The Princeton Tory 35.3

V O L U M E

T H E

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I S S U E

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P R I N C E T O N

TORY

JOURNAL

OF

CONSERVATIVE

AND

MODERATE

THOUGHT

A M E R I C A : L E A D I N G T H E

F R E E

W O R L D

PUBLISHER'S NOTE Dear Tories,

I’ve finally reached the august state of being a Princeton

Tory last semester. Both advance bold arguments on

senior and I’m happy to report that the start of a new school

thorny topics. The Anscombe team grapples with the

year still has the trappings of a fresh start. Whenever I step

issue of pornography, arguing that it causes real harm to

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one’s personal and romantic relationships. In The

nervous excitement which first washed over me three years

Lawsplainer, Akhil briefs us on why he thinks birthright

ago. The opportunities, including the ability to reinvent

citizenship is unconstitutional. In order to counter its

yourself, feel endless.

proponents, Akhil carefully contextualizes the

While this is not the start of a new managing board, I

Citizenship Clause of the Constitution’s Fourteenth

write to you as the Tory’s publisher for the first time, having

Amendment. I should also note that there is a practical

recently been selected after my friend and predecessor,

function to introducing these columns: they both cement

Joaquim Brooks, left the post due to personal reasons.

a lasting relationship between the Tory and other campus

Though he’s stepped down from the publication’s top post,

organizations – namely, the Anscombe Society and the

he will remain an integral member of the team as an opinion

Federalist Society. Both are committed to the principles

editor. My first act in office was to name Akhil Rajasekar to

mentioned above.

succeed me as the Tory’s editor-in-chief. He will directly

Coinciding with our internal changing of the guard is an issue fittingly centered on America’s role as leader of

supervise the content staff.

With a fresh start also comes the opportunity to clarify a

the free world. It’s here that I pass the baton to our

new vision. Fortunately, I can build upon my musings from

opinion staff writers, who all attempt to clarify visions

the two letters from the editor-in-chief I penned last

for continued American leadership. Tyler Eddy opens the

semester. Ultimately, the Tory is a collection of individuals

issue with a forceful argument for a moral intervention-

and communities on Princeton’s campus who find expression

ism when it comes to foreign and military policy. Danny

on our pages and interact with our intellectual output. Our

Schwarzhoff is adamant that we must turn to the next

readers are Tories just as much as our writers and members of

frontier and commit ourselves to a second space race.

our managing board. The Tory is therefore always in a state

Last but never least is Jacob Brown, who eloquently

of flux. However, the principles which unite us are not.

wards off pronouncements that America is in decline: the

We’re committed to protecting that which has existed before.

shining city on a hill holds firm!

We are also committed to measured and prudent change when

Finally, some words of wisdom to the great class of

necessary. I urge everyone to read my coverage of President

2023: always hit the ground running and always,

Eisgruber’s remarks at convocation, included in this issue.

always challenge yourselves. Welcome to the best place

Eisgruber’s remarks affirm and promote diversity of thought,

of all! Welcome to Princeton!

which is and always will be the Tory’s governing value.

At the core of my plans for this publication is a premium I've placed on bold ideas and institutional growth. It’s my

Sincerely,

pleasure to see our newest column, Ask Anscombe, printed

Jeff Zymeri '20

next to The Lawsplainer, another column introduced in the

Publisher of The Princeton Tory

i | The Princeton Tory | 2019

T H E

P R I N C E T O N

TORY VOLUMEÂ XXXV

--

ISSUE

3

01

THE RATIONALE FOR A MORAL INTERVENTIONISM

05

AMERICA MUST TAKE THE LEAD AND WIN THE SECOND SPACE RACE Danny Schwarzhoff

06

THE UNITED STATES: A SOFT POWER LIKE NO OTHER Jacob Brown

09

AT CONVOCATION, EISGRUBER WELCOMES FRESHMEN, STRESSES VALUES CENTRAL TO U.'S MISSION

Tyler Eddy

Jeff Zymeri

11

THE LAWSPLAINER: THE CASE AGAINST BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Akhil Rajasekar

14

ASK ANSCOMBE: WHAT ABOUT PORN?

ii | The Princeton Tory | 2019

PUBLISHER Jeff Zymeri '20

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Akhil Rajasekar '21

OPINION EDITORS Joaquim Brooks '20 Thomas Morris '20 Max Parsons '20

NEWS EDITOR Hannah Baynesan '22

COPY EDITOR Robert Doar '22

DESIGN & CARTOON EDITOR Grace Koh '20

FINANCIAL MANAGER Will Crawford '20

EVENTS MANAGER Nick Sileo '20

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jeb Banavige '20

STAFF WRITERS Jacob Brown '20 Tyler Eddy '21 Danny Schwarzhoff '20

NEWS WRITER Andrew Tufillaro '22

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Anna Bray Duff '92 James Haynes '18 Peter Hegseth '03 Peter Heinecke '87 Ira Leeds '06 Brian Tvenstrup '95 Timothy Webster '99

iii | The Princeton Tory | 2019

THE RATIONALE FOR A MORAL INTERVENTIONISM Tyler Eddy In his 1986 Nobel Peace Prize accept-

Opinion seem necessary at times. However, he so-

unding this policy, which is, at its core,

ance speech, Holocaust survivor and aut-

on contrasted this sentiment with a descr-

the act of intervening in the affairs of an-

hor of Night Elie Wiesel spoke pointedly

iption of the Jewish prisoners, focusing

other country economically, politically,

against neutrality at times of moral crisis.

on the vacant look in their eyes and how

or militarily. The U.S. and other Western

numb they had become to their physical

powers have shown time and again their

ity helps the oppressor, never the victim.

torment. In conversation with one anoth-

willingness to mobilize to save those tra-

Silence encourages the tormentor, never

er, the Jewish prisoners would explain

pped under the heel of tyranny and oppre-

the tormented. Sometimes we must inter-

how much better it would be to have been

ssion. However, when it comes to Ameri-

fere,” asserted Wiesel. “When human liv-

punished by God rather than ignored.

can public opinion, it seems every stop

es are endangered, when human dignity is

“Better an unjust God, then an indifferent

on the political spectrum has an aversion

in jeopardy, national borders and sensiti-

one,” Wiesel said.

to intervention.

“We must always take sides. Neutral-

For some who lean right, there simply

vities become irrelevant. Wherever men

is not enough American capital to address

or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.”

A decade later, in 1999, Wiesel gave a speech called “The Perils of Indifference” at the White House. President Bill Clinton and many members of Congress were in attendance. Wiesel spoke of his memories as a young boy who had just lost his mother, father, and sister to the atrocities of the Nazi regime in Germany. He also

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.

Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Sometimes we must interfere.

- Elie Wiesel

spoke of being liberated from the concen-

points dictate that we must address America’s issues first before we concern ourselves with the troubles of others. Fair enough. However, those who are so concerned with the monetary implications of interventionism are myopic at times.

For example, when it comes to foreign aid, the issue lies not with how much the U.S. sends but how it is spent. Though at times there is need of better management, there are also clear economic benefits to providing aid to foreign countries – the

tration camp by the American Army. He had come to possess an eternal gratitude

all the problems of the world. Such view-

Listening to Wiesel, one can hear the

recipient countries benefit and the

for the rage he saw on the faces of the

weight of millions of souls pressing down

international market, which the U.S.

U.S. soldiers as they entered the camp for

on them, forcing them to acknowledge

relies upon, grows when each and every

the first time and observed the state the

what they have the luxury to ignore. To-

country is stabilized. Furthermore, the

survivors were in. The combination of

wards the end of his speech, Wiesel asked United Nations approximates the total

fury and compassion he saw in their eyes

our nation’s leaders if we had learned an-

humanitarian need is $25 billion for the

assured him that they, like himself, would

ything from our past. “Has society chang-

entire global community. That’s just a

never forget what happened there. They

ed?” he said. “Has the human being beco-

drop in the bucket of the $4.5 trillion the

too would bear witness to the crimes co-

me less indifferent and more human?”

U.S. spends annually — a figure both

mmitted against humanity.

Wiesel again warned the world of the

But interventionism is far from a perfect solution. And what ought it look like?

allure of indifference. He acknowledged

Can, or should, we fashion a moral inter-

that it is easier to avoid the victims of hu-

ventionism?

manity’s evil and that it may even seem

First, let us confront the issues surro-

1 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

conservatives and liberals alike find no issue voting to increase every year.

And what about the unnecessary risk to American lives? After all, the tangible impact of interventionism is that we send

our young men and women to combat on

aided them. The Nixon administration fir-

motives or working in secrecy entirely.

foreign battlefields. However, this senti-

st sent aid and supplies to the Pakistani

After learning the full story, the usual

ment can be remedied by asking the very

military forces. Then, once military defe-

response of the American people is shock

men and women serving how they feel

at seemed imminent for the Pakistanis,

and dismay. It’s also important to note

about reigning in global actors who utili-

the administration sent naval forces into

that most atrocities today are ignored and

ze terror and inflict suffering. From my

the Bay of Bengal to prop up Pakistani

allowed to persist, such as those occurr-

experience, you’ll find that it’s often the

authority during negotiations. Shortly th-

ing in Myanmar, Nigeria and the South

reason these soldiers decided to serve.

ereafter, twenty U.S. diplomats sent the

Sudan.

And the grievances from the other

Blood Telegram to the State Department,

To turn to current events, the present

side of the aisle? The left articulates the

condemning the administration for not pr-

situation in South America belies a cert-

justified fear that interventionism inflicts

eserving democracy in Bangladesh.

ain indifference to the suffering of others.

more harm and loss of life than it prev-

“Our government has failed to denou-

In Venezuela, under the Maduro regime,

ents. American history is riddled with

nce the suppression of democracy. Our

starvation is rampant, murder is abunda-

such examples, where attempts to help

government has failed to denounce atroc-

nt, and hundreds have died protesting

resulted in even more horrors than had

ities.” read the telegram. "Our governme-

these conditions. With pictures of bodies

existed before. Even worse are the acco-

nt has evidenced what many will consider

lying in the street available for everyone

unts of American incursions into other

moral bankruptcy, … We, as professional

to see, the plight of the Venezuelan

countries which proceeded under the

civil servants, express our dissent with

people is more than evident. Yet concerns

guise of countering human rights atrocit-

current policy and fervently hope that our

about intervention from the left prevent

ies – or even done unbeknownst to the

true and lasting interests here can be

any significant relief for Venezuelans,

American people. The U.S. has taken

defined and our policies redirected in

even as aid caches are burned and the

down democracies and installed dictators

order to salvage our nation’s position as a

Russian government sends military troops

in Iran and Guatemala. It fought the

moral leader of the free world.

and supplies to ensure Maduro’s iron grip

imperialistic Spanish American War

In the case of Operation Searchlight,

on the Venezuelan people. In contrast, in

(1898) under the pretext of dismantling

not only did we allow the perpetrators of

response to the crisis at the U.S. border

Spain’s colonial empire. And it has

genocide to commit the horrendous acts

the California governor pledged financial

provided arms and supplies to guerrillas

with which Wiesel was concerned, we

aid to address the ongoing crisis of pove-

in Afghanistan and the Congo for

facilitated them and then allowed the

rty and crime in El Salvador. This has

purposes which did not include them

perpetrators to escape answering for it.

been met with disdain by Republicans in

being utilized against innocent people.

Under such circumstances, aren’t we

California and around the country who

morally justified to abhor botched acts

continue to rely solely on heightened bor-

Bengali people by the Pakistani armed

of American intervention on the world

der protection as a solution to the current

forces in 1971. When the Bengali people

stage? It simply isn’t the case that just

immigration crisis. The efficacy of prop-

fought back against Pakistani rule via de-

because we allowed this to happen in the

osed intervention in either of these cases

mocratic methods, leading them to take a

past that all future American interve-

is outside the scope of my article. How-

Take for example the genocide of the

majority of seats in the Pakistani Parliam- ntion would have the same result. Requi-

ever, it is quite clear that partisan politics

ent, Pakistani forces executed Operation

ring that these operations occur only if

is at the root of these anti-interventionist

Searchlight in which Bengali students,

the American people have given their

sentiments.

professors, and soldiers were massacred.

assent according to some democratic

The following days witnessed a genocide

method could serve as an accountability

discourse surrounding Iran and Saudi

committed against the Bengali people,

check in the future. After all, in most

Arabia. Despite the fact that both count-

with estimates indicating up to three mill-

botched intervention attempts, the U.S.

ries are complicit in state-sponsored terr-

ion killed. The United States not only fai-

government acted independently by

orism and have legally codified the subj-

led to condemn such actions, it actively

either proceeding under nominally moral

ugation of women and the execution of

2 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

Even more horrifying is the political

gay men, it is party affiliation that deter-

ures to counteract atrocities. We must

century and grouped together the conditi-

mines one’s views on either country’s

utilize our past failed experiences to draw

ons that led to Southern apartheid, the

moral standing. As author Louise Perry

up a legal framework for moral intervent-

bombings at Hiroshima, the genocides in

has explained, at the same time as liberal

ion. First, we must stop adhering to a

Cambodia, and the gulags of the Soviet

women dawn the hijab in a sign of solid-

foreign policy tethered to serving our

Union. To him, all this was not the failure

arity with Islam, Iranian women are torm-

national interests and accruing geo-

of an individual nation-state, but the fail-

ented and imprisoned for taking it off. In

political power. The founders would be

ure of all humanity – all of our failure.

