You know? I'm just going to type it out here: a response to my own response to Ann Coulter's vile slur against not only the President of the United States but all the children I know and don't know with an intellectual disability, the children, like Sophie, formerly (not formally) known as retards --
I'm tired of the comments that claim Ann Coulter is a bitch who is more an entertainer than a journalist or even spokesperson for the Republican party and that any outrage expressed is fuel for her, that we should just turn our heads and not cry, Stop! but rather be silent, ignore her and move on.
I would rather build a bonfire.
Here's another remarkable essay by the writer Robert Rummel-Hudson who says just about everything that I'd say, sans bonfire, including this:
If Liberals excuse her remarks because we think she's a buffoon who is clearly desperate for attention, we become complicit. If Conservatives distance themselves from her and say "Well, she doesn't speak for me, so I have no duty to rebuke her," they are also complicit, because it's not a political issue. It might be a little different if she were abusing communities with any power or any privilege, groups that could push back.
Read the rest here.
It's unbelievable. She should be fired.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch her, listen to hear, or read whatever she writes, so I missed this. I don't care what side she is supposed to be on - that remark is against humanity and it is indecent. Spewing hatred benefits no one and injures everyone.
Asked him earlier if I could link his brilliant post to FB and or my blog and I didn't check back to see if I had a reply. Assuming it is. What a piece of writing, uh?
ReplyDeleteWhat a vile person she is,is she not?
I think she deserves criticism for her remarks, but I also think we have to realize that Ann Coulter's primary goal is to keep people talking about Ann Coulter. All else is secondary.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly correct.
DeleteI am still speechless.
ReplyDeleteMy parents (and their parents, etc) were republicans. Their pundits were not Limbaughs, Hannitys or Coulters.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
And the sad thing is we are all still talking about her, which is probably exactly what she was hoping for.
ReplyDeleteI think you are so right, Elizabeth. Change is neither inspired nor effected by silence.
ReplyDeletethe fact of the matter is she's still using the word to describe the critics of the first use of the word...
ReplyDeleteshe's not stupid, she's an asshole. And a bully.
You probably already saw this reply left on the Special Olympics blog, but i loved it so much; it bears repeating:
ReplyDeleteDear Ann Coulter,
Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult?
I’m a 30-year-old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.
I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.
Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.
Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.
Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are — and much, much more.
After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.
I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.
Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.
No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.
Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.
A friend you haven’t made yet,
John Franklin Stephens
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/ann-coulter-gets-a-lesson-on-another-r-word-respect/2012/10/24/e13d3874-1e00-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_blog.html
Oh my goodness. That made me cry.
DeleteGood god, there are consequences to one's actions and Coulter should be held responsible for her words. We all should hold her responsible.
ReplyDeleteMy query to a Rep friend on FB: would there be any sites comparable to moveon.org or change.org that Fox et al wouldn't dismiss as left wing noise? Thinking a "you wouldn't have guests on who use the N word, don't support Coulter?" page. I believe Rush lost advertisers after he called whatshername a slut (dunno if they came back?) but appeals to decency are lost on her. The pocketbook, however, might make an impression.
ReplyDeleteShe pointed out that Ms. A** is usually on as guest, so no direct consistent advertisers to target, but I'm thinking you could target the advertisers of her most frequent gigs. I don't think she's limited to Fox but don't know how to track. Is she a paid guest or does she just go on to stir up controversy & controversy sells (her) books?