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John Constantine said:hahahah....did anybody else hear about the near riot that the Ultimate Warrior caused because of some stuff he said in his speech at UConn?
That guy is one huge looney.....
The following was submitted by a student who attended the already infamous Warrior speech at the Univesity of Connecticut. This person wishes to be kept annonymous.
"Perhaps my first hand account of Warrior's speech at the University of Connecticut will assist your column.
In my opinion, what occurred at Konover Auditorium was nothing short of one of the most compelling and dramatic events I have ever participated in. Everyone needs to remember one thing: Warrior was INVITED to come and speak. This is a man who knows his views differ from most everyone's, including other conservatives, and he draws tremendous pride from that.
Warrior has always been, and always will be a colorful, candid, and politically incorrect individual who truly does not care what the world around him thinks. One HAS to respect a man who knowingly travels around to campuses to express views that will elicit responses indicative of Tuesday night. I certainly do, and that would be extended for ANY person, regardless of who or what they are.
The problem I have with what transpired is the fact that his detractors came to the appearance loaded with their own political/idealogical agenda and decided to railroad Warrior at every point they could. This was a speech, not a debate. The students in question began their attack the moment Warrior iterated concepts that challenged their own.
The most vocal of the protesters, Geoff Traugh, took exception to Warrior's statement about the responsibility and rights of life and engaged him in a critical shouting match, which was the defining moment of the evening's degeneration.
This is not academic. I've been to school, earned a degree in journalism, and was a member of the critical discourse and debate teams. Some of those students were unified in preparation against Warrior, complete with literature taken out of context from his site, and came to the speech armed against him, while he knew nothing was coming.
What type of fair forum is a public, organized attack on an unsuspecting and unprepared guest?
Simply stated, Tuesday night was a lesson in the 1st amendment. Textbook. The hypocritical irony is that Warrior was accused of intolerance, when THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE STUDENTS WERE OF HIM, INTOLERANT. A huge wake-up call is in store for anyone who can't handle views such as Warrior's, because when they leave the protective serenity of the university's embrace and get in someone's face because they have a problem with what they believe, an unfortunate realization may come smashing down on them and in their faces.
Considering what Warrior was confronted with, I thought he handled himself very well. It was like the mob chasing after the Frankenstein monster with torches and pitchforks because they were afraid of something they weren't familiar with. Killing it rather than learning from it.
Do you know what if feels like to be one person, alone, against a room of people screaming at you out of turn? He could have walked off, or physically assaulted someone(and if someone called me a racist, I would), but instead he stood and took it.
Once again, just remember Warrior was invited to speak, and those who decided to disrupt it are the ones who should be questioned. Personally, I feel Warrior should be asked to come back and formally enter a debate to rightfully defend himself, PREPAREDLY, like those who acted out were.
Just for the record, I certainly DO NOT subscribe to Warrior's ideologies, but I don't have to in order to respect and get along with him. I'm a man who can think for himself. I would defend Warrior's right to speak anytime, anywhere, just like I would for anyone who opposes him, when it's THEIR turn.
There was a point when an undercover officer who had been in attendance saw the riotous potential and took to the stage and said, in perhaps THE key moment of the evening. She stated that although she didn't agree with Warrior's speech, she would DIE to protect his opportunity to speak under 1st amendment rights. I had chills. A true moment I will never forget, and neither should anyone in attendance.
Tuesday night was a learning experience and a point of maturation that UConn students should hold onto and reflect upon.
When tolerance is being used as a political buzzword to hide behind, just make sure everyone is allowed it's coverage, ESPECIALLY those like Warrior. That is what our country stands for."
