing a discerning ear.
I don’t know. The editors seem to have a pretty full grasp of the concept of fascism, whether they realize it or not.
Of course they are probably not cognizant of the meaning of the word "riffraff." Though it sure smacks of "immature name-calling," as does the rest of their knee-jerk rant. But they are probably unaware of the concept of irony as well.
(As an aside, one wonders what the editors had to say about the visit to Columbia University by Mr. Ahmadinejad. Did they call him "riffraff"?)
Just what exactly does Ann Coulter say that can be accurately described as "vile" or "hateful"? Have the editors ever heard her speak or read any of her columns or books?
I think they would be amazed if they did. For Coulter simply voices mainstream conservative, that is to say middle America’s positions. Of course she also makes jokes. But even high-minded journalism students should be vaguely familiar with the concept of humor.
Though maybe not.
13 Responses to “The Daily Trojan’s Take On Coulter’s USC Visit”
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October 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am
You just know that the so called intellectual elite’s at University of SoCal communism were cringing when ann showed up. It is obvious that the God hating, spoiled rich kid’s can not debate ann so they resort to throwing pie’s and tossing sixth grade insult’s her way. Academia look’s at islam the same way the democrats do. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Who is their enemy, Jesus of course. Hassan say’s to the “daily condom” that ann will not convince liberal’s, Convince them of what? That hacking people’s head off for your god is not good, Blowing up innocent’s for your god is not good, muslim on muslim crime is not a good recruiting tool. If this Hassan think’s that muslim extremism is fragmented he is not as qualified as ann to comment. Why were there sumo wrestlers in orange jumpsuits and black hoods? Are we at war with Japan again?
October 25th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Hmmm…
The hell with “facism”; someone on the editorial staff needs to open a dictionary and look up “irony.”
Also:
What I’d expect from someone who was likely 16 when 9/11 occurred and whose thoughts that night were likely more of getting drunk and whether he was going to get lucky with his Homecoming date than of what had happened that day.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:25 am
-’to challenge her to defend her views without resorting to cheap insults’- the problem is that none of these people can help themselves. Ann makes truthful comments with biting, witty and sarcastic rhetoric around them - perhaps that is what is lost on these people. She won’t get into the mud with them and just sling insults and hate speech.
I’ve been to an Ann event, the ‘challenging’ questions these people ask, are a 5 minute talking point with a question mark at the end. Ann should be given high marks for just putting up with the garbage - again and again and again.
Actually since the ultimate goal of the radical islamic terrorists handlers (be it OBL, Iranian mullahs or whoever is financing/pulling the strings) - is an Islamic Caliphate - I do believe that both fascism and WWIII are appropriately used in this context.
And as Ann points out weekly in her columns and her 6 or is it 7 books - the truth hurts.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Love the guys (or is it girls, or TG’s ?) in the jumpsuits and hoodies. I guess they are impersonating people captured by AQ or some other Muslim extremeist group just before being killed by a bullet to the head or beheading. What a bunch of loons.
But on the other hand….
“Ann should be given high marks for just putting up with the garbage - again and again and again.”
Why? She is being well paid for doing just that isn’t she? If there were no controversy there would be no income.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
The editors have obviously confused the concept of being “offensive” with the concept of “hatred.” Ann can certainly be offensive. In fact she is offensive to liberals on a regular basis. It’s what she does, and she does it quite well. But even the pinheads who wrote the editorial know that the right to free speech is nothing less than the right to offend, and therefore they cannot be heard saying that Ann should be condemned for being offensive. This is why they have seized upon “hatred” as her crime, even though they can’t produce evidence or examples of her “hatred.” Liberals often refer to Limbaugh as being “hateful” too, which just points out that they don’t listen to his show at all. Anybody who listens to him knows that he is polite to a fault. He never interrupts or cuts off liberals, even when he should.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
I like Ann Coulter!
She is brilliant! AND a real American!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
“Intelligence can combat the ignorance with which pundits like Coulter fill our collective culture in ways no insult or personal attack ever can”
Then debate her. I’m sure she would welcome the chance to flush another liberal turd down the toilet.
It’s funny how people on the left have become so completely insulated from the truth. Every day and night our “collective culture” is brainwashed with one take on all the day’s events. Those of us who aren’t rabid socialists or worse, those who pay so little attention that they believe the first thing they hear, must actively seek out an alternative viewpoint. We find such viewpoints (or truth, as it’s more popularly known) on websites such as this one, talk radio, and Fox news.
