Knocking Heads With The Myths of Manhood

Manhood used to be a defined quantity, a recognizable set of traits that inhered in men. Nowadays, this definition is lost, eroded by the seas of feminist postmodernity. Over the next few days, I want to take on a few myths of modern manhood, and knock heads with ’em. Hopefully, some fruitful thought will result.

Myth One: Guys Should Never Use Aggression

As a young man taught in postmodern classrooms for all of my formative years, I can readily say that I have been taught that it is bad to use aggression. Men should never be aggressive, goes the line, and so an entire generation was neutered. Only men from the Stone Age use force and show adrenaline and speak directly. Men of today speak softly and never offend anyone and always resort to pacifying diplomacy to make their case. Assertions of any definite type must be accompanied and foresworn by at least three sentences of apology for the mere presence of any sentiment of personal will, and must beseech (in whimpering tones, if possible) the hearer to not misunderstand what is said. Men should never really say anything, basically. They certainly should never say it directly. Someone’s feelings might get hurt.

Men also should never get upset. We in the Christian church have been taught a feminized Jesus. So much has His love and kindness been emphasized that His wrath and justice have been lost. If we would follow Jesus, goes the thinking, we’ll never say a cross word, never hurt a feeling, never make a direct statement. We’ll go around scattering rose petals and speaking diplomatically and give lots of people thirty-second hugs. Well, this image of Jesus is ridiculous. Jesus was a confronter. He told people that they were dogs and vipers. He spoke sentences charged with anger. So did Paul and Peter. So did everyone, it seems, except modern Christian men.

We have lost all sense of honest discourse today. We can’t have conversations anymore. Someone’s feelings get hurt in 2.4 seconds and it’s all over. Disagreement to the modern mind is tantamount to hatred. This is also ridiculous. We should be able to speak honestly, to evaluate arguments, and to expect a reasonable response in return. Instead, if anyone actually says anything, people run around with their hands over their mouths, shocked at the act. What happened to debate? What happened to argumentation? “Well, for me, war is okay…I mean, just war is okay…but sorry if you disagree…I mean your opinion is totally valid…” Such statements are pure hogwash. Speak your mind, man! Believe in something enough to say it clearly, without fear. We’re so afraid today. We’re afraid in our classrooms and our living rooms and our battlefields. We can’t fight wars anymore. We have to do diplomacy, which is the word “cowardice” in disguise. And our diplomats aren’t strong. If I were a tyrant from the Middle East, I would laugh at American “diplomacy,” seeing it for the weak-kneed sham it is, and laugh in amazement that a country full of so-called cowboys sends a woman in a purple dress to negotiate with me. Diplomacy indeed–and the hammer and the sickle march on.

Now, please read this all very carefully, and don’t be offended. And please don’t disagree. My feelings just won’t recover. 🙂