It’s not unusual for people to mobilize after a tragedy. Many people, after having lost children or loved ones to sudden death, have gone on to focus their energies on prevention, healing, and public education.
After the death of six-year-old Adam Walsh in 1981, his father, John, went on to spur the formation of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He became an advocate for victims' rights and went on to host the TV show, America’s Most Wanted. When 13-year old Cari Lightner was killed by a drunk driver in 1979, her mother Candace and many other enraged mothers formed a group called MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). After the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson in 1992, Denise Brown and other family members formed the Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation, which provides safe houses for victims of domestic violence.
These are just a few examples of how shattered and heartbroken people have found strength in mobilizing and have created causes that are near and dear to them. So I find it curious and sickening that Ann Coulter has chosen to insult and vilify certain widows of 9/11 victims. Coulter writes in a new book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism, that a group of New Jersey widows whose husbands perished in the World Trade Center act “as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them.” She goes on to call four 9/11 widows “self-obsessed broads; millionaires - reveling in their status as celebrities.
“I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths so much... And by the way, how do we know their husbands weren’t planning to divorce these harpies? Now that their shelf life is dwindling, they’d better hurry up and appear in Playboy.”
It is apparent that Coulter is jealous of the attention that these 9/11 widows are receiving. (Several appeared on Larry King Live earlier this week.) While Coulter has to rely on sensationalism and insults to get press, these four widows have bravely chosen to use their personal losses in a public way, demanding answers about what happened to their loved ones in the World Trade Center disaster.
Almost every American remembers what he or she was doing at the moment the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Human beings worldwide were united in their heartbreak and millions came to NYC to visit the steaming ruins of the crash site weeks and months after it happened. Regardless of party affiliation, race or economic standing, American citizens were wounded. People were driving more courteously. People sobbed openly in airports and markets as they read newspapers and watched television footage in disbelief. Even in Belfast, Ireland, where this writer was on tour at the time of the tragedy, strangers came up and hugged me when they heard me speaking English. It seemed the whole world had been given a healthy dose of compassion. Everyone it seems, except Ann Coulter, who must have slept through the entire event.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nik
The more press she gets, the happier she is, I think. Unfortunately.
2 - beadtot
Wake up to reality! Organized crime is real and the book is probably a collection of elicitations demanded from her -- bits and pieces of infor-mation and utterances. She probably didn't even choose the title. No one hates victims of bookmaking schemes. She was singled out because her name resembles 'Colson'.
3 - Nik
It's also a little ironic that an article encouraging a boycott of her has a big plug for her new book right at the top. Press is press... sales go up with every article about how awful she is, I imagine.
4 - handyguy
We're just helping her sell more books, and encouraging her to write one with even more shock value next time. She richly deserves to be ignored by all intelligent people.
5 - joey
"We're just helping her sell more books, and encouraging her to write one with even more shock value next time. She richly deserves to be ignored by all intelligent people."
Welcome to he "gets it" club.
Now if only you could spread the word. I have been for many years. But nobody "gets it."
Not even this crew.
6 - Dave Nalle
Hell, let her sell as many books as she can. It's a free market of ideas and if hers appeal to an audience, then she should be encouraged to cash in.
Dave
7 - Arch Conservative
Couple of points .........
Cindy Sheehan made no sacrifice. Her of age son chose to join up and in the process of serving he died. She had no choice in the matter. So yes it is tragic that she lost her son but she is no hero. She made no sacrifice. She is no expert in world affairs. She's just a woman so blinded by grief that she was taken advantage of by the far left.
Where is all the moral indignation when leftist louts like Ward Churchill say things like "the 911 victims were little eichmans?" That is just as aggreegious as the things coulter said if not more so (which i think it is because he was libeling the actual dead victims.) Where was the outrage then? Where was the blogcritics post called "Why I hate ward churchill and why you should too"? Where was the NJ state legislature in calling for Churchills resigantion? The left was conspicuosly absent in condeming hurchill for these remarks yet they're all over Coulter like Bill clinton on a whitehosue intern on her first day on the job.
Then there was the incident where Cindy sheehan and her supporters at Camp Casey decided to use the names of dead soldiers on crosses as a demonstartion. Well some of the families of the soldiers whose names were on those crosses went to camp casey and took down the crosses and asked cindy sheehan not to use thier children's names in her protest. Well wouldn't you know ........as soon as those families left........right back up went the crosses with the same names on them. Isn't this "crossing the line of deceny" Candye? I don't recall anyone's heart on the left breakign for those families whose names were on the crosses that were removed. No one on the left said "hey Cindy what's up with that? we're sorry you lost your kid but that doesn't give you the right to use the names of other dead american kids to push your agenda."
Many on the right, including myself have condemened Coulter's "enjoying thier husbands deaths" remark as hurtful and wrong though. But still I have yet to hear the left condem sheehan or churchill for hwat they have said and done.
So while all of you on the left are enjoying your little Coulterbash why don't you also at least have the honesty to admit that the left has it's fair share of peopel who have mistreated American war victims.
8 - MCH
"Cindy Sheehan made no sacrifice...She is no expert in world affairs."
