To the editors:
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Inflammatory and unreasonable statements do not automatically become reasonably acceptable on condition that they are uttered by women. The fact that an individual or a class of individuals has been oppressed does not immunize their statements against scrutiny or criticism as many who sympathize with their plight seem now to believe.
Ms. Bowman seeks laws that would prosecute men for making offensive sexual remarks so as to “make the streets safer for all citizens”? I presume again, since we’re speaking of safety and sexual matters, that we imply safety from rape? But if we had laws prohibiting men from calling out, “Hey, prick, I’m gonna rob you,” would that cut down on robberies? Robbers, rapists, muggers, if they are to be successful, don’t verbally warn their potential victims beforehand. They approach their victims silently. If we seek to make the streets safer it would make more sense to mandate that all men in public places should speak in a continuously loud voice so as to warn women of the approach of what has come to be regarded by some as the greatest threat to the well-being of females: the heterosexual male.
Harry White