contrast, as the president bypasses Cong-

shocked to see that we have simply

This great man survived the Holocaust

ress to sign an $8 billion arms deal with

adopted and expanded the realpolitik of

and then proceeded to argue that he too

Saudi Arabia, the Wahhabi regime funn-

the nineteenth century. Additionally,

carries the burden of humanity’s failure.

els hundreds of millions to the clerics in

every region which is stabilized and dem-

“Have we become more receptive to the

the South Punjab who use it to radicalize

ocratized is a future ally when it comes to

untold suffering of our fellow humans?”

the region’s poverty-stricken inhabitants.

espousing liberal, democratic ideals. If

asked Wiesel. A resounding “no” must be

The moral hypocrisy which permeates the

America wants to continue to be a world

our answer to him. However, we must ask

discourse on interventionism is

leader, then it must begin to lead the

ourselves a follow-up question. If it is so

repugnant.

world. The United States has no right to

easy for us to acknowledge our boundless

If one is to discuss America's failure to address Iran and Saudi Arabia, it is impossible not to confront the most tragic

retain economic and military primacy if it continues to serve its own interests alone.

Any legal framework which would

If America wants to continue to be a world leader, then it must begin to lead the world. The United States has no right to retain economic and military primacy if it continues to serve its own interests alone.

consequence of their rivalry – namely,

exist to guide moral intervention on the

the crisis in Yemen. In 2017, it is believ-

world stage must be foundationally diffe-

ed that 50,000 children perished from

rent from that which has come before.

hunger and disease alone, and images of

The powers invested with such authority

this have shocked the conscience of obse-

must be guided by what they are permitt-

rvers in a way similar to the American

ed to do, instead of what they are not.

soldiers being filled with the rage as they

The interventions of our past failed beca-

entered the Nazi internment camps. Even

use such pursuits were co-opted by a des-

though half a million children stand on

ire to profiteer off the sufferings of othe-

the brink of falling to the same fate and

rs. The only way to prevent the same mis-

another twenty-one million survive only

takes is to clearly articulate what actions

on aid from the United Nations, America

are allowed to be taken. The already rob-

power to destroy, why are we so power-

stands “helpless” to stop the proxy war in

ust network of agencies and non-govern-

less to acknowledge our power save? We

Yemen between the two great Middle

mental organizations provide billions in

have the ability to do better and and so

Eastern powers.

humanitarian aid around the world. They

we must.

Our geo-political interests and what-

only need to be bonded together, empow-

ever allegiance we have to Saudi Arabia

ered, and guided by a more stringent leg-

well-known monument whose history is

do not justify us standing aside as child-

al framework. Furthermore, when mistak-

oft-forgotten. From 1875 to 1885, French

ren starve to death. Though Elie Wiesel

es are made, we must learn from our fail-

sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi cons-

died in 2016, a year after the conflict in

ures and fold in preventative measures.

tructed the Statue of Liberty in Paris, lat-

Yemen began, he would exhort us to rem-

We have a moral responsibility to not

er to be assembled in America. What is

ember that “the world is divided in betw-

abandon the world and allow it succumb

little-remembered is that the reason it

een killers, victims, and bystanders.” We

to starvation, war, and oppression.

took so long to construct was that the

have a moral responsibility to intervene.

It is our duty to take proactive meas-

At the turn of the millennium, Elie

Let me conclude with the story of a

entire cost of the statue was shouldered

Wiesel surveyed the atrocities of the prior by the French public. In Paris and around

3 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

the country, fundraising balls and lotter-

French people donated to a people an

We can, of course, stand in awe of their

ies were held and the French people don-

ocean away to create a symbol of freed-

recognition of a shared humanity but we

ated paintings, jewelry, and other pieces

om against the forces of tyranny and to

must also seek to outdo them.

of art to help fund the monument. Bartho-

emphasize their solidarity in common

ldi opened his shop to the general public,

purpose. Could we today even imagine

who happily paid a small fee to see the

two peoples, separated geographically

new “Colossus� in construction, knowing

and when it comes to identity, becoming

well that the cost of entrance went towar-

so fatefully linked with one another? It is

ds its production. In sum total, the French

precisely this sentiment, of kinship shar-

people raised 2,250,000 francs, the equiv-

ed across borders, that is necessary for us

alent of over $6 million today. At the hei-

to recognize the moral responsibility to

ght of the liberal humanist movement, the

intervene during times of great need.

Tyler Eddy is a Junior in the Astrophysical Sciences Department. He can be contacted at tjeddy@princeton.edu.

NEW AMERICAN DREAMS Grace Koh

4 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

AMERICA MUST TAKE THE LEAD AND WIN THE SECOND SPACE RACE

Opinion

Danny Schwarzhoff With private companies like SpaceX on the brink of being able to provide reliable space travel, the fantasy of exploring the vast cosmos beyond the Moon has grown closer to reality. We approach a new age of extraterrestrial exploration and development—from building science stations on celestial bodies and mining minerals to populating space colonies.

While Elon Musk might build the rockets that make space commerce technologically feasible, this upcoming era presents fundamental legal and diplomat-

SpaceX’s livestream of “Starman” in space

ic questions about the governance of

fare—controlling the flow of information

China are making large-scale military

space.

and sabotaging the information systems

investments in space and counterspace

of enemies using lasers and jamming tec-

operations in the current absence of a

Anne McClain was accused of committ-

hnologies to keep rival nations weak.

method to either check other countries’

ing the first ever “space crime” after acc-

Russia, on the other hand, apparently

activities or enforce the treaty.

essing her estranged wife’s bank account

focuses on counterspace operations, see-

In August of 2019, NASA astronaut

The “peace through strength” philoso-

while aboard the International Space Stat- ing a reliance on space as the United

phy behind the Space Force initiative is

ion (ISS). A current agreement among

the most effective way to deter foreign

ISS partner nations allows the United

States’ “Achilles’ heel.”

With these potential threats, it is up to

governments from taking advantage of

States to have legal jurisdiction over this

the United States to maintain a dominant,

situation. However a much more robust

unassailable presence in space, ensuring

and complex legal system that addresses

that the final frontier becomes a place

loration and cosmic commerce isn’t Elon

the rights of private individuals and busi-

where civilization can prosper.

