I agreed with only one thing in John Heiderscheidt's most recent column: the title. He was indeed "out of order," and I am angered by not only the petty arguments made but the demeaning way in which they were presented. A male friend of mine informed me that the column was meant to be "tongue-in-cheek," a clever satire on the perpetual battle of the sexes. I appreciate satire and its ability to encourage positive change, but this has crossed the line between humor and poor taste.

He states in the section on female presidents that he "can guarantee that 95 percent of the women in the United States would have some ridiculous reason not to like whatever curtains that department picked out." Where is the irrefutable evidence of this coming from — "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"? With the Marquette Tribune's efforts to fact-check every article, they had best have a study proving that the women of America have no more political quibbles than those pertaining to upholstery.

The majority of my frustration stems from your final paragraph. John asks women why they "don't roar about anything important." Is his column an example of the worldly issues that we women should aspire to contemplate? The contentions are: women know nothing about politics, women like interior design, women are "sadistic" teases, and women are backstabbers. If you are going to have a battle of the sexes, why not debate actual issues?

He tells us that his "penultimate beef" is women "whining" that they are not equal. First, I will note that if it is considered in good taste to make such slanderous remarks about any group of people, there is clearly a lack of equality. Secondly, if you want to say equality is no longer an issue, why not cite some examples of the evolution of women's rights? Complaining because some girl decided not to date you is not discussing gender issues. What about the fact that, according to the National Women's Law Center's analysis of 2003 census data, women working full time make 76 percent of what men make in the same jobs?

Finally, I would like to note the location of the column. It was right beneath a piece encouraging those who have been victims of rape or sexual assault to notify the police. Assault survivors are frequently frightened to come forward because of the enormous stigma that is attached to rape. Some even say that a victim was asking for it. With the ignorant and stereotypical comments found in the column, is it any surprise that such a stigma exists?

If you're going to have a battle of the sexes, discuss issues that are important and address them with respect for your subject. I know of no women who match up to the shallow, callous portrait you have painted with your wide brush, and I can imagine no man who would wish to be represented by your distasteful and narrow-minded debate.

This viewpoint was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 13, 2005.