Coulter & Netanyahu Can't Speak in Canada; What About an Arab

[jbg]

I can roughly understand the fact that university students' ears are so sensitive that about a year ago Ann Coulter couldn't speak at Carlton University. I can understand that Netanyahu's proposed speech at Concordia needed to be stopped by violence and threats of violence.

A Bedouin Arab Israel Muslim by the name of Ishmael Khaldi, the author of A Shepherd's Journey apparently ran into his share of difficulties attempting to speak at Langara College (orignal post had OCR-generated typo) in Vancouver. You see, the problem is that Khaldi doesn't throw rocks, doesn't lie down in front of tanks and doesn't commission family members to blow themselves up in order to create carnage. Instead, e struggled diligently to move beyond his Bedouin village roots to go to an advanced high school, travel to New York City with almost no money and understanding little English, to become a diplomat for Israel. Excerpt from book (obviously not linkable) below:

There are so many false accusations made against Israel on campuses around the world, so much bias against Israel, it's hard to fathom. I found only a few pro-Israel activists struggling to counter these lies. And I have to say I didn't come to North America to preach that Israel was perfect. Like every other nation in the world, Israel has its problems. But I was shocked to discover many students who tried to stop me from speaking. In one of the most egregious cases, while addressing the students at Langara College (orignal post had OCR-generated typo) in Vancouver, Canada, the student union tried to ban me from telling my story. Even worse, they had the audacity to compare me to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, claiming that I was doing the same for Israel.

Quite galling to call a diplomat for a democracy the equivalent of Goebbels.

Edited June 13, 2011 by jbg

[Moonlight Graham]

Coulter didn't speak at University of Ottawa, not Carleton U.

Many university student unions are pieces of garbage run by incompetent morons who trample on free speech and the Charter in the name of their own personal political agendas. I would say the same for any of those students at Ottawa U and Concordia and elsewhere who wished those people not to speak, and even threatened or took part in violence.

There seems to be a lot of young people who have no idea what our country is about, what our charter says, and what free speech is. I've seen this first-hand in universities so many times.

Edited June 13, 2011 by Moonlight Graham

[cybercoma]

I seem to recall the Provost of the University of Ottawa being the one to write a letter to Ann Coulter before she threw her hissy fit and decided not to speak.

[Oleg Bach]

Just don't get it...Prince Trudeau says that it is politically and morally incorrect to call killer a murdering bastard if he or she wishes the demise of all others that are not of their religious sect...we support those that hate us and hate those that love us...much like children who dispise the supposedly controlling father that protects them. In Britian for instance a "Muslim" nut bar can stand free and state that he wants to kill everyone that is not like him...and they let this threatening lunitic walk free and glory in the civil protection of the state....under real rule of law if you so much as threaten a fellow citizen with bodily harm - The cops are at your door and you are explaining yourself to a judge in the morning...why do we not enforce the laws we have in place?

[Oleg Bach]

I seem to recall the Provost of the University of Ottawa being the one to write a letter to Ann Coulter before she threw her hissy fit and decided not to speak.

I am still wondering about Ann's overly developed adams apple. I like her and her hissy fits are charming in a homo-errotic hot blonde sort of way.......lol!

[g_bambino]

I seem to recall the Provost of the University of Ottawa being the one to write a letter to Ann Coulter before she threw her hissy fit and decided not to speak.

I seem to recall is was a loud, disruptive mob pushing its way into the auditorium lobby that led Coulter to "throw a hissy fit" and decide not to speak.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

I seem to recall is was a loud, disruptive mob pushing its way into the auditorium lobby that led Coulter to "throw a hissy fit" and decide not to speak.

That would put a different light on things...............

[bush_cheney2004]

That would put a different light on things...............

Sure does....a Canadian speaker's freedom of expression in the US is not threatened by university provost's like Francois "A" Houle written warnng and attempt at prior restraint. I wonder if Coulter's HRC complaint ever got a hearing.

[Oleg Bach]

That would put a different light on things...............

Numb headed idealists threatened Coulter with possible bodily harm - I don't blame her for walking away...If you believe in freedom and free speech - then everyone is entitle or no one is entitled.

[jbg]

Coulter didn't speak at University of Ottawa, not Carleton U.

My error. I was mixing it up with other anti-Jewish episodes at Carleton and University of Toronto.

Many university student unions are pieces of garbage run by incompetent morons who trample on free speech and the Charter in the name of their own personal political agendas. I would say the same for any of those students at Ottawa U and Concordia and elsewhere who wished those people not to speak, and even threatened or took part in violence.

There seems to be a lot of young people who have no idea what our country is about, what our charter says, and what free speech is. I've seen this first-hand in universities so many times.

Totally agreed but I wouldn't limit that analysis to Canada. In the U.S. students at my alma mater, Cornell University, made a career out of disrupting speeches by Milton Friedman, by screaming insults about apartheid and Pinochet of Chile. Agree or disagree with him, he was a noted and famous economist. His speech had ntohing to do with either Chile or South Africa and preventing him from speaking on monetary theory accomplished nothing for Chileans or South Africans.

I seem to recall the Provost of the University of Ottawa being the one to write a letter to Ann Coulter before she threw her hissy fit and decided not to speak.

I seem to recall is was a loud, disruptive mob pushing its way into the auditorium lobby that led Coulter to "throw a hissy fit" and decide not to speak.

I love comments and feedback. I have seen nothing about Langara College and the efforts to prevent an Arab Muslim, Ishmael Khaldi from speaking.

I have taken the liberty of posting materials from outside Mr. Khaldi's book (link to source, excerpts below):

November 21, 2003

Jews at Langara resist

Israeli guest rebuked, Zionism called "apartheid."

PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

Jewish students at Langara College are demanding answers after the student government forbade a pro-Israel guest from speaking, just days after the college hosted a presentation titled Why Israel is an Apartheid State.

The community college on Vancouver's West 49th Avenue had not been a hot spot in the tensions that have developed on campuses across Canada in the past couple of years, but recent events suggest that Langara is a new front in the war of words over the Middle East.

The controversy began when members of the college's new Israel Advocacy Club tried to book a room in the Langara student union building and were refused. Kinney Butterfield, president and one of the founders of the Israel Advocacy Club, said she made the requisite presentation to the Langara Student Union (LSU) officials, explaining the nature of the presentation to be made by Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli Bedouin who speaks about multiculturalism in Israel. The LSU, Langara's elected student government, controls the student union building where such events usually take place.

Student union officials refused to grant the club space in the building on the basis that Khaldi had served in the Israeli military. Butterfield pointed out that such a precedent would effectively ban any Israeli citizen from speaking on Langara's campus, since Israel has mandatory military service. Butterfield said she was told Israelis could speak if they renounced their past affiliations with the IDF.

Langara Student Union officials did not respond to several interview requests from the Bulletin, but a college administration official expressed concern about the incident and a meeting may be set up between college officials and Jewish students to discuss the atmosphere on campus. The official stressed that the college has no authority over LSU or its activities.

In the end, Khaldi was able to speak on campus because a sympathetic faculty member booked a room on behalf of the club – in the college, not in the student-run union building.

[Sir Bandelot]

Sure does....a Canadian speaker's freedom of expression in the US is not threatened by university provost's like Francois "A" Houle written warnng and attempt at prior restraint. I wonder if Coulter's HRC complaint ever got a hearing.

Galloway is.

[jbg]

Sure does....a Canadian speaker's freedom of expression in the US is not threatened by university provost's like Francois "A" Houle written warnng and attempt at prior restraint. I wonder if Coulter's HRC complaint ever got a hearing.

Galloway is.

Galloway is what? He's not Canadian.

In any event the issue was whether Galloway had the right to come into the U.S., not whether he could speak. If it were me I would have let him in to speak in the U.S. unless there was information that he intended some secret or seditious activities beyond shooting his mouth off.

[Tilter]

He's Brit/Irish white trash

[jbg]

He's Brit/Irish white trash

Does that mean he should not be allowed to speak?

[bush_cheney2004]

...In any event the issue was whether Galloway had the right to come into the U.S., not whether he could speak. If it were me I would have let him in to speak in the U.S. unless there was information that he intended some secret or seditious activities beyond shooting his mouth off.

Indeed....by any measure, the Queen herself would be subject to closer US scrutiny than Galloway, but the Americans would still let her speak.

Edited June 13, 2011 by bush_cheney2004

[guyser]

IIRC correctly it was Coulter who canceled the engagment and not the Uni.

The issue though is censorship . There are issues concerning it all over this continent. Neither Canada nor the USA is immune nor innocent of censorship.

We need to be less thin skinned all around and let people speak, afterall nothing like letting someone shoot their mouth off to see them for what they are.

[jbg]

IIRC correctly it was Coulter who canceled the engagment and not the Uni.

The issue though is censorship . There are issues concerning it all over this continent. Neither Canada nor the USA is immune nor innocent of censorship.

I think the issue is the University's failure or refusal to guarantee her safety, similar to the Concordia situation. It was common, during the centuries of persecution of the Jews in Europe that the government would take no active role. Often, the government was slightly pro-Jewish. The problem came that law enforcement stood aside as "spontaneous rioters" attacked Jewish lives or property. Same with Coulter. The university did not say "you can't speak here". They made clear that the situation wasn't safe. Further the student government did not cooperate concerning the availability of a speaking venue, again, on safety grounds. This is indirect censorship since neither Coulter nor Netanyahu can be expected to take their lives into their hands to speak.

Returning to the opening thread topic, Khaldi was denied access to the Student Union for speech purposes. Fortunately a cooperative professor gave him another venue at the college.

[guyser]

They made clear that the situation wasn't safe. Further the student government did not cooperate concerning the availability of a speaking venue, again, on safety grounds.

Dont recall any of that,perhaps you have a link ?

[jbg]

Dont recall any of that,perhaps you have a link ?

I'm running off to a seminar. I'll try to remember to look later but there's a thread on this Board that ran to 40 or so pages about the Coulter situation. Let me know if you find it first.

[Guest American Woman]

I think the issue is the University's failure or refusal to guarantee her safety, similar to the Concordia situation.

How can anyone "guarantee" someone's safety? No one can make such a guarantee. Ultimately, the speaker has to make that decision.

[guyser]

How can anyone "guarantee" someone's safety? No one can make such a guarantee. Ultimately, the speaker has to make that decision.

Of course they cant. But some like to use that for optics on their argument.

And of course some like to think it doesnt happen in their own backyard.

[Guest American Woman]

Of course they cant. But some like to use that for optics on their argument.

And of course some like to think it doesnt happen in their own backyard.

I recall that Palin cancelled a public appearance not so long ago sighting concern over her safety as the reason.

Coulter claims she wasn't allowed to speak, but the police insist it was her decision. All they can do is advise her of the situation, and there would be something wrong with them if they had told her that they would guarantee her safety. In the end it was the organizers and Coulter who cancelled - not the police, not 'the university." As for the venue, those planning the event didn't have any idea of the large turnout at the time it was organized.

As for the "can't speak in Canada" claim in the title thread, she spoke at Canadian universities both prior to and after this event.

[guyser]

I recall that Palin cancelled a public appearance not so long ago sighting concern over her safety as the reason.

I always look at that as ..."we have really shitty ticket sales"...better come up with something else to blame!

Edited June 13, 2011 by guyser

[Sandy MacNab]

Coulter didn't speak at University of Ottawa, not Carleton U.

Many university student unions are pieces of garbage run by incompetent morons who trample on free speech and the Charter in the name of their own personal political agendas. I would say the same for any of those students at Ottawa U and Concordia and elsewhere who wished those people not to speak, and even threatened or took part in violence.

There seems to be a lot of young people who have no idea what our country is about, what our charter says, and what free speech is. I've seen this first-hand in universities so many times.

Universities are cesspools of political correctness. Free speech to the politically correct is like sunlight to Dracula. I consider free speech our most sacred right, the one that provides the foundation for all the others. You won't find this right defended or promoted in universities or among any other politically correct, left wing groups.

[Sandy MacNab]

I seem to recall is was a loud, disruptive mob pushing its way into the auditorium lobby that led Coulter to "throw a hissy fit" and decide not to speak.

Exactly! If I were in danger of mob attack I'd choose to flee also.