And what have you sacrificed, Archie?
9 - Joey
I agree with every point here. I like to use the "Passion" scenerio... make a big stink about something... and the curiousity seekers will hit it like a bug on a night light.
That the "gets it" signal. I find it humorous that pumping a lot of hate into a subject... actually fuels interest. Interesting paradigm wouldn't you say.
Now apply that to conservative vs liberal thought.
The conservative... may not say anything... it goes away, it's becomes a nit you swat at every now and again.
The libbo's rail against it... preach and scream... bring attention to it... which brings the fireflies... and the firefiles buzz around the flame and some are taken by the flame, and others leave. But some are sucked in.
It's FREE PR. Get it? The "Passion" suffered from it... the press pulled out all stops, big campaign etc.... every NIGHT on the news... passion this and passiion that. Mel Gibson would like to thank all of you who contributed to the FREE PR MEDIA BLITZ. Not only that, but it looks like all you schmucks are repeating the scenario. It's freakin' comical. It's freakin' comical. Bring it on! Bring it on! Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. That is a truth. Dare I say it.... idiots.
10 - Arch Conservative
Ummmmm I never claimed to have made any grand sacrifice and the last time I checked I was not being held up to be some great American hero giving political speeche son the evils of this nation and my own personal expertise on the war in Iraq by a fringe minority of our population MCH.
I would have though thte difference between Cindy Sheehan and myself was obvious. I guess not.
Let me ask you something MCH what do you think of Churchill's eichman remark and of sheehan using the crosses with the dead soldiers names after the families asked her not to?
11 - David
It’s difficult to believe that the American political landscape has room for yet another Village Idiot. Ann Coulter is high priestess of the Right, and a leading spokesperson for those who would change America with words rather than deeds. She delights the far right, embarrasses moderates, and provides ample proof that the laws of natural selection are not infallible " and she’s America’s newest Village Idiot. Check out the new book about Coulter - Ann Coulter is a Skinny Blonde Idiot (available at Amazon). To learn more about America's Village Idiots go to: www.beltwaybarbie.com.
12 - Joe Dinnerbucket
How hateful and mean-spirited can this country get? There is something seriously wrong with the moral compass of our nation when bilious hate-mongers like Ann Coulter can actually sell millions of books to an audience who will gladly lap up every drop of her disgusting filth. I hate to think of where we are headed...what will talk radio and political TV programs look like ten years hence?
If what is happening today is any indication, I expect that by 2016 we will have "pundits" hurling
the most vile, pornographic terms at anyone who disagrees with their opinions. This woman has a poisoned mind that is on the same level as Neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen. Her rhetoric is hateful enough to put a smile on the face of Josef Goebbels. So far, she has published vicious anti-liberal screeds under the titles of "Treason" and "Godless". Perhaps her next tome should be called "Lets Put Liberals In Gas Chambers". That's
really what her audience is thinking, isn't it?
The parallels between this modern Neocon rhetoric and the anti-Semitic rantings of Adolf Hitler are striking. They both target a certain segment of society and use it for an all-purpose scapegoat. Instead of the Jews, this time it's the liberals who are responsible for all the ills of the nation. This time, it's the liberals who are conspiring to bring down our country. Now, it's the liberals who are giving "aid and comfort to the enemy". Obviously, anyone with a sense of history know what people like Ann are really hinting at.
As a liberal who is alarmed by the vicious, hateful tone of political discourse that is allowed to pollute our airwaves unfettered, I have decided to hang on to my handgun, just in case someone like Ann Coulter should ever gain power and decide that people like me "need to go". Print all the rotten books you like, Ann, but you'll never get me in a cattle car, I guarantee you that.
13 - Arch Conservative
Hey david........
what do you think of Churchill's eichman remark and of sheehan using the crosses with the dead soldiers names after the families asked her not to?
14 - Arch Conservative
Hey joe........
what do you think of Churchill's eichman remark and of sheehan using the crosses with the dead soldiers names after the families asked her not to?
15 - Joe Dinnerbucket
One more thought...I am saddened, but not surprised, by the "money is everything" mentality that another poster has displayed in this blog. The fact that a rotten book filled with hate can pull in a nice profit does not justify its message one iota, nor its dissemination. Heroin, prostitution, and kiddie porn also generate billions of dollars for their "industry" and keep thousands of people "employed" year in and year out.
But I guess it's too much to expect fanatical free-market conservatives to understand that some things are more important than profit in this world. Apparently, to their way of thinking, anything that can make a buck is good, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. No, I'm not advocating any book-burnings, censorship, or even a boycott. But I am appalled and disgusted by the fact that a sigificant market even exists for this egregious crap that masquerades as political commentary.
It won't join anyone in applauding Ann Coulter's ability to make money by selling her hateful tripe. Some folks admired Al Capone and John Gotti for their fancy suits and big cars. That didn't make then any less the criminal scumbags that they were. I have more respect for the street-walking prostitute than I do for Ann Coulter. At least the streetwalker doesn't encourage anyone to hate their neighbor in exchange for 20 bucks.
