QUOTE(canmark @ Mar 30 2010, 02:07 AM)

The furor over Ann Coulter's right to "free speech" brings to light the decision of Tarleton State University
disallowing a student in a theatre directing program from presenting the
Terrence McNally play
Corpus Christi due to protests. The play was not public: it was to be performed as part of a course, for the instructor, students and invited guests. Yet due to angry calls and e-mails from Christian activists who object to the content of the play (the story of Jesus and his disciples as gay men in contemporary Texas), which was written by a man who has received 4 Tony Awards in his 40+ year career, this play--which was not even meant to be shown publicly--will not be shown, despite it being the choice of the student, who says that he is both gay and Christian himself.
I should hope that those Ann Coulter supporters, who rallied for her right to "free speech" will also be supporting this student's right to, as part of his education, direct this play by a noted American playwright.
Free speech goes both ways, don't it?
Of course it does. Isn't that the whole point that BSR was making...that she was shut down? The framing of it as "security" shutting her down is disingenious at best. Deceptive would be another way of putting it. Let her talk....she's either a comedy act or a joke, if you don't like what she has to say. And then she gets the chance to show people that live and in person. Instead of somehow being elevated because she was shut down.
As far as offending Christians by distorting and misrepresenting Jesus and his disciples as gay...or those who say Jesus gave in to temptation with Mary Magdalene....go for it. Let it all out there. Make a mockery of what other people believe. Belittle it. Give voice to your derision. Even if it offends.
Do it also to Muslims. And other groups/religions, so it doesn't look like you hate Christians specifically.
And then accept it when some people do the same about gays. Doesn't mean you don't challenge the statements/perspective, of course. You can and should, so that the idea doesn't get accepted simply because it's said, repeated, and no other possibility is put forth.
But stifling speech such as Coulter's on campus makes it much more difficult to object when others decide to stifle speech. Hard to picture today, but attitudes can change from "liberal" to "conservative". Who would have imagined in 1925 that within 10 years Germany....wild, absolutely free flowing, free love, crazy, experimental, anything goes and not even far enough Germany...would have shut down even public discourse, let alone anything liberal, progressive, or even moderate? Far right wing reactionaries (the real kind, not the mislabeled ones of today) are not that far away....and they thrive in an atmosphere of stifled speech.
So speak on Coulter. I won't be listening to you (except to hear the comedy act, now that I know it might bring a laugh). But I want you not to be shut down. Any more than I want the leftists to be shut down.