I am not writing this piece to argue about the existence of rape culture. I’m not writing it to give readers informative statistics about sexual assault. I’m certainly not writing to share a firsthand experience. Instead, I am writing here to discuss something sorely missing from the conversation surrounding David Hookstead’s letter to the editor: a full throated defense of the Badger Herald’s right to publish this material and of our right as a community to discuss the issue of sexual assault in the public sphere.
I was astounded by the backlash the Herald received for publishing Hookstead’s letter. Even after the Editorial Board attempted to distinguish letters to the editor from op-ed columns, letters and comments poured in rebuking the paper for publishing Hookstead’s piece. Several openly questioned the judgment of the Herald’s editors and warned of the dangers of airing dirty laundry out in public.
Callahan Miller’s piece, bluntly titled “Letter legitimizes ‘dangerous opinion,’” proclaimed worry that Hookstead’s piece will sway people who are “uneducated on women’s issues” and voiced concern that the paper has “legitimized” Mr. Hookstead’s “extremely dangerous opinion.” Comments beneath her piece have suggested she is not alone.
Laura Luo’s letter, “Choice of Publication Trivializes Gender Discourse” is strikingly similar. In it, Ms. Luo lambasts the Herald for publishing a piece that did not meet her logical standards and accused it of “insulting the integrity of the feminist narrative, selling sensationalism and disgracing journalism.”
I have some news that might disturb these authors. The opinion that “rape culture does not exist” exists. It exists in America. It exists in Wisconsin. To this day, it exists in the minds of people that many students study, work and perhaps even live with. We know it exists because a man who may soon be certified with a degree from the University of Wisconsin was confident enough to publicly write a letter to this newspaper espousing it.
Quick question: if we aren’t worried about what intelligent people think when they read this dross (and we shouldn’t be), why are we reprimanding the paper for printing it? Do we honestly think anyone who read Hookstead’s piece will accept it as doctrine? The quality of the writing alone would certainly dissuade them.
If nothing else, let’s get one thing straight. There is tremendous value in publicly publishing unfounded, offensive misplaced opinions if these opinions are still held by people in the community. In order to evolve as a society, we have to address issues like this every time they are openly raised. We do it in public so that everyone who is watching can see the reaction. Attempts to discourage these publications as “dangerous” or “controversial” is censorship. There are no two ways about it. If this community is serious about combatting rape culture we should publicly air every attack on its authenticity.
The fact that Hookstead has neither facts nor figures is not relevant. I may be convinced that rape culture is real, you may be convinced that it’s real, and everyone we interact with may think so too. That does not give us license to silence and chastise him, nor should it dissuade this paper for publishing his perspective as a citizen of THIS community. To do so robs the uniformed of their right to make up their own minds. It is its own form of hyper-privileged bullshit.
You think that the Herald’s publishing of Hookstead’s letter has seriously challenged the integrity of the feminist narrative? If the feminist narrative is that unpersuasive, all hope is indeed lost and we should all just move to Pakistan. You want sensationalism and disgraceful journalism? Turn on Fox News and listen to Warren Buffet get labeled a socialist. Accusing the Herald of it is as inaccurate as it is self-righteous.
I’m proud of this paper for publishing the letter and I’m proud of its readers for shredding the letter’s shoddy argumentation. In the future, direct your anger and your incredulity toward individuals who espouse hateful ideas, not the forum they choose to air them in. If you don’t like the setup, American democracy is not the type of government for you.
Nathaniel Olson ([email protected]) is a UW graduate.