Another “quick takes” on items where there is too little to say to make a complete article, but is still important enough to comment on.
The focus this time: Be a man; take a stand.
First, a little mood music:
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Carrying on…
Between those who are dead-set on thinking that Iran, the Islamic State, or Al Queda are peace-loving and just need understanding, and those who prefer to play some pale pastel version of realpolitik, one must ask if there are any who will stand up and point out the obvious danger.
Perhaps, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich could play that role:
“Some have noted that Gingrich, as a senior statesman of his party, is acting as then-senior British leader Winston Churchill did in the mid-1930’s when he warned about the growing Nazi threat to Europe and the world. (Churchill, then in his mid-60’s, was considered a has-been conservative politician at that time.) Gingrich is not running for president this cycle, but uses his podium eloquently to exhort conservatives to wake up to the increased and unrelenting terroristic activity against the West.”
Of course, back then, male virtues were recognized, and men were willing to fight and risk their very lives to protect their kith and kin…
Masculinity and male virtue are under attack, yet instead of blaming the problems this attack causes on the emasculation of men in society… why not just blame porn and video games!
“[Psychologist and professor emeritus at Stanford University Phillip] Zimbardo gave a TED talk in 2011 outlining the problems facing young men’s social development and academic achievement, which he puts down to excessive use of porn, video games and the internet.
“He cited the example of a mother he met while conducting the study whose son does not see the problem in playing video games for up to 15 hours a day.”
Maybe… juuust maybe, withdrawing to the realm of pornography and video games isn’t the cause of the problem, but the effect of the real problem. Pornography and video games are some of the last areas where men don’t have to snip off their masculinity.
Of course, one of the things that will have to change to avoid turning society into an infestation of wusses is to eschew “safe spaces,” “trigger warnings,” and other such nonsense:
“Do trigger-warning, safe-room advocates at colleges not believe that it betters people to overcome pain and move on, or is it truly their belief that no one, at any time, must ever expose a traumatized person to an opinion that differs from theirs on ‘triggering’ topics in case they may become upset? It is impossible to control the world in such a way.
“Perhaps the attempt to protect one set of victims by silencing or cancelling speakers may actually be ‘triggering’ to another group of people, such as those individuals who have personally been victims of totalitarianism, kangaroo courts or punitive re-education, who are reminded of the fear brought about by not being allowed to voice their opinions and hear diverse viewpoints or face political prison. Is there a safe place on campus for those students who are re-traumatized by the attempt to shut down speakers or demand only ‘correct’ speech?
“…
“You want to really fight rape culture? Then stand up for women and girls who live where there actually is a rape culture. Take a stand against forced child marriages and societies that refer to rape victims as ‘adulterers by force.’ And don’t trivialize these horrendous human rights abuses — by insisting that your college is an equally hostile environment for women or that your male peers espouse these same values. If you truly believe this, you need to spend some time talking to and fighting for these women.
“You want to know who doesn’t ask the world to cater to their trauma? Real victims of severe trauma don’t. They fight for life and struggle to move on. What do these stories have in common? Survivors of desperate, severe, life-threatening trauma want nothing more than normalcy and recovery. Some strive only to return to every day life. Some use their situation to advocate and fight for others. None shut their ears and minds. ‘Trigger-happy’ students should invite these people to speak and challenge them. As people who have faced their demons and decided to fight for life, not hide from anticipated wounds, they have much to teach those who claim their actions protect others from pain.”
Stand up and don’t be a wuss. Real victims don’t wear the label of “victim” with pride…
TTFN