So naturally, these alternative outlets are despised by those who wish to perpetuate the lie. But lefties act as if Bush, Cheney and the ever-popular “neocons” control the media. What media do they contorl? I want to have a listen sometime to drown out the Chris Matthews and Keith Ogreman in my head!
But the socialists get to have it both ways. They get to be celebrators of the brilliant mosaic while they try to keep everything homogenous. They get to support our troops while undermining their success and safety through their irresponsible words and actions. They get to harp on “freedom of speech and expression” while quieting all voices that don’t agree with them.
Isn’t it frightening, no matter which party you say you belong to, that Mahmoud Ahmadinijad was welcomed more warmly on an American college campus than Ann Coulter ever is? If not, you’re not much of an American.
Lefties still don’t–or can’t–accept either of two facts: first, that more than half of this country doesn’t agree with their positions. Over half the country voted for George Bush for God’s sake! And secondly, they can’t accept the fact that their ideas don’t win when put to any test. Leberal ideals are FORCED on people, not ACCEPTED.
Of course, they will soon be forced on us too if we’re not as vigilant in our love for the United States as they are in their hate for it.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
By the way, quite a heavy turnout for the “protest” huh? I like both the hooded young lady holding a protest sign, and the guy with the “defend academic freedom” sign. Is he at the right rally? Ann Coulter would be more in favor of academic freedom than any of their precious fellow students or professors would I bet.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I tried to attend the talk at USC, but was unable to because the registration filled too quickly. I received an email notification that I could watch the talk in the lobby of the building. When I arrived, they were not letting anyone else into the lobby where monitors were setup due to concerns about fire safety codes.
So, instead of hearing Ann talk I was entertained very some very hateful and empty headed people protesting just outside the building. A friend of mine specifically asked one of the protesters standing behind a table with books and audio CD’s on communism if he could define fascism. He kept using the term and we wanted to know if he had a good handle on what it meant. He was trying to sell us on the idea that Ann was part of some huge fascist conspiracy. He did not define it and just went on rambling about how she is anti-feminist, pro-patriarchal, pro-war, fascist.
I do not get to interact with these types of people much and found it very funny. I loved how the pro-communists think that capitalists are not critical thinkers considering that Marx’s writings have plenty of logical fallacies and outdated assumptions about society. Have these guys actually looked into what a corporation is? Voting shares is a very populist and democratic idea!
He wanted a donation for the material, I wondered if he would have been insulted if I only gave him what I thought the fair market value for the junk was. I think I would have considered a penny a good trade. I am sure one of the audio CD’s would have provided me some entertainment value. I decided to decline the offer for the material.
I didn’t think to ask him at the time if a fair donation was one that considered the labor value of the items. Anything else should be considered oppressive of his fellow workers.
To understand how hateful and inconstant these people are. They were holding signs that called for unity among Christianity, Islam and Judaism at the same time a guy stood up front and stated how dangerous Christians are that take the Bible literally. “The Bible is horrid,” he said with obvious hatred and disdain. Of course this is in the great tradition of all communist revolutions. It is one thing, I would say, that these people are very consistent about.
After Ann’s talk we were let in so that we could buy her latest book and stand in line so we could meet her and have her sign the book. I met some very nice people standing in line including a student at USC that is from Germany. I was happy to hear that he is studying economics. Since he was standing in line so he could get his book signed, I would say that, so far, our educational system has not damaged him yet.
I know that her haters would be surprised to hear that she is a very nice and pleasant person. It was well worth the night to spend a few moments with her.
October 25th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for the report, JG.
And welcome!
October 25th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Welcome JG.
Great first post, And um, Did you by chance get me an autographed copy of Ann’s new book?
October 25th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Thanks. I’ve been following this site for a while now, but never signed up to post anything.
It seemed to me the protest turnout was dismal last night, but I was curious to see how it was reported by the press. More than one person mentioned that if it was another school, the protest turnout would have been much bigger. I do not know much about USC’s political leanings, but it appears that maybe it is not quite as left leaning as other schools in California.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:08 am
You mean these folks weren’t throwing food items and other objects at Coulter, Liberals must be coming around… no wait, it was largely Conservatives in the audience, never mind, my mistake.