Some "Christian" country we have here, huh?
16 - JP
Arch, on one point you are correct. "So while all of you on the left are enjoying your little Coulterbash why don't you also at least have the honesty to admit that the left has it's fair share of peopel who have mistreated American war victims."
Both sides have been guilty. But at this particular moment, Coulter has the loudest megaphone. And what's more, she's consistent about being a whiny offensive brat. That's why she's being singled out.
17 - Joe Dinnerbucket
Hey Arch-Conservative (or is it Archie Bunker?)-
Ever lose a loved one? I have. I didn't "enjoy" it one little bit, as I recall. I hope you'll never experience the sheer horror of watching your spouse, friend, or member of your family being killed on national television. But if it should happen, God forbid, why don't you get back to us and tell us how much you enjoyed it? Maybe you and Ann can get together and write a book about it.
18 - sr
Ms. Ann Coulter. Excellent book and A BIG BRAVISSIMO. Love reading the comments attacking you. This is national tweek a liberal week. Let,s hope they are doing what they know best. Pissing all over themselves and praying to their god john dean, butts up and heads down on pink camel hair prayer rugs. LOVE YOU MISS ANN. Keep the truth out their.
sr
19 - Jewels
"Where was the outrage then? Where was the blogcritics post called "Why I hate ward churchill and why you should too?"
Right on target Arch. Man you are taking some slings and arrows but refuse to go down, and why should you. You go SuperConservative man!
Liberals can dish it out all day but let a Conservative (granted she's as far right as you get without rounding the circle) make some harsh statements and man all hell can break loose. Look at that crazy Churchill freak - life goes on for him just fine and what he said was much more gross and offensive and freaking crazy than Ann's comments. Also, and importantly I might note, the only lines taken out of the chapter of her book dealing with the Jersey girls are the ones quoted in this article. They are the lines of focus, and taken out of context of the entire chapter that if read would enlighten readers (except maybe the far left readers whose brains would have exploded on these sentences alone like the Martians in the flik "Mars Attacks" when they heard Slim Whitman sing) that time has come for the Liberals hanging on to the ledge of the left precipice to either stop using victims of catastrophy as human shields or jump the hell off of that ledge themselves. They could wave flags as they fall "THIS IS ALL the Conservatives FAULT". ALso one thing I want to point out that NOBODY has mentioned --- 911 - do your homework folks was a planned event that began during the CLINTON administration and he and his Democratic left wing thinking group chose to look the other way. Research history on this one. Our memories are so short, short-sighted and really warped.
20 - IgnatiusReilly
No shock that one of Ann's supporters doesn't know the correct form of "there" or how to spell "tweak". And I thought liberals prayed to Howard Dean, not John. Hmmm, learn something new every day. Too bad everyone else doesn't.
21 - Jewels
Ignatius, your point? Or are you just the grammatical structurist of the day? Guess 'sr' doesn't care if he gets *ga-aa ah* (the Howie Dean scream out) Howie Dean's name right. WHO should? *ga -aa ah!* WHO cares? *ga -aa ah!*
22 - Arch Conservative
Still not one of you liberals has had the nerve to condem what Cindy sheehan or Ward churchill did.
Hey joe [Edited] how do you think the people who lost loved ones on 911 felt when they heard ward churchill call them "little eichmans." Can you please respond to that?
How bout you JP? You have it in you to condem churchill?
23 - Nik
Yeah, Churchill's an idiot, although I don't think he has 1/10th the influence Coulter does, and she's at least as much of an idiot as him. And there's nothing to condemn in what Sheehan did.
24 - JustOneMan
Joe Shitbucket...your are fake phoney fraud...a real liberal would never own let alone threaten someone with a gun....
I dont get it...people think that because they have had a personal experience they have the moral high ground...aint so Joe Shitbucket...
Besides due to your lefty louie lunacy you forget the free world was attacked on 911 ....we are all free to greive and be pissed off as much as we want...
"Good people don't rip other people's arms off."
- Spongebob Squarepants
25 - MOGS
Why is it...
That when writers and pundits on the left make hateful speech, it gets a complete "bye" and in fact, lauded or justified, but when the shoe gets put on the other foot, it becomes "racist" "hate speech" "fascist" or "reactionary?" What's good for the goose is good for the gander people.
It's called intellectual dishonesty, where the hell were you people when Kos commented on the four contractors killed in April of '04?
That's hypocritical.
Becoming a victim does NOT offer you automatic immunity from stupidity, or from being wrong, and with all due respect, the Jersey widows, Cindy Sheehan, and now Berg may be justified in their grief, they are acting dishonorably, foolishly, and allowing that grief to cover up responsible speech and responsible public conduct, something they should still be held accountable for.
And just why will NONE of you condemn Ward Churchill??
Oh and BTW, to the author, you should really do some more research on MADD - they're guilty of dishonesty, false statistics, and playing the lobbying game under the guise of moral outrage, when it's really revenge, revenge and a corrupt PAC/lobby culture. Problem is NO ONE will presume to challenge anything they say, because like Maureen Dowd has indicated " a grieving mother has absolute moral authority"
BS.