Dear Ms. Eberstadt,
Our message to you is simple: we will listen if you respect us — all of us. 

We welcome discussion about the state of our society and the role of youth, women, and the LGBTQ+ community in it, but there is a prerequisite: you must respect the legitimacy of everyone’s identities. From your writings, it is clear that you do not. 

We believe that the foundation for academic debate is mutual respect, an acknowledgment that “we may disagree, but we both respect the validity of each other’s ideas and identities.” When one side revokes that agreement, the other is under no obligation to maintain any pretense of open-mindedness. When the debate is about “Who can debate?” the discussion has already ended. It is no longer a mutual exchange of ideas but, rather, a cleverly disguised mechanism for the continued oppression of disadvantaged groups. 

The fight for social equality in this country is the fight that all people, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality, should be afforded that respect, an understanding that we all have a seat at the table. When people like you suggest that we should start pulling away chairs, it is our moral responsibility to say no and suggest that you leave the room.