Cave Canem wrote:My father and uncles lived through the depression and fought in WWII. They all worked 2 jobs post war, although the seasonal second job that they worked together might have been a way to hang out. I never once heard them whine about anything. And never heard them talk about "would a, could a, should a" been or ever wonder about "being a man".
During the depression, my father and his sisters would find some sugar, put it on wet bread and pretend it was cake. I heard about that for the first time from my aunt, ten years after my father passed. My uncle was sunk twice in the Pacific. The only times we ever heard about it were when the old guys would get together, toss back a couple of Rheingold's, and make fun of him for being a jinx. Never saw any of them back down from anything. They loved their families and made sure we were all taken care of. I can now recognize the joy they had in each other's company even when it was just talking about "niggers moving into the neighborhood" or how they'd never own a jap car (and they never did). By today's standards, they'd be labeled as hard core racists and they certainly had a clannish rejection of non-white groups but they also treated individuals with dignity and respect.
I never saw them be mean or cruel to anyone and they would help someone in trouble no matter who they were.
No one ever had to tell them what being a man was. They just fucking knew.
Because they were men. I know these people, not THESE ^ people but I know them because there was a lot of that around me growing up. because of just a few things though, those kind of people are shit on a lot today and it's fucked up.
That's why there are things like the OP. All those they are assholes trying to make $$$ off of guys who should have left it at "Fight Club", there still is a lot of derision at being a normal man, as varied as that is. A lot is just media perception and one's ability to edit the shit that got through your eyes and ears.
Fuck you all though. I'm a real man because I will never leave my kids when most men these days would have split and been weekend dad. Fuck myself, suck it up and do what has to be done with what can get done with what one has and what one can earn. Love your kids before anything or anyone else ESPECIALLY yourself.
"What's the meaning of life?" how fucking trite and pretentious?! Live, make love and make more of your line and her's. Do what your species does to foster and raise your young so that they can go on and do the same. If you can't make more physically? You'll be there for others. If you are a man you know your role. Protect, Provide, Prepare.
Can't do that? Die!
