a pontification

The man's a philosophy teacher and he's talking about yoga.

Last week it's some new construction projects in the downtown.

The week before: infidelity.

He says,"If a man cheats, it's the woman's fault." It's a convenient, one-line argument and it doesn't cater to the demographics of this particular college. In this city, in western Ukraine. Over 95% of the school are women. It's a pedagogical college; teachers train here. And the teachers here are almost all women. Of course.

He has a captive audience.

When the girl's aren't laughing. "He's so funny," they say.

He tells these 20 year olds, all single to a woman, that they will be the reason their future husbands will cheat. These dolled up models will mush their husbands into the arms of other dolled up models. Their slim, waifish bodies won't be enough to hold their husbands' interest. Nor will their blue satin thongs. Because these women will grow older but a man's appetite remains young.

This teacher--to use a term loosely--leaves an out for all Ukrainian men. When men cheat on these woman--and there is no "ïf" here (pity the faithful man)--these women might look back to a 2007 philosophy class and say, "This was my fault."

And another generation of women are betrayed.