Protest Disrupts Bush’s Speech
As a classicist, I am often astonished to see how little some things change from one millennium to the next.
In her excellent coverage of the Bush/Deukmejian/Wilson fund-raising dinner (“Protesters Disrupt Bush Speech in L.A.,” Part A, Feb. 7), Cathleen Decker wrote that as Mary Brent Wehrli was being ejected, a Republican “lunged toward” her “pulling open her blouse.” Compare what happened to Hipparchia at a dinner party 2000 years ago: Her skillful argumentation so frustrated the philosopher Theodorus that all he could think to do was to “pull up” her dress.
Our ancient reporter (Diogenes Laertius) tells us that, contrary to what was expected of a woman, Hipparchia was neither panicked nor distracted by her disarranged clothing. The photo that accompanied Decker’s article shows that Ms. Wehrli was not distracted either. Both women apparently kept right on making their point.
Some repetitions of history are more inspiring than others.
KATHERINE CALLEN KING
Los Angeles
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