In their letters, Blair Polhamus (“Degradation of women shameful,” Dec. 9) and Michael Faris (“Society should find mural offensive,” Dec. 10) both miss the boat when it comes to the mural that suddenly is of great interest. Instead they manage to trivialize what real feminists are trying to accomplish in society, while making gross accusations about the behaviors of men.

Blair attempts to stand up for “women’s rights” by asserting that the picture degrades women. In the same breath of standing up for women, she manages to make wild accusations about military men and how all they do is have sex with prostitutes and produce illegitimate children, without any sort of proof. People like this, instead of working for equality of the sexes, are trying to tear men down and place blame on them for things they had nothing to do with. It is this sort of attitude that undermines feminist movements.

In the same way, Mr. Faris would have us believe the mural is indicative of all men’s behavior, and the sight of it will cause men to rise up in violence and rape women. Removing the mural isn’t a step towards better society because it is not changing any beliefs. I’m not offended because I know the mural isn’t a representation of all men, nor will it cause men to become violent or rapists.

Faris’s argument lacks any merit and shows only his ignorance of “societal values” at best.

Blaine Moyle

Senior

English