(I wrote this years ago, but always think of it on Father's Day) It seems in our culture today, being a man means being expected to fill one of two roles; the “might as well be a woman” man or the “big, dumb, goof” man... Neither, in my opinion, is acceptable or right. Too many sitcoms portray American men as the subservient jester designed to provide comic relief in the family comprised of a highly intelligent “could have done better” wife and the “we're so much smarter than dad” kids. The men who are portