Why she shouldn’t speak

Written by Kelsey Rideout

Last week, there was quite the fury at the University of Ottawa when approximately 200 university students rallied together to cancel Ann Coulter’s speech, one of three talks set to be presented by the American right-wing columnist and published author throughout her speaking tour at Canadian universities.

Many Americans have labeled this move as unequal, oppressive, and a threat to freedom of speech. Some claim that Canada’s system of democracy is ‘weak’ and even ‘wimpy.’ However, thousands of students and Canadians alike have celebrated the move as one step towards banning Coulter from speaking in Canada. While I advocate for freedom of speech, I believe that boundaries have to drawn to prevent hateful language and actions. To me and many others, Coulter’s words are extremely hateful and so harmful that in this case, they should be silenced.

For those of you unfamiliar with Coulter’s background, let me introduce you to her by sharing with you some of her quotes:

“Airports scrupulously apply the same laughably ineffective airport harassment to Suzy Chapstick as to Muslim hijackers. It is preposterous to assume every passenger is a potential crazed homicidal maniac. We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.” These remarks were featured in Coulter’s columns within two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001.

If that didn’t phase you, maybe this quote will: “In contemplating college liberals, you really regret, once again, that John Walker is not getting the death penalty. We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals by making them realize that they could be killed, too. Otherwise they will turn out into outright traitors.” This was said during the CPAC conference in 2002.

After reading these quotes, it becomes easier to completely support not allowing Ms. Coulter, or anyone else as hateful and uneducated as she is, to speak within an academic setting (in all honesty, I think these people should be banished to another planet, but that is another topic). We have certain rules in Canada that do not allow for hateful speech to be perpetuated within a public realm, and it is these rules that we should be proud of. Focusing much on discourse in my studies, I understand words, both written and spoken, as extremely powerful. I do not know why anyone in their right mind would allow her to say anything, especially within a university – a place of reflective thought. We know in the good ol’ US of A, these people can say whatever they want and are even given their own TV shows and political movements (i.e Glenn Beck). But here in Canada, we don’t sacrifice our principles as often for TV ratings or controversy. At least we try not to.

Coulter supporters have also criticized the letter written by Francois Houle, the vice-president academic and provost at the University of Ottawa. Houle addressed the letter to Coulter welcoming her to the capital, while expressing the seriousness of actions in Canada that evoke hatred against any identifiable group. Coulter lashed out upon receiving the letter, exclaiming that she was being intimidated and threatened of criminal prosecution before presenting any speeches.

Canada has disappointed the public in regards to political responses to other pressing issues, such as climate change and torture against Afghan detainees. After hearing about Houle’s letter and what went on last week at Ottawa U last week, I finally felt a feeling rise within me that I have been missing for far too long – pride. Thank you Ottawa U students for standing up against Coulter, and showing the rest of the world that Canada does not tolerate individuals whose sole purpose is to promote hate.

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