Republicans may control Congress and the White House, but the media is certainly Democratic turf. Many mainstream media outlets and political personalities exhibit left-wing bias while Republicans take the back seat. Because of this, Republicans are often vilified in the media. The king of political controversy? Ben Shapiro.

Shapiro is a 34-year-old conservative famous for his controversial challenge to transgenderism and abortion during a viral Q and A at Ferris State Authority. In a recent show on the Daily Wire, a right-wing news outlet founded by Shapiro, he invited Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a political debate. He insinuated that she believes Republicans dislike debate while assuring her he is "eager" to engage in a conversation discussing policy. So eager, in fact, he offered $10,000 to her campaign or to charity if she agreed to a debate. Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Democratic US House candidate in New York, promptly refused to debate by firing back with a tweet comparing his request to a catcall.

https://mobile.twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1027731715039453184

If Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wins the house seat, it will be her job to debate against conservatives who don't share her views. Yet, she refuses to engage in conversation with someone she disagrees with, even with a $10,000 paycheck for herself or her favorite charity. For someone hoping to represent a district full of people, Ocasio-Cortez sets a poor example not only to young women but to all citizens. A civilization without disagreement is in gridlock. Ideological diversity is crucial to our government. Debate allows for rational communication between individuals about controversial issues, which is a historic necessity to humanity. A woman campaigning for a high role in government should not refuse debate against anyone popular and respected in the opposing party.

Of course, no politician should be forced to accept every invitation for debate, as Ocasio-Cortez points out in her tweet. However, it is extremely disheartening when a powerful woman refuses to engage in debate, as political discourse is vital for growth in any community. The inability to tolerate and converse with those we disagree with shatters the unity Americans have sought since the Civil War. Effective discourse is the difference between a barbaric society and a prosperous one.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez really sent women back a few steps by likening Shapiro's invitation to catcalling. From the #MeToo movement to the Women's March, we constantly try to end the motif of men objectifying women that plagues society. By comparing a simple debate invitation to a catcall, Ocasio-Cortez trivialized the issue of catcalling, which is something myself and 81% of American women have experienced, according to a survey conducted by Stop Street Harassment. Turning a serious defect in American culture into an excuse to avoid debating someone with different values is offensive. Catcalling is a serious affliction to womankind. It has nothing to do with intellectual conversation.

Debate and argument are healthy exercises for the minds of the participants and listeners alike. If you simply must decline to debate, please don't act like you're shutting down sexist actions.