This article brings up the issue's of free expression. From our class Emerson discusses main purposes for free expression relative to the functioning of Democracy. Some of the purposes include, free expression helps individuals to achieve self-fulfillment, free expression allows for the advancement of knowledge and the discovery of truth and free expression is essential to provide for participation in decision making by all members of society. i think all these purposes relate to this issue because both Coulter and the students have a right to freedom of expression. I believe Coulter is harsh with her words and i do not approve of what she says but who is to say she can not speak her beliefs. I also believe the students had a right to lash out, I do not think threats was a right way to lash out, but they had every right to express their feelings toward her as well. That is what is tricky about freedom of expression everyone has a right to express their views and feelings even though others may not agree or like them, we as a society have to learn to accept others and speak our views and oppinions in a more appropriate way.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ottawa Students Threaten Coulter
In an fox mews article called, "Protest Canels Coulter Speech in Ottawa" Ann Coulter a conservative commentator was advised against appearing at the University Ottawa after 2000 threatening students appeared to hear her speak. They said it would be physically dangerous for Coulter to proceed with the event. A student named Mike Fancie said explained how happy he was that they stopped her from speaking. He claimed she was not practicing free speech, but was practicing hate speech. She targeted the Jews, Muslims, Canadians, Homosexuals, women, and almost everyone you could imagine. Coulter explained how this has never happened to her before and she has been all over to schools who accept threatening speakers.
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I believe in free expression, and I believe Coulter had every right to say what she wanted. But with free expression you are going to have those people who lash out so I do understand where the students were coming from. Some of the stuff that Coulter was bringing up though was just truly not right, some of those things should just be kept to your self and not said in front of thousands of people. Even though Coulter is a best selling author, sometime you need to refrain yourself from going to far, and that is just what she did. I think it is good that her speech was canceled, so she realizes to control herself during speeches. It is good to have free expression, and to say how you feel. But sometime you have to realize that what your saying is truly offensive to other people and in this case, many students.
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