Musk’s reigniting engines or minerals de-

nesses must be developed before indust-

President Trump is on the right track

the lack of competition.

The most intriguing part of space exp-

posited within asteroids but the political

ries like tourism and resource mining can

with the reestablishment of the National

and legal infrastructure that could spell

take to the stars with confidence.

Space Council to develop legal policies

success or failure.

As much of American history proves,

for commercialization and security, and

Perhaps we’ve become more civilized

free markets and competitive enterprise

the establishment of the Space Force as

than our ancestors, who dangerously

result in the fastest, most extensive econ-

the “sixth branch” of the armed forces.

colonized new land and waged tragic

omic growth, exploration, and technolog-

The United States, Russia, and China

wars over territorial rights. If so, America

ical development. With adversaries like

have all ratified the United Nations’ 1967

has a responsibility to be the leader in

Russia and China beginning to use space

Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits “the

this regard, maintaining peace and freed-

to gain military advantages over the U.S.,

establishment of military bases, installati-

om in outer space as mankind ushers in a

the development of civilization in this

ons and fortifications, the testing of any

promising new age.

new frontier is at risk.

type of weapons, and the conduct of mili-

According to the Defense Intelligence

tary manoeuvres on celestial bodies. Ho-

Agency, China views space superiority as

wever, such broad promises of peace rar-

integral to information dominance in war-

ely work. Unsurprisingly, Russia and

5 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

Danny Schwarzhoff is a Senior in the Economics Department. He can be contacted at djs7@princeton.edu.

THE UNITED STATES: A SOFT POWER LIKE NO OTHER Jacob Brown American soft power is in terminal

Opinion foundational ideas, rooted in over two

Soviet laborers were dirt poor, and even

decline – or so we have been told. The

hundred years of history, cannot be

high-ranking party members lived compa-

Council on Foreign Relations has decried

negated by one unpopular president and

ratively austere lives. The promise of

the “the swift decline of American soft

they will ensure that America’s soft

wealth for everyone never materialized,

power.” The New Republic trumpets that

power remains unparalleled in the 21st

which pushed Communist governments to

“we are witnessing the fall of the Americ- century.

enforce ever-greater tyranny. The econo-

an Empire,” pinpointing the United Stat-

mic divisions created by the Berlin Wall

What does the U.S. offer that other

es’ loss of “cultural dominance” as the

countries do not? This is a pivotal quest-

serve as a stark reminder of communi-

key factor. Countless newspapers have

ion considering the rise of China, which

sm’s economic failures: East Germany,

bemoaned how the Trump presidency has

is looking to export its development mod-

which was the richest region in the Soviet

irreversibly ruined American foreign pol-

el and “soft power” to other nations.

Union, still possessed a GDP per capita

icy, representing the inflection point in

However, in order to answer this questi-

that was one-third that of West Germany.

the nation’s waning ability to command

on, we need to go a little further back to

The United States’ economic model, for

respect and admiration worldwide.

the days of the Soviet Union, whose

all its flaws, was perceived as far superi-

But is this true? According to the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy, the United States placed a respectable fourth in its soft power influence in 2018 – certainly not the first place rank that the United States achieved in the first half of 2016, but still above the vast majority of Western democracies, and leagues ahead of China, Russia, Iran, and other so-called strategic

or both by those living inside the Iron

American soft power is enduring not because of short-term factors but because of widespread appreciation for the fundamental tenets of American institutions and culture.

rivals. Despite the ally-bashing of the

Curtain and those living outside it. Americans simply lived better – and everyone who had been exposed to external media knew it.

In contrast to the Soviet Union’s obsession with central planning, the American vision was centered around individual freedoms that included the liberty to choose one’s own path in the economic sphere. This is unsurprising:

Trump presidency, the U.S. is still one of

illiberal policies – while admired by

the world’s most-admired countries and

some in the West – ultimately engendered freedom of expression and freedom of

is seen by most nations as a lesser threat

a moral and economic catastrophe whose

conscience, and it is hard to imagine free

than China, Russia, or ISIS. More import-

effects remain visible to this day.

speech coexisting in a governmental

antly, this decline is directly linked with

The Soviet Union’s image is

the American constitution guarantees

system that impinges on most people’s

people’s dismal confidence in Trump,

embodied in Alexandre Dumas’s famous

intrinsic desire to make a decent living.

suggesting that America’s standing in the

maxim: all for one, and one for all.

But even discounting communism’s

world will be reinvigorated once the

Idealists believed that the Soviet Union’s

inability to provide a rich-world standard

current presidency ends. The United

disdain of individual economic freedom

of living, its promise of social equality

States’ ability to bounce back belies an

was a small price to pay for the equitable

was still a pipe dream: Communist

important fact: American soft power is

society it would create. To many laborers

governments repressed a right to freedom

enduring not because of short-term fact-

suffering under the poor economic

of assembly, preventing people from

ors but because of widespread appreciat-

conditions of the 1920s and 30s,

forming advocacy groups (including trade

ion for the fundamental tenets of Americ-

communism seemed liked an appealing

unions) that fought for better working

an institutions and culture. These founda-

option. Unfortunately, it did not work –

conditions or a change in government. As

6 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

one can imagine, this was extremely

countries in which the American econom-

adopts the Chinese economic model will

unappealing for most people, who desired

ic system was forcibly imposed against

benefit the Chinese – while the American

agency in a repressive system that would

their will – the system has been a smash-

economic model of free trade and open

not permit them to express their beliefs.

ing success, bringing two countries com-

competition benefits everyone.

While the United States’ track record has

pletely devastated after World War II into

been less than consistent in dealing with

the prestigious ranks of the OECD, an

cultural exports make it a “soft power

civil society groups, the nation’s long

organization of the world’s richest demo-

superpower.” American culture is ubiqui-

history of peaceful social movements

cracies. Other countries that have chosen

tous, and American products adorn the

enacting change served as an inspiration

to adopt an open economic model –

world’s shelves. Coca-Cola is the most

for others seeking to do the same.

including most southeast Asian states, ex-

popular drink in virtually every country.

