Seriously, think about this question for a minute.
What is a Man?
Is he just a person, just flesh and blood? Or is he something more important? When you think of "Man," do you think of a male, merely separate from the female by bodily functions and anatomical differences? Or do you think of someone who will take care of you, someone who will go out of their way for others?
What is a Man?
Well, according to Esquire, a Man "doesn't point out that he did the dishes." A Man "knows how to bust balls." A Man "can knock someone on his [butt]." He "stops traffic when he must."
According to GQ, a Man "is becoming more like women. He is becoming the 'weaker' sex." A Man "should hold himself to the highest standards."
AskMen cites Man on shallow terms. He "can do without Twitter and TV." The Man "thinks the economic crisis was overblown." A Man "is marrying material."
Seriously?
You see, this is why I believe that men are losing their respect in society. I could care less if a man knows how to stop traffic. He's tough? Very cool. He's marriage material? Oh my gosh, so are men throughout the centuries. Marriage wasn't just invented, you know.
What is a Man? My favorite poem is "IF" by Rudyard Kipling. Take a read.
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on';
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!"
Check out what Robert E. Lee has to say about a gentleman…
"The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.
The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly--the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light
The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others."
How did we come so far from this? I don't care about the modern man. I care about what Man always has and always should be. A God-fearing patriot. A gentleman among gentlemen. A Man should never be afraid to dress up. He should never be afraid to get his hands dirty. A Man should be slow with his words but quick on his feet. A Man should know the Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord's Prayer, the Star-Spangled Banner, and How Great Thou Art.
I'm tired of looking around and seeing men. I'm not any better than them, but they deserve better for themselves. I want to see Men, unashamed in who they are. I want to see Men walk around confident in what they believe, kind to other people.
And please, keep your pants up.
This is a shout-out to men everywhere. Be Men. Fathers, train your sons in the way they should go and they will not turn from it. Teach them to be caring, compassionate, faithful, and honorable. Teach them how to be Men.
The Man is not crisp, sharp, uppity, or better than others.
The Man is rugged, humble, and understands the difference between leading and following.
A Man is a Servant.
Be a Man.
What is a Man?
Is he just a person, just flesh and blood? Or is he something more important? When you think of "Man," do you think of a male, merely separate from the female by bodily functions and anatomical differences? Or do you think of someone who will take care of you, someone who will go out of their way for others?
What is a Man?
Well, according to Esquire, a Man "doesn't point out that he did the dishes." A Man "knows how to bust balls." A Man "can knock someone on his [butt]." He "stops traffic when he must."
According to GQ, a Man "is becoming more like women. He is becoming the 'weaker' sex." A Man "should hold himself to the highest standards."
AskMen cites Man on shallow terms. He "can do without Twitter and TV." The Man "thinks the economic crisis was overblown." A Man "is marrying material."
Seriously?
You see, this is why I believe that men are losing their respect in society. I could care less if a man knows how to stop traffic. He's tough? Very cool. He's marriage material? Oh my gosh, so are men throughout the centuries. Marriage wasn't just invented, you know.
What is a Man? My favorite poem is "IF" by Rudyard Kipling. Take a read.
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on';
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!"
Check out what Robert E. Lee has to say about a gentleman…
"The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.
The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly--the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light
The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others."
How did we come so far from this? I don't care about the modern man. I care about what Man always has and always should be. A God-fearing patriot. A gentleman among gentlemen. A Man should never be afraid to dress up. He should never be afraid to get his hands dirty. A Man should be slow with his words but quick on his feet. A Man should know the Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord's Prayer, the Star-Spangled Banner, and How Great Thou Art.
I'm tired of looking around and seeing men. I'm not any better than them, but they deserve better for themselves. I want to see Men, unashamed in who they are. I want to see Men walk around confident in what they believe, kind to other people.
And please, keep your pants up.
This is a shout-out to men everywhere. Be Men. Fathers, train your sons in the way they should go and they will not turn from it. Teach them to be caring, compassionate, faithful, and honorable. Teach them how to be Men.
The Man is not crisp, sharp, uppity, or better than others.
The Man is rugged, humble, and understands the difference between leading and following.
A Man is a Servant.
Be a Man.