Fraters Libertas

Report from the Front Lines

A far too long absent Warrior Princess returns with this report of today's Ann Coulter presentation at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Just returned from Ann Coulter's speech at the University of St. Thomas Undergrad. Not much to report in the way of content. It was typical Ann: abrasive, witty, contentious and correct. I'm not a huge fan of her style, but I respect she gives very frustrated conservatives a voice in the political arena. And regardless of whether I agree with her or not, I believe she has a right to speak on a college campus.

The security getting into the event was pretty thorough, so luckily there were no attempted "pie"ings. Quite possibly the very large imposing body guard that stood behind Ms. Coulter at all times had something to do with that. It is hard to pin a number on exactly how many had to be removed. Within the first minute a man had to be removed for belligerent incoherent screaming. Ann chalked it up to that wonderful liberal commitment to free speech. Shortly after that, she mentioned President Clinton, at which point a very disruptive group of college Democrats proceeded to clap and scream for an inordinately long amount of time. Ann then asked, where Luke was, and asked Luke if he wouldn't mind heading up to the balcony. Luke, a young man about 6'2" and 300lbs, did as he was told. The group was relatively well behaved after that. After that there were a few more kerfluffles in the balcony. I don' t know if they caused anyone's removal. And one more person removed for getting up to ask a "question" but never seeming to get anywhere near a question before the microphone was taken away from him. From what I understand, this is the kind of reception any conservative commentator can expect on a college campus in today's sensitive, tolerant society.

The goal of liberal activists in all this, has to be either to get attention, to feel relevant, or to quell a person's right to free speech. Much has been said by individuals much more knowledgeable than I, i.e. David Horowitz, on this topic, so I won't bore the readership. But I will make one observation. The amount of tension in that room was astounding. I was constantly looking behind and around me because of a very real fear that violence would break out. When someone would move a bag or ruffle their keys you could see people tense up. It was a phenomenally stressful hour and a half. And I wouldn't even have been the object of the violence! Everywhere Ann Coulter goes she faces the same level of rancor, and that has to take a big toll. Ann looked very very skinny, and rather tired, and I can see why. I don't think liberals can kill free speech, but they sure can take out the speakers espousing that speech. Its rather sad to see that their ideas are so inadequate their only resort is to try to take out the most powerful speakers on the other side. I only hope Ann and others are able to keep up the work.
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