Soviet states like Poland, and the British

People in most countries wear American-

Since the collapse of the Soviet

We often hear about how America’s

Union, virtually all countries have made a common-wealth nations – have seen

style clothing. American films dominate

pretense of being democratic, with most

economic growth that has blown past

cinemas – even in China. China or Russia

nations’ constitutions declaring free spee-

countries with state-managed economies,

cannot match this, regardless of how

ch and freedom of association paramount,

such as Russia or Iran. Today’s language

much they try. But America’s appeal lies

even if they fail to act on them in practi-

of economic development is grounded in

more than its consumer goods. The reaso-

ce. These concepts are simply assumed to

terms like “liberalization” and “free

n why the United States can be admired

be the foundations of a successful (and

trade,” “privatization” and “deregulatio-

by so many different cultures and nations

popular government), which serves as a

n,” among many other terms that are

is because of the inherent liberalism that

testament to the resilience and popularity

hallmarks of American economic govern-

exists within its population. This is not

of the American model. The United

ance. This model continues to be attract-

“liberalism” in the left-right sense, but

States can truly claim to be the “shining

ive, particularly in developing countries

rather in the context of openness to

city on the hill” – a country that not only

in Africa where approval of the United

diversity and tolerance of other cultures.

lives up to its founding ideals but is also

States often tops 70%. Despite a major

a guiding light for others.

recession and increasing inequality, the

American culture and political practices.

United States’ economic system still

The United States is the world’s pre-

offers a noble vision – except that instead

retains its allure, even in the poorest

eminent immigrant nation, welcoming

of social equality, the Chinese model ap-

regions of the world.

more than 1 million new immigrants per

In a similar vein to the USSR, China

peals to one of humanity’s more ignoble

Compare this to China’s perception in

This idea of pluralism is inherent in

year, and hosts generations of arrivals

desires: money. This model appears to

developing countries, which is uniformly

from every country on Earth. This divers-

sidestep our previous economics-based

negative in the poor countries that are

ity makes the United States an inherently

justification for the fall of the Soviet

most exposed to Chinese trade and inves-

tolerant nation, open to new ideas and

Union. If a quasi-Communist nation can

tment. There are a variety of reasons for

ways of being from people all around the

ensure GDP growth of 6% for decades on

this, but the most likely one is that locals

world. This liberalism is baked into the

end while pulling hundreds of millions

see Chinese investment as largely serving

U.S. constitution, which does not

out of absolute poverty, who is to say that

Chinese interests, rather than their own.

presuppose the dominance of any one

the American economic model will inevitably supplant it?

China’s state-directed capitalism may

This is particularly true in the East African countries where Chinese investors have been particularly active,

group and instead promises freedom of religion and speech for all.

Compare to this to the uniformity and

have a claim to working within China,

which have seen widespread discontent

homogeneity of China, which is 92%

but the American economic model has a

over the relatively few benefits

ethnic Han, and where non-state sponsor-

much better track record outside of the

(including labor income and profits) that

ed religious activity is suppressed. Count-

country. In Japan and Germany – two

are spread to locals. A country that

ries subject to Chinese economic invest-

7 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

ment and inflows of Chinese laborers

government is acting purely for the sake

cult to see any other power usurping

cannot help but suspect that there is an

of harming a certain country’s interests.

America when it comes to the world’s

ulterior motive in play, particularly for

This plurality of ethnic groups also prev-

perception of it as the standard-bearer of

those countries that experienced Europe-

ents the U.S. from being perceived as a

democracy and freedom. According to a

an colonization. But when American

homogenous impartial power bent on

recent Pew poll, the vast majority of

firms show up – especially those with

subjecting “others” to its will. By virtue

nations would still rather have the United

international subsidiaries run by Americ-

of its peoples’ diversity of interests and

States as the world’s leading power,

ans who are immigrants from the host

cultures and its open economic system,

topping China by a margin of 44 points.

country – the perception by the local pop-

America’s interests are other countries’

The shining city on the hill remains

ulation is vastly different. Openness to

interests too, which is of tremendous

strong and American soft power will live

immigration is an essential component of

value in maintaining the United States’

to see another day.

the United States’ appeal: if everybody is

soft power.

welcome in America and can participate

Even if people in other countries are

in its most successful corporations, then

becoming more attuned to governance

there is less reason to believe that the U.S

issues within the United States, it is diff-

Courtesy of Don Sniegowski via Flickr.com

8 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

Jacob Brown is a Senior in the Electrical Engineering Department. He can be contacted at jambrown@princeton.edu.

AT CONVOCATION, EISGRUBER WELCOMES FRESHMEN, STRESSES VALUES CENTRAL TO U.'S MISSION

News

Jeff Zymeri Sunday, Sep. 8 marked the start of the 2019-2020 academic year, with University freshmen being introduced to campus through an array of Princeton traditions that date back to 1802. The class of 2023 first gathered in the chapel for an interfaith service before marching through FitzRandolph Gate, officially entering campus. The service’s highlight was an address by President Christopher Eisgruber ‘83, who used the words of late author and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison – the Robert F. Goheen Professor in the

Courtesy of WBUR Boston's NPR News Station via Flickr.com

Humanities, Emeritus – as a lens to stress xenophobia – in other words, by

values central to the University’s mission.

It was Eisgruber’s first major address since last spring’s end-of-year turmoil, which saw students protesting the University’s handling of Title IX proceedings.

At the class of 2019’s commencement events, some University students turned their backs on both Baccalaureate day speaker George Will as well as Eisgruber

We must have the courage to state opinions even when they are unpopular in our own community [and] we must have the integrity to respect those who offer opinions that are unpopular with us.

- President Eisgruber

himself.

“One of Professor Morrison’s lesserknown achievements is that she wrote

reflect upon this theme.

animosity toward foreigners – and by mendacity – in other words by a disregard for facts,” Eisgruber continued.

Noting Morrison’s conviction that a premier liberal arts education must see to it that students and faculty face each other in “personal conference and intimate counsel,” Eisgruber also brought this year’s pre-Read, which focuses on the distractions of digital technology, into the conversation.

Eisgruber then attempted to add

Touching upon hot-button issues in

one of the best essays ever composed

the Trump era, Eisgruber argued that

another dimension to Morrison’s words,

about Princeton University,” explained

some of Morrison’s words from the essay

stressing the importance of being exposed

Eisgruber, referring to “The Place of the

would resonate now as if written this

to fundamentally different perspectives

Idea; The Idea of the Place,” which

month.

and opinions.

Morrison read in front of Nassau Hall to

“[Morrison] reminded her listeners,

“If we genuinely prize ‘conscience

commemorate the University’s 250th

for example, that Princeton’s mission

[above] orthodoxy,’ we must not only

anniversary in 1996.

depended upon…‘encounters and collab-

tolerate but welcome reasoned arguments

orations among and between strangers

that challenge our own cherished opini-

theme of Morrison’s essay was the idea

from other neighborhoods and strangers

ons or viewpoints,” explained Eisgruber.

that the wisdom of the dead and the

from other lands,’” Eisgruber said.

