Now it’s gone too far

Ann Coulter is used to making controversial statements, and it is obvious when watching her speak that she relishes her role as a conservative instigator. Although it’s nothing new to see outraged responses to her inflammatory comments, this past week has seen a new source for that outrage: Conservatives, who usually make up her devoted following.

While giving a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, she made a dismal attempt at humor. “I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot.’ So, I’m kind of at an impasse. Can’t really talk about Edwards…” The audience of mostly young conservatives laughed and applauded, although there did seem to be a slight uncomfortable pause. This was not exactly the first crass statement of the day for Coulter, as it came seconds after saying that Bill Clinton is “half trash and half white,” but it is certainly the one drawing the most negative attention.

One of the most amazing things about Coulter’s response to the backlash to her remarks has been her seeming ignorance as to why anyone would be offended in the first place. When she appeared on Fox News, she said that the word “faggot” is a schoolyard taunt meaning “wussy” and that there is nothing gay about it. She doesn’t seem to realize, or at least doesn’t want to admit, that the general meaning of the word is in reference to gay people.

Like a child who is unsure of exactly what words mean, but has a grasp on how to use them, she is spreading bigotry in the most ignorant way possible. The English language is an incredibly powerful, and likewise dangerous, tool that should only be handled by people who know what they are doing, which Coulter only pretends to do.

While she may not be the brightest torch at the rally, Coulter is a widely published columnist, especially in conservative papers and magazines. She has made statements prior to this that have angered many, such as saying that the widows of 9/11 victims were enjoying their husbands’ deaths by getting media attention, but has usually either picked up more support or just gotten more attention. This has changed slightly since her less than accurate use of the word faggot. She has been dropped from eight separate publications as of March 11, and it is assumed that more will follow.

After her comments about the 9/11 widows, many people called and wrote the producers of NBC’s Today Show to protest Coulter being offered a guest spot. After deliberation, producer Jim Bell decided to let her on the show, but had some enlightened things to say about her. “She sometimes goes out of her way to push some buttons and tends to generate more heat than light,” he said. “We love a lively debate, but we would tend to get people who would generate more light.” It is truly a sad state of affairs that the people who have the power of the media at their disposal sometimes tend to be the ones with the least informed opinion to express.

There are so many talking heads in the media today who are more concerned with shock and awe than with expressing any valid points of view. Ignorance is really no rational excuse for bigotry, since the words mean the same thing regardless of whether you know what they mean. Children’s words and playground taunts hit just as hard or harder when they are spewed by an adult, and saying that they are just playground slander techniques don’t get you out of taking responsibility.

Ann Coulter is probably not going away any time soon, at least not as soon as would benefit humanity enough, but it is refreshing to see that she is getting responses that are more informed and more intelligent than she is.