Opinions

Unwelcome education

In print | April 3, 2008

Composed prior to the event regarding Women’s Studies’ sponsorship of Shalit’s lecture, based on her previous publications and interviews available on the internet, cf. “Sex Ed’s Dead End.”

Upon a Sager Eve I was informed,
Dogmatic stricture by our fire warmed.
What sundry thoughtful office did endorse
That seemed benign in fact might be quite coarse.

That foe of coital mentors did import,
This to our notice, asking not support,
Gave reason sad to think he might,
Hope spiteful controversy to incite,
And prize a victim’s title from our fight.
A title that before unlatched this gate,
When he subjection’s tongue appropriate.

A viewpoint we fear not to represent,
In many crude and wounding ways was bent.
Our lives and loves the speaker did defame,
And placed upon us great and monstrous blame.

Nor was this her belief, she claimed, but fact!
Despite the force of evidence she lacked.
Not least of what she could not prove was gleaned
From glossy page of fashion magazine.

Tactics employing of cable news lewd,
She many a disparate statement construed,
And generalized from the lives of a few –
I wonder, my friends, did they represent you?

By casting the data in misleading light,
She added to her rhetorical might.
But it was so obvious, didn’t you know?
Sex Ed leads to rape, and other such woe!

Some warned me not to get in on this fight,
Lest I add to the size her little spot-light.
But she has our money, support, and our stage,
Which I feel has left no choice not to engage.

That she is coming I cannot contend,
But I ask you consider just what she offend:
Not students alone, but
the most basic principles of our community:
Responsible and Honest Scholarship.
I list these first because
there can be no Freedom
without Responsibility.

Though immodest fiction bias exploit
And discourse be perverted over Hoyt;
Though learned halls their hallowed names debase,
In haste to aid a self-made martyr’s case,

Some acolytes of those who endorsed,
Could find no reason to reverse that course.
Those who most plainly could see the offense,
Did anyway rise to the speaker’s defense:
<“For, though we insult and falsity see,
Yet this some concept of our project be,
So we cannot judge, and we cannot agree.”

Thus my fellows their major having lent,
Its name and credibility to her,
Who was most undeserving, protest not.
Though one did say, himself in years gone by,
Would not incline this logic to apply.
As they are great in my esteem, I tried,
To comprehend all, but could not abide.

Ergo my foe I must congratulate,
For me on this one point did he set straight:
Though home of wit and reason Swat may be,
And lovers of fair unveiled knowledge we,
In many a corner exists proclivity,
To impart a perilous relativity.

Though these uncouth facts be forced upon me,
And it seems all were demeaned,
I am, and I will forever be
Queer, Happy, Sexy, Proud, and Free.