Ann Coulter Crosses The Line
By Doug Edelman (02/14/06)
Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter has made a trademark out of presenting the conservative viewpoint with attitude. Her bravado and brash style has earned her both fans and detractors. She's made a career out of dancing on the line.
Recently, however, she has been venturing across that line, to the detriment of the conservative movement - which is presumed guilty by association - and of her own credibility and reputation. Ann should lighten up, and she should apologize.
While there is no argument with the position that radical Islamic extremism and Jihad are an enemy to be engaged and defeated. it is inappropriate and offensive to condemn all people of Islamic extraction, or to defame the entire population of muslims as Ann has been doing of late.
Her "car-burning cult" and "Rag-Head" comments are both inflammatory and inappropriate. Ann has crossed the line.
While Conservatives certainly condemn the actions of the terrorists, and the actions of the rioting mobs - we must be careful to hold only those RESPONSIBLE for such actions to account, while not sweeping up all those of Muslim heritage into the vortex of condemnation.
There has been much press lately about how Islam teaches violence - and an orthodox reading of their writings would support this view. however there are many of Islamic descent who reject orthodoxy, much as there are Catholics who insist on a Latin Mass, and others who attend church only on Christmas and Easter. There are Jews who walk to Synagogue on Saturday, wear black suits and ear-locks, and study Talmud. and those who view Judaism as a race and nationality - but who view the scriptures as poetry and are agnostic in their faith. One must remember that being born into a religious, national or racial heritage does not confer the best or the worst aspects of that group to an individual.
If Ann wishes to write condemning remarks about those responsible for terroristic acts, she has the support of the rest of the Conservative Movement. If she wishes to write inflammatory disparaging remarks which can be easily classified as racist or prejudicial - she's on her own.
As Rush Limbaugh has been fond of saying for years, Ann, "words mean things". Your words have often been like grenades. This time one dropped by your own feet. You risk fragging yourself. To paraphrase Forest Gump: "Brash is as brash does."
Copyright © 2005 by Doug Edelman
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