I have intimate knowledge of the discussions that took place in the class you are referring to. You have embellished greatly when you say, "Add to that the fact that I was the only liberal in the room, and you can conceptualize exactly how out of place I actually was." You were not the only Liberal in the room. The class often had back and forth, and more than a few students challenged the course material and the professor. You completely misrepresented the discussion about pornography as well as you say: "Needless to say, I was the only left-of-center student in the room." However, I recall the professor being astonished that the majority of the students in the room found no problem with pornography. The majority was left of center on the issue. I understand the main idea of this article and it is a good one. However, for you to paint a picture that is largely false in order to illustrate your point more fully is not something that should be allowed to slide in a paper as respected as the DP.

Dennie-

I found fault with two aspects of your article, one applying to the class as a whole, and one specific to me personally. First, “conservatives” did not dominate the class, nor does “conservative” as a term do justice to the diversity of views expressed by the right-minded in the class. To characterize us as simply “conservative” is to miss one of the fundamental themes of the course. American conservatism is a fractured, and at times even contradictory, philosophy. It is a dynamic and diverse movement. In any discussion concerning “conservatives,” I think this is an extremely important point to make. Conservatives often have difficulty reconciling their views with many of the connotations the term evokes, myself included. Like you, I have championed positions typically associated with the “liberal” persuasion. I’m a proud supporter of homosexual rights, women’s empowerment, the West Philadelphia public education system, and conservation of the environment. I resent your rather one-sided characterization of your fellow classmates, many of whom hold liberal views themselves.

Second, as “the only female student in the course,” I easily identified the reference to me personally in your article, though it was more difficult to recognize the quotation attributed to me. I am a tad skeptical that I generalized my specific views to “women everywhere” as you say. This would be extremely poor argumentation; to use such a simple-minded, flawed technique in debate would be, frankly, embarrassing. Regardless, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that your quotation fails to encapsulate the position I expressed on pornography in class. The term “degrading” is not the same as “morally wrong.” I use "degrading" in the sense that it means "to lower in character or quality," and it is in this sense that I apply it to pornography. It takes sex, which is an immensely important, powerful, and traditionally private human act, and makes it common and public. I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing, though. What sex looses in privacy, it may gain in power. I’d happily argue that pornography can do fantastic things for a couple’s sex life. I do think pornography can be degrading to women-- I’d like to see an argument for how bukake is empowering-- but I am more concerned with straight objectification of women (and men for that matter). I am perfectly happy with pornography clips that feature women and women, women and men, and men and men in all their sexual glory. I am not happy with the Ashley Madison ads that come on before, seductively saying “these two people are married… but not to each other!” Because I am so reverent toward the power of sex, I don’t like to see it exploited for its baser (as Irving Kristol put it, "animal") characteristics. If it empowers women, I’m for it. If it’s a sorry excuse for men to regale in the joys of having the power to do ridiculous things to some woman with fake blonde hair and fake J breasts, I’m a bit more disgusted.

I appreciate your willingness to engage in debates outside your comfort zone, as indeed, it is quite easy for liberal Penn students to completely avoid discussions that do not favor opinions they already hold. I enjoy reading your articles and hope you will understand that my response is not intended to be harsh; it is only the expression of my willingness to engage in debate as well. There are my thoughts: I’ll take a check in the amount of one Dennie at your convenience.