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Destruction of Ice Sculpture Warranted (Letter to the Editor)
Harvard Crimson ^
| 2/21/03
| Amy Keel
Posted on 02/21/2003 1:04:14 PM PST by HumanaeVitae
To the editors:
I, Amy Elise Keel, proudly own up to the fact that it was indeed mewith my roommatewho dismantled the obscene snow penis sculpture in Tercentenary Theater. To call this a cowardly act of vandalism, as does Jonathan H. Esensten 04 in his opinion piece, is absurd (Comment, The Broken Phallus of Harvard Yard, Feb. 19).
The penis sculpture was not an official Harvard installation, and the men who put it up had no permission to do so. It was perfectly within my rights to take down this object which was incredibly offensive to me. As a student of Harvard University, neither I, nor any other woman, should have to see this obscene and grossly inappropriate thing on my way to class. No one should have to be subjected to an erect penis without his or her express permission or consent.
Many women and men, including myself, are the victims of sexual assault, child sexual abuse and rape. The unwanted image of an erect penis is an implied threat; it means that we, as women, must be subject to erect penises whether we like it or not. There was nothing challenging or subversive about the penis. The only thing it did was create an uncomfortable environment for the women of Harvard University.
Once again-what my roommate and I did was not cowardly, but instead quite brave.
This penis was not the symbol of peace, of which Esensten writes in his comment. These men felt that it was their right to build this pornographic sculpture whose only purpose could be to assert male dominance. I am dismayed that The Crimson chose to both publish the picture of the snow penis and Esenstens commentary, both of which were extremely offensive.
Amy E. Keel 04
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: harvard
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It's amazing how quickly Harvard turns bright young people into left-wing Borg-type robots.
To: HumanaeVitae
This is no different than the arguments that pinups create a hostile work environment. Harrassment laws recognize that a work environment has to be sensitive to all who work there, so an unauthorized display on the school grounds that create a hostile environment should not be any different.
However, Lefties always argue that "it's different" when the rules are applied to them.<p. -PJ
To: HumanaeVitae
Amy Keel took an ax and gave the "woody" 40 whacks.
3
posted on
02/21/2003 1:08:19 PM PST
by
battlegearboat
(Was there any foreplay involved?)
To: HumanaeVitae
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
To: HumanaeVitae
Just another snow job.
5
posted on
02/21/2003 1:10:36 PM PST
by
js1138
To: HumanaeVitae
'Vandalizing' an unauthorized sculpture? Sorta funny.
'Implied threat'? Hardly.
6
posted on
02/21/2003 1:10:56 PM PST
by
jra
To: HumanaeVitae
You realize that the whole problem is the way the guy presented the sculpture as the "symbol of peace". Had he somehow tied the sculptor in as
A) a "protest of the penile impulses that lead a nation to war"
B) somehow tied it in with sodomite rights,
the whole campus would have no choice but to accept it. In fact, the same female that wrote the letter would probably have fallen down in worship of the dang thing.
It is all just a matter of perspective- hope this guy takes a marketing class soon.
7
posted on
02/21/2003 1:11:25 PM PST
by
ThinkingMan
(Maybe someday I can ride in one of those black helicopters!)
To: battlegearboat
Amy Keel took an ax and gave the "woody" 40 whacks.
When her rommie saw what she had done, the roomie gave it 41.
8
posted on
02/21/2003 1:11:35 PM PST
by
Desdemona
To: HumanaeVitae
A leftist version of a book burning.
9
posted on
02/21/2003 1:11:45 PM PST
by
AppyPappy
(Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.)
To: battlegearboat
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her kitty fourty-one
To: js1138
Pictures! We want pictures!
11
posted on
02/21/2003 1:12:26 PM PST
by
tet68
(Jeremiah 51:24 ..."..Before your eyes I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done in Zion")
To: HumanaeVitae
"No one should have to be subjected to an erect penis without his or her express permission or consent."Can't tell ya' how many times I've heard that one...
12
posted on
02/21/2003 1:13:03 PM PST
by
AngryJawa
(Aw, fer cryin' out loud!)
To: HumanaeVitae
I'm split on this. First off, it was a tasteless sculpture, like "Piss Christ" and some other works of "art" that are deliberately offensive, so I couldn't care any less that it was destroyed.
But the published reasons behind it's destruction are just another loony example of "victimology" by long-suffering feminazis. They couldn't just say "we did it 'cause it was tasteless", they have to make it a political manifesto.
And the idea of 2 feminists destroying the ice sculptures penis has that certain irony.
13
posted on
02/21/2003 1:13:50 PM PST
by
theDentist
(So..... This is Virginia..... where are all the virgins?)
To: HumanaeVitae
Dear Amy,
So, I guess this means you'll be out there on the picket line the next time "The Vagina Monologues" comes to Cambridge.
Yours in Consistency,
Blau 993
14
posted on
02/21/2003 1:14:03 PM PST
by
blau993
To: HumanaeVitae
This young lady did the right thing but for the wrong reasons. Imagine what the media would say about a Christian who would blowtorch the ice sculpture for being offensive to his or her religious beliefs. But it's a righteous thing for a feminist (or a Mohammedan).
15
posted on
02/21/2003 1:14:42 PM PST
by
Alouette
To: HumanaeVitae
Wish it was cold enough in Texas to have one in MY yard.
16
posted on
02/21/2003 1:17:12 PM PST
by
seams2me
("if they pass the reading test, it means they learned to read" GWB 1/8/03)
To: HumanaeVitae
LOL...
17
posted on
02/21/2003 1:18:03 PM PST
by
amused
(Republicans for Sharpton!)
To: HumanaeVitae
the snow penis *sigh* Doesn't that have the sound of something that animal planet would try to save? imagine lots of little documentaries:
The Plight of the Snow Penis
The Elusive Snow Penis
Snow Penises in Summer
18
posted on
02/21/2003 1:19:42 PM PST
by
ncpastor
To: blau993
Dear Amy, So, I guess this means you'll be out there on the picket line the next time "The Vagina Monologues" comes to Cambridge.
You're asking too much of this Harvard student. She's been traumatized enough...
19
posted on
02/21/2003 1:21:09 PM PST
by
jriemer
To: HumanaeVitae
I hope these girls understand that the statue in question (a lingum) is a religious icon for hundreds of millions of people, and that they have committed a religious hate crime.
20
posted on
02/21/2003 1:21:16 PM PST
by
js1138
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