“We must have the courage to state opini-

According to Eisgruber, the central

energy of the living merge to become a

“[Additionally,] she warned us that

ons even when they are unpopular in our

tradition that informs the present and

the University’s values would be put at

own community [and] we must have the

shapes the future. Eisgruber expressed his

risk if the world were to become …

integrity to respect those who offer

hope that incoming freshmen would

‘overwhelmed by fear and mediocrity, by

opinions that are unpopular with us.”

9 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

Eisgruber’s words continued an articulat-

opening address affirmed that I chose the

ed commitment to freedom of expression.

right place.”

Last year, Eisgruber endorsed a statement by the Association of American Universities affirming the importance of free speech on campus. Freedom of expression was also the theme of last year’s preRead, chosen annually by Eisgruber for the incoming class.

“You cannot really learn or grow if everything is always comfortable,” Eisgruber asserted.

Bella Hubble ‘23 liked the fact that

"President Eisgruber's opening address affirmed that I chose the right place."

- Adam Hoffman '23

Before University freshmen were rele-

had some parting words. “[My colleagues and I] know that you will infuse living energy into this place from, as Toni Morrison said, many neigh-

point.

“I really enjoyed how [President] Eisgruber reflected on the impact that Toni Morrison had on the Princeton community,” Hubble said.

“I especially liked how he touched on Morrison’s firm conviction of the importance of freedom of thought because it conveyed to the student body that all

ased to a medley of activities, one of which is the traditional Step Sing, Eisgruber

Eisgruber used Toni Morrison as a focal

forms of intellectual discussion should be University freshmen responded positi-

welcomed and encouraged regardless of

vely to Eisgruber’s speech, explaining

the political ideology they are affiliated

that it reinforced why they chose to come

with,” Hubble added.

to Princeton in the first place.

“I came to college to engage with

borhoods and many lands,” Eisgruber

ideas and challenge my beliefs. I came to

said. “We know, too, that wherever you

Princeton for a faculty who would supp-

come from, each of you belongs here. We

ort me in this endeavor,” explained

are delighted to see you and we take great

College Republicans co-President Adam

joy in saying: Welcome to Princeton!”

Hoffman ’23. “President Eisgruber’s

News Writer Andrew Tufillaro ’22 contributed reporting for this piece.

Jeff Zymeri is a Senior in the Classics Department. He can be contacted at jzymeri@princeton.edu.

We know, too, that wherever you come from, each of you belongs here.

We are delighted to see you and we take great joy in saying: Welcome to Princeton!

-President Eisgruber

10 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

THE LAWSPLAINER THE CASE AGAINST BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Akhil Rajasekar

Opinion

It is no controversial assertion that

state governments have been handicapped

stantive parts: birth, naturalization, and

the Trump Administration’s words and

in posterity by the Constitution from add-

jurisdiction. Birth is an unambiguous

actions have raised serious questions abo-

ressing such an important concern as the

term that relies exclusively on the occurr-

ut constitutional provisions and principles systematic abuse of birthright citizenship,

ence of a verifiable physical phenomenon

long believed to be settled. The Admin-

we are called upon by our good sense to

and is a concept that has remained uncha-

istration has faced perhaps the greatest

investigate whether the relevant constit-

nged since the Fourteenth Amendment’s

resistance in its approach to birthright, or

utional provision actually means what it

ratification. Consequently, every human

jus soli, citizenship. More specifically,

is purported to say.

born on American soil is indeed consid-

President Trump has questioned on seve-

The Fourteenth Amendment has long

ered a “[person] born…in the United

ral occasions whether the children of

been read to confer constitutional citizen-

States.” The second part, naturalization,

illegal aliens, though born on American

ship on the vast majority of people born

is irrelevant to this debate on birthright

soil, are entitled to constitutional Americ-

on American soil, regardless of parental

citizenship because it concerns a process

an citizenship under the Fourteenth Ame-

immigration status (children of diplomats

of citizenship acquisition that takes place after birth. Further removing naturalizat-

ndment.

In many ways, this debate over birthright citizenship is a uniquely important one in our pantheon of constitutional debates. Illegal immigration is itself a pressing public policy problem that demands imminent action. One of the single most significant incentives of illegal immigrants to enter the United States is the prospect of their future children

The first step to rectifying the policy failure of illegal immigration is to take aim at, and collapse, the misaligned webs of incentive and profit that have paved its path to popularity.

becoming American citizens. Indeed, this

ion from the purview of the present debate is the fact that Article I Section 8 Clause 2 of the Constitution expressly bestows upon Congress the power “[t]o establish an [sic] uniform Rule of Naturalization.” The intellectual battle over birthright citizenship is therefore waged on the final segment of the provision and can be distilled into the form of a single question—what does it mean, con-

idea of “anchor babies” — children born

being a notable exception to this rule).

stitutionally speaking, to be “subject to

to foreign citizens who can later in turn

However, to borrow what the eminently

the jurisdiction [of the United States]?”

sponsor citizenship for their parents —

quotable Justice Scalia once said in the

has become so lucrative that it has spaw-

context of the Americans with Disabilit-

modern, semantic understanding of

ned elaborate industries of birth-tourism

ies Act of 1990, the Fourteenth Amend-

“jurisdiction,” would likely lead us to

in developing countries. Illegal immigrat-

ment “mandates no such ridiculous

conclude that the jurisdictional section of

ion also impacts the millions of people

thing.”

the clause merely requires that a person

who wait — often for decades upon deca-

The debate on birthright citizenship is

Our first instinct, informed by our

be subject to the legislative, executive,

des — to legally immigrate to the United

a debate on the meaning of Section 1 of

and judicial power of the United States.

