Although Ted Nugent played a song for the crowd, he didn’t come to NMU to showcase his musical talents. The musician, outdoorsman and conservative political activist shared his views with an audience much composed of camouflage and plaid.
Nugent’s speech, “Kill It and Grill It,” promoted some of his outspoken stands on topics like gun control, hunting, being drug-and alcohol-free, political correctness and environmentalism.
Nugent warned the audience not to just sit back and let the government provide them what they need, challenging Americans to practice self-government and take a stand.
“If you think I’m talking to you when I say you’re too stupid to take care of yourself and if you’re feeling a little angry, that would be guilt,” Nugent said. “The worst curse of mankind is dependency. It will render you soulless.”
He encouraged the audience members to dedicate themselves to rid life of the bad and the unhealthy things like drugs and debt, and make more room for good things like hunting, in his case. It shouldn’t be the responsibility of the government, he said.
“Those of you who demand independence … you put your heart and soul into doing the best that you can do, you scrutinize and scowl at the status quo, and you question everything and you bravely poke your finger into the chest of authority and go ‘prove it.’”
Sixty-one year old Nugent has been clean and sober his entire life. He said that nearly all health problems are poor choices people make repeatedly.
“I am a perfect human being. I perfectly blow it on occasion and I stumble perfectly and I make perfect asinine mistakes, but only a couple times until I figure it out. Don’t do it anymore,” he said.
Nugent, who said that President Obama was raised by communists, is strongly opposed to the recently passed health care bill.
“No health care. Care about your health. Tell (your peers) to respect themselves and that it breaks your heart to see the people you love intentionally killing themselves and then sending you the bill,” Nugent said.
Nugent mentioned how many people view him as an angry, gutless, distasteful man. He countered this by explaining his role in Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids and the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger.
Nugent’s speech began and ended with a big salute to members of the military, to whom he said people owe for the ability to live, go to school, go fishing, party on the weekends and feel safe.
“The United States military is charging into burning buildings of terrorism right now so that you can be free and I think that’s something we have to remind ourselves of each and every day in this precious, glori-ous American dream,” Nugent said.
Nugent thanked NMU by playing them a hard rock version of the Star Spangled ban-ner on a tiger-striped guitar.
“I am so thankful that someone sees me and hears me. The spirit of what I’m trying to do is stand up for what makes America the only last best place in the world to live,” Nugent said.
The College Republicans look for speak-ers and events that they predict will be suc-cessful, which made bringing Nugent to NMU an easy decision.
“Controversy is one of the big things that we look for. We thought Ted Nugent would be a great speaker to bring since a lot of people in the U.P. know about him, and he can relate to a lot of people in the U.P.,” said Matthew Fusilier, the president of Col-lege Republicans.
Nugent has a strong fan base in the U.P., much due to the many gun supporters at NMU. Even those who aren’t gun support-ers may still agree with his environmentalist views, Fusilier said. Lots of people like his music, too.
Aside from the entertainment value, “Kill It and Grill it” was a learning expe-rience for students and the public who at-tended, as Nugent makes really good intel-lectual points about the freedom of speech and the Second Amendment, Fusilier said.
“We’re really glad we can bring you somebody that people at NMU really want to see,” Fusilier said.
The NMU Sportsmen’s Gun Club thought that Nugent would be a great speak-er to have because its timely with events on campus regarding concealed weapons like the empty holster protest, and because he’s entertaining.
“When a celebrity talks about issues, they’re more listened to and their views are more susceptible to criticism and support,” said Fredric Gygi, president of the Sports-men’s Gun Club. “People will listen wheth-er they like what he says or not.”
Gygi said that “Kill it and Grill it” was a great opportunity to see a public figure with strong beliefs speak about things that he has a passion for.
Nugent presented “Kill It and Grill It” in the Berry Events Center on Tuesday, April 13, an event sponsored by NMU’s Col-lege Republicans and the Sportsmen’s Gun Club.
