Unreal

[Frank Black]

A "Catholic" university blocks a pro-life speaker. Seriously, how does something like this happen?

www.startribune.com/local/17648494.html

[vcjack]

That article isn't clear about whether or not its her pro life stance that they don't like but it does sound like they have a stick up their ass about this Young America Foundation, or at the very least have a very bad pr department.

"we're not comfortable, its that simple" is weak.

[EasyEd]

Why am I not surprised?

[HoyaNyr320]

I can understand their hesitation, since the group brought Ann Coulter to their campus- I was offended that this article tried to equate her to Al Franken and a woman who had transitioned (the paper put that word in quotes- I refuse to do so). While Al Franken may be a firebrand liberal, he's a legitimate candidate for the U.S. Senate and has not made bigoted or anti-Semitic statements. What did Ann Coulter do to deserve attention other than speech that degrades others? They don't have a problem with the speaker's pro-life stance- the school has an official pro-life council for goodness sake! It's clear they don't want to deal with this outside group again, much like Georgetown is wary of any outside group coming on campus. Take a couple of deep breaths!

[bubbrubbhoya]

Apr 15, 2008 7:08:53 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

I can understand their hesitation, since the group brought Ann Coulter to their campus- I was offended that this article tried to equate her to Al Franken and a woman who had transitioned (the paper put that word in quotes- I refuse to do so). While Al Franken may be a firebrand liberal, he's a legitimate candidate for the U.S. Senate and has not made bigoted or anti-Semitic statements. What did Ann Coulter do to deserve attention other than speech that degrades others? They don't have a problem with the speaker's pro-life stance- the school has an official pro-life council for goodness sake! It's clear they don't want to deal with this outside group again, much like Georgetown is wary of any outside group coming on campus. Take a couple of deep breaths!

A couple of deep breaths later, I fail to see how this woman's speech is in any way related to that of Ann Coulter. Your argument does nothing but restate the position of the school. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Oh, and by the way, you've taken a very courageous stand by letting us all know that you "refuse to do so" on an anonymous message board. Bravo to you, sir, bravo!

[fsohoya]

To ban all speakers connected to YAF is to ban a huge number of mainstream conservative speakers. Of course, St. Thomas is well within its rights to do so, but no official there had better ever breath a word lauding "academic freedom" or "free exchange of ideas" if they don't want to be identified as egregiously hypocritical liberals.

[Filo]

C'mon, Al Franken is a uniter, not a divider *

*Disclaimer: This statement should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of Ann Coulter, Ann Coulter's rhetoric, or Ann Coulter's public stances. In fact, it would be wonderful for humanity if Ann Coulter found her way into a cave and ceased to be a pox on this great nation of ours. It probably wouldn't be a bad thing if Al Franken joined her.

[Boz]

Apr 15, 2008 7:08:53 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

While Al Franken may be a firebrand liberal, he's a legitimate candidate for the U.S. Senate and has not made bigoted or anti-Semitic statements.

Well, that is just flat out not true. Read his books, listen to some of his commentaries before he left Air America. You might be surprised at some of the so-called "hate speech" he has put out there over the years.

I do give Franken credit for putting his money where his mouth is and running for office. But I don't give him a free pass on all of the things he has said in his history just because he was a comedian (this may surprise you, but Ann Coulter -- and no, I do not like her either -- also considers herself a satirist in a lot of what she says and writes).

But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be allowed to speak. It doesn't mean Ann Coulter shouldn't be allowed to speak, or hell, even have either one of them invited back if the student groups want them back.

And no matter what either one of those two have said, they have nothing to do with this other speaker and there's no reason she should not be invited to campus.

Fox News is going to have a field day with this one if they get a hold of it (which they will) and, in my opinion, St. Thomas deserves every bit of bad press they're going to get for it.