States and represents an abject failure of

the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads:

This, however, proves to be far too

public policy. The first step to rectifying

“All persons born or naturalized in the

simplistic and contextually divorced a

the policy failure of illegal immigration

United States, and subject to the juris-

reading of the Fourteenth Amendment’s

is to take aim at, and collapse, the misa-

diction thereof, are citizens of the United

language. The Citizenship Clause of the

ligned webs of incentive and profit that

States and of the state wherein they

Fourteenth Amendment in fact closely

have paved its path to popularity. When

reside.”

follows the language and structure of the

we are often told that our federal and

This provision has three distinct sub-

11 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

Civil Rights Act of 1866, which reads,

THE LAWSPLAINER “[a]ll persons born in the United States,

Rights Act of 1866 and references the

natural presumption of birthright citizen-

and not subject to any foreign power,

complete political jurisdiction mentioned

ship, the logic of which, when extended,

excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby

above. That is to say one is not a constit-

would imply that denying a Native Amer-

declared to be citizens of the United

utional citizen of the United States by

ican baby citizenship at birth on the basis

States.” While it may be tempting to

"birth-right” if one does not owe compl-

of tribal sovereignty would be impermiss-

argue that subjugation to the “jurisdiction

ete, exclusive, and unconditional allegi-

ible. However, this is exactly what the

[of the United States]” and “[no] foreign

ance to the United States at birth, even if

Clause’s drafters unanimously believed

power” impose different jurisdictional

one is nominally under the jurisdiction of

would be permissible under the constitut-

standards, such a reading stems from our

its laws and legal institutions. There have

ional provision that they were drafting.

current understanding of the relevant

been clever arguments against Eastman’s

This, of course, is not to say that

terms and is unsupported by contempora-

position, but they do not withstand elem-

Gowder’s understanding of jurisdiction

neous evidence and context. They impose

entary scrutiny. Consider, for instance,

and allegiance is wrong in some objective

precisely the same standard.

the rebuttal that Paul Gowder of the Nisk- sense — it is simply not what the provis-

Any proper reading of the Citizenship

anen Center offers: “How do we recogn-

ion’s drafters had in mind.

Clause must take into account its relatio-

ize those people who owe ‘allegiance,’

nship to Native Americans, who, in many

whatever that is? Well, we identify them

figure in the drafting of the Fourteenth

ironic respects can be considered period

by…their citizenship. Allegiance is a

Amendment, made clear that one could

analogues to present-day illegal aliens. It

consequence of citizenship; therefore,

only truly be “subject to the jurisdiction

is widely known that Native Americans

[Eastman’s] argument clearly begs the

[of the United States]” if one owed no

were not understood by anyone at the

question of the citizenship of children of

allegiance to any other country or sover-

time as having any claim to birthright

foreign parents born in the U.S. by assu-

eign.” This view was judicially reinforc-

citizenship under the then-proposed

ming that they don’t owe allegiance, an

ed in 1873 in one of the Slaughter-House

amendment. This is because members of

assumption that rests on the illicit assum-

Cases, in which the Supreme Court held

Indian tribes were considered subjects

ption that they aren’t citizens.”

that the jurisdictional qualifier in the

and allegiants of their tribes, which were

As clever as it may sound, the entirety

Senator Lyman Trumbull, a central

Clause was indeed framed so as to exclu-

sovereigns in their own right and thus

of Gowder’s charge rests on a premise

de “children of ministers, consuls, and

properly considered foreign powers for

that the drafters of the Citizenship Clause

citizens or subjects of foreign States born

purposes of determining where one’s

themselves soundly and explicitly reject-

within the United States.”

allegiance lay.

ed, as evidenced by their understanding

It is important to note that thinking of

This holding was reaffirmed in 1884

that Native Americans, as subjects of an-

when the Court, in Elk v. Wilkins, denied

jurisdiction in its modern sense does not

other sovereign, could not be American

a citizenship claim to a Native American

get us very far here. As constitutional

citizens at birth. They did not consider

man on the ground that he “owed

scholar John C. Eastman explains, there

this to be circular logic but understood

immediate allegiance to” his tribe and not

is a substantive difference “between

“complete jurisdiction” and “allegiance”

to the United States. Indeed, if the

partial, territorial jurisdiction, which

to be forms of social obligation into

Citizenship Clause as written bestowed

subjects all who are present within the

which one was born, a child’s allegiance

immediate citizenship on all those born

territory of a sovereign to the jurisdiction

at birth being largely determined by pare-

in the United States and subject to such

of that sovereign’s laws, and complete

ntal citizenship. It was obvious to the

nominal jurisdiction as defenders of

political jurisdiction, which [also] requir-

drafters of the amendment that children

birthright citizenship believe to be

es allegiance to the sovereign.” As East-

of Native Americans born on U.S. soil

sufficient, the Indian Citizenship Act of

man posits, this means the concept of

were not American citizens because their

1924, granting statutory citizenship to

jurisdiction contemplated by the Fourte-

foreign allegiance had already been pass-

Native Americans, would have been

enth Amendment implicitly incorporates

ed down to them through their parents.

redundant and meaningless. It is precisely

the allegiance language of the Civil

Gowder, on the other hand, believes in a

12 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

because the Clause does not grant birth-

THE LAWSPLAINER right citizenship as a constitutional matter families of ambassadors or foreign minis-

Citizenship before the Fourteenth

that a statute to that effect was necessary.

ters accredited to the Government of the

Amendment had, therefore, been tied

This idea of sovereign allegiance, a centr-

United States, but will include every

primarily to the one manner in which

al feature of the Clause, and its interact-

other class of persons.”

immigrants could be distinguished from

ion with the most significant “foreign”

Pointing to this quotation, proponents

natives — race. This practice is precisely

constituency in the United States at the

of birthright citizenship claim that Sena-

what the Citizenship Clause sought to

time of its drafting, necessarily sheds

tor Howard did not indicate foreigners,

rectify, while still leaving in place a juri-

light on our deliberations of the citizen-

aliens, and ministerial or ambassadorial

sdictional qualifier that would exclude

ship claims of children of illegal aliens.

offspring as discrete exemptions from the

none save Native Americans. While terr-

Citizenship Clause but was in fact using

itorial migration was a sufficient severer

watershed moment by Wong Kim Ark v.

all three exemptions interchangeably as

of allegiant and jurisdictional ties in the

United States, where Justice Horace Gray

synonyms. In so claiming, they could not

19th century, such a paradigm of citizen-

collapsed this well-perceived distinction

possibly be making the case more

ship does not carry over to the 21st cent-

between the discrete notions of juris-

strongly against their own position.

ury. Physical separations have never mea-

All this, of course, was upended at a

nt less than they do today, and the very

diction that Eastman discusses above.

Whether the decision in Wong Kim Ark was the Court’s way of consoling Chinese immigrants who suffered injustice in other contexts (cf. the Court’s protection of migrants in Yick Wo v. Hopkins) at the cost of the Constitution or it simply got

The intellectual battle over birthright citizenship...can be distilled into the form of a single question—what does it mean, constitutionally speaking, to be 'subject to the jurisdiction [of the United States]?

use of documents declaring one’s citizenship is proof that citizenship is today far deeper and broader than where one lives or migrates. Each country’s sovereign and jurisdictional reach is multiplied manifold in the modern age, and one’s sov-

the case wrong, it was in many ways Wong Kim Ark’s interpretive error that

Senator Howard’s statement shows

gave rise to the misguided modern theory

precisely how the notion and idea of

that the Citizenship Clause requires birth-

citizenship has evolved from his time to

right citizenship.

the present day. Few today would use

This fact may even readily defeat the

existence of passports and widespread

terms like “foreigner” and “alien” as

frequent “trump card” of proponents of

interchangeable synonyms for children of

birthright citizenship, namely, the foll-

foreign officials. It is telling that Senator

owing excerpt from a speech that Senator

Howard did so, since the context of his

Jacob Howard of Michigan, the primary

time had a limited understanding of

author and sponsor of the Fourteenth

“foreignhood.” Indeed, once a person

Amendment, gave on the floor of the

sailed across the ocean to make his or her

Senate in 1866. “This amendment which I

way to the New World, there was little

have offered is simply declaratory of

tying either the migrant or his or her off-

what I regard as the law of the land alre-

spring to their prior home. Allegiance

ady, that every person born within the

could only be pledged to the new land to

limits of the United States, and subject to

which they had come. The concern over

their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural

conflicting sovereignties, all such

law and national law a citizen of the Uni-

conflicts being territorially isolated from

ted States,” explained Senator Howard.

the American continent, was irrelevant

“This will not, of course, include persons

once someone had abandoned an old ho-

born in the United States who are

me far away for the new. One can easily

foreigners, aliens, who belong to the

see how it differs with the present day.

13 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

ereign allegiance is not dissolved unless through formal renunciation, denaturalization, or processes otherwise resulting in loss of citizenship. It is, therefore, essential to understand Senator Howard’s quotation as one that was framed in the context of a different idea of national citizenship than the one we have today.

The application of the Citizenship Clause to Native Americans and the evolutionary understanding of “jurisdiction” and “allegiance” are critical contexts in which to understand what the Clause actually means and requires. Taken in sum, these contextual guides raise serious questions about the soundness of birthright citizenship as a constitutional mandate and instead counsel its assignment to the congressional domain.

Akhil Rajasekar is a Junior in the Politics Department. He can be contacted at akhilr@princeton.edu.

ASK ANSCOMBE

Dear Anscombe,

Is pornography bad for you and why?

Even before we get to the question of whether porn is helpful or harmful, let’s

just an image – a mere depiction. There is

porn comes the preclusion of the great

no one to receive what you have to give.

happiness resulting from being able to

talk about just how widespread it is in our Hence, this only lets you take. Porn sends

confront the difficulties inherent in hum-

society. At least thirty percent of all inte-

the message that sex is an inward act sol-

an relationships. At the end of the day,

rnet data transfer is porn-related, and

ely for one’s own gratification.

one must confront reality, realizing that

porn sites get more visitors than Netflix,

This brings us to another point: porn

the temporary enjoyment that comes with

Amazon, and Twitter combined each

immerses people in a delusion that warps

porn comes at the expense of the joys of

month. Furthermore, 64% of young peop-

their ideas of sex and the human person.

commitment and true selfless love. In the

le ages 13-24 actively seek out pornogra-

Porn can only be a reflection of real sex.

long term, porn teaches you to escape, ra-

phy weekly or more often. Finally, porn

Reflections cannot capture the sex as it

ther than confront, the emotional challen-

is a $97 billion dollar global industry,

exists in reality. Thus, the depictions of

ges of human interaction and the even

with $10-$12 billion of it being generated

sex found in porn are often twisted, inco-

deeper challenges of intimacy.

in United States alone.

mplete, and fantasy-oriented, and do not

Just from these statistics, we can clearly see that porn usage is common. But

guarantee any similarity to the experience

Porn addiction is a common struggle.

It is a rare thing, however, to make an

of real sex. Porn is often based on a script effort to overcome it. People who open

simply because something is common and and so does not align with how real peop-

up about wanting to quit porn may find

widely available to partake in does not

le interact with each other. Instead, it

that others think their resolve is mis-

necessarily mean that it is beneficial. We

tricks many viewers into thinking what is

guided, just because porn is so common.

would argue that pornography is harmful

on the screen is realistic, and that they

They might also find it hard open up to

to the person and to society at large beca-

should follow what they see in porn as an

their friends, for fear of being judged.

use it encourages people to settle for less.

instruction manual for real sex.

And the main source of discouragement

First, porn makes people believe that

Finally, porn makes people superfici-

can often come from oneself, not wanting

sex is one-sided. Porn depicts sexual mat-

al. It stops us from going beyond peop-

to try after failing to quit for so long, or

erial that does not involve the viewer and

le’s bodies and sex appeal to take into

trying and failing over and over again.

thus, urges them to imagine themselves in

account their comprehensive beauty and

that scenario. While sex is a mutual act,

personality. Porn does not depict persons

worth it, even if the road to quitting is a

watching porn is usually a solitary act.

in their wholeness – it only depicts shall-

long one. And there are plenty of resour-

The focus for the porn viewer, therefore,

ow portrayals of them. You can never get

ces available to those who wish to quit.

is not another person, but instead an ima-

out of porn what you get out of interact-

There has been a new wave of apps desi-

ge or video. The viewer also does not

ing with a real person. But, by continuou-

gned to allow friends to discreetly form

need to have concern for the people on

sly watching porn, you slowly deceive

accountability groups to help each other

screen. They can just go to a different

yourself into believing that you can.

overcome their addiction. Furthermore,

site, taking in what they saw but not reciprocating.

This can lead people to seek out porn

But the happiness in quitting will be

initiatives like Fight the New Drug are

in lieu of real romantic relationships. It

indicators of a recent movement against

can even lead people to eschew real relat-

porn and its serious harm to society. Be

sex, but a cheap imitation. With real sex,

ionships entirely, since the fantasies of

assured that the resolve and strength one

there is a real person present – an other.

porn offer an enticing alternative. Like a

develops in overcoming this habit will

Ideally, this is a person who responds and

drug addiction, porn allows one to temp-

greatly improve one’s life, allowing him

truly interacts with you, acknowledging

orarily escape reality and all the challen-

or her to appreciate, seek, and cultivate

and affirming your personhood. Porn

ges with it, isolating them from their real

real, good, true, and beautiful relation-

cannot match this, because instead of a

friends and community.

ships with others.

Hence, porn is not analogous to real

person across from the viewer, there is

Hence, with the temporary escape of

Sincerely, Anscombe

If you'd like to ask a question about love, sex, relationships or anything of that type, email the Ask Anscombe team at anscombe@princeton.edu. Should you wish to stay anonymous, you can submit your question through the Tory's website.

14 | The Princeton Tory | 2019

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