I started reading a book last night. It's one I actually read 11 or so years ago and I recently recommended it to a friend. It's called "Wild at Heart" and it helps to unravel the mystery as to what makes us men and why we feel the compulsion to act like we do. Think about it, men are hard to find these days. I don't speak of the male species of human, but of the true unbridled man that seeks adventure and does things that are sometimes prefaced with phrases like "Hey fellas! Watch this!"
It's a biblical based book that speaks of the wildness of a true mans heart. About how a real man seeks adventure, seeks danger and the thrill of fighting. Seeking that thing or things that make you feel alive. Not always winning but knowing that you at least fought for something. In the movie Braveheart, the line that captivates me is "All men die, few men truly live." This is so true. Most guys (notice I didn't say men) live a life of past glories and dream of the things they will never do. Never do because they are afraid or just don't feel the risk is is worth the reward. Thinking to themselves, "What if I fail?" Well, what if you do? Vince Lombardi once said "If you can't accept loosing, you can't win." I agree with this statement. If you are not willing to risk everything for the prize, don't show up. There is no room for posers in the real mans world.
Children are the biggest losers from all of this. A boy is a boy. Not a girl with a penis, yet that is how they are usually raised told to behave. Fathers don't do things with their sons much anymore, because, well, they never learned what to do from their fathers. They feel that if they provide for them, that is sufficient for the moment. It's not. All boys seek the approval of their father. All boys want a Dad! They want to show off, be praised and told that even if you didn't do it very well this time, you will someday. Most never hear that and are much worse off. Boys are loud, dirty and rambunctious. We make weapons out of sticks and kill things in our pursuits of whatever war game fantasy we are acting out. It's who we are. Girls don't fart, play army, sword fight or wallow in the mud! I make no apologies for that statement or for being what we are.
Guys leave their families for whatever reason. Let the ex raise the kids, stay involved to the minimum required and writing a check as needed. Well, here is the facts, a man cannot raise a girl to be a woman, so why do we leave the raising of boys to women? Solution? I wish I could answer that but I can't. It would be easier to carry around a bucket of steam! I have mentored young men in the past and the big thing with most all of them is they want someone, preferable a male, to give them direction, boundaries and approval. They wanted to please the alpha male. The need to do this. Xbox isn't going to do it anymore than Barney videos will.
It's a sad commentary on our society but the truth is painful sometimes. We are portrayed as stupid Neanderthals that drag our knuckles and are really not much good for anything but sperm donations. I blame a lot of things for this but can't change a single one. Nor do I want to. I do what I do, live like I do and take comfort in knowing that I am a man. Do I like to fight? No, it's not fun or pretty. Never last longer than a few seconds and even when you kick the other guys ass, it's still painful. More so to the other guy, but broken knuckles take a while to heal. And occasionally, they get in a punch or two. But, I will never run from a fight. However, it is our brains that make us men. Start using them guys. We need you!
No comments:
Post a Comment