This week's Calgary Herald column from yours truly reflects on the Ann Coulter kerfuffle (see here, here, here, here, and here) and the obvious upside of all the controversy:
...We may soon forget the particulars of her whirlwind visit, but Coulter's name is bound to be synonymous with the free speech debate for the foreseeable future.
As much as we might like to move on, there were some important lessons that we ought not forget.
One of those is that universities ought to be a place where controversial views can be aired and debated.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers said as much in criticizing the University of Ottawa's handling of the Coulter situatuion, saying the university failed to "strongly support" freedom of expression and vigorous debate.
Ironically, while some were bemoaning how inappropriate it was for a university to such a controversial speaker, Canadians were subjected last week to some rather controversial views, expressed in a letter from 16 professors at the University of Regina.
The professors called on the university to withdraw from "Project Hero", which provides financial assistance to the children of military personnel killed in action.
Among the professors' demands was that the university host a public forum on the war in Afghanistan and "Canadian imperialism".
I'd have to say the phrase "Canadian imperialism" is far more ridiculous and offensive than anything conjured up in Coulter's mischievious mind, yet no aggrieved Canadians made any attempt to silence these professors.
I also suspect that a great many of those who wished to censor Coulter were quite sympathetic to the views - and the freedom of speech - of the Regina 16.
In fact, this crowd has been remarkably silent about the long list of controversial speakers who regularly speak at Canadian universities.
British MP George Galloway was to have spoken at both the University of Toronto and Concordia University. Former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers was invited to speak at the University of Toronto (both men were denied (wrongly, in my view) entry into Canada).
Other examples abound: Ward Churchill, who described 9/11 victims as as "little Eichmanns", spoke last year at Concordia.
The annual Israel-bashing "Israeli Apartheid Week" (IAW) features all sorts of objectionable speakers. Last year, Khaled Mouammar, the controversial president of the Canadian Arab Federation, spoke at York University. A virulent anti-Israel writer named Omar Barghouti spoke at the University of Ottawa.
The "silence Ann Coulter" mob is awfully free-speechy about radicals with whom they share opinions.
That's not to say there isn't room for protests - there must be. We need to be clear, however, about when legitimate protest crosses the line to illegal vandalism and inappropriate intimidation.
But even peaceful, legitimate protestors should consider whether their tactics are merely playing into the hands of those they are protesting.
Earlier this month, members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) gathered on a street corner at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The WBC is notorious for its "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for 9/11" slogans.
A group of students cleverly set up nearby and solicited donations for gay organizations. The donations were made in the WBC's name, and thank you cards were sent to church leader Fred Phelps.
Imagine how different the coverage would have been if anti-Coulter protestors had acted similarly and not resorted to such churlish behavior.
Of course, none of these issues are new. The problem is we don't talk about them as much as we should.
Last week, for example, Senator Douglas Finley called for further inquiry into "the erosion of freedom of speech in our country". An important issue irrespective of the Coulter kerfuffle, but a call that might not have otherwise been made.
It might seem at times as though there are a handful of us who obsess over this issue. But given the right circumstances, we can see that a great many Canadians still care deeply about freedom of expression.
Thanks, Ann.
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