Professor, I can stump you.
Talking About Abortion in Ventura County, California (Moorpark College)
By Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.
Professor, I can stump you.
The professor yawned, took a sip of coffee, and said, okay, if that’s what you want to do.
You’re pro-life. And I get that. But can you name even a single law that regulates what a man can do with his body?, the student asked.
Define man, the professor said, lazily.
Uh…okay…wait. Uh.
I’m waiting. But seriously, I don’t have all day.
Okay, let me rephrase. Can you name a single law that regulates what a male can do with his body?
Yes, the professor said, after chugging the rest of the coffee.
Okay, she said, as everyone was listening. So? she said.
Oh, well it was a yes or no question.
Name one.
A male cannot use his foot to depress the gas through a red light.
The class erupted, and she said, no!, that applies to men and women.
Well, on my view–the true view–men are males. So.
No, I meant specifically men. Male bodies. I mean.
What’s a male? Define male body.You know…has a penis.
Enlightened, the professor said, to the snickering (no one ever 3 muskateers) in class.
Okay, let me ask it one more way, can you name one law –is there even one law–that regulates what a male can do with his *reproductive* body parts specifically?
Federal or state, the professor said, looking out the window at a bird.
Um, federal.
The professor icily returned his gaze back to her, and said there’s a law prohibiting rape in a federal building.
[The class was silent for a full minute].
But that’s preventing harm to another person, another student said.
And the professor smiled as he said, welcome to the abortion debate. So glad you’ve finally started seeing the light. You’re getting it.
[Fast forward 10 weeks]
She said, I learned a lot in this class, as she looked back, walking away, and the professor said, are you serious?, and she reiterated, yeah, yes, I learned a hell of a lot in your class.
Copyright Lucas J. Mather, 2019
All Rights Reserved
Originally Posted to Facebook Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 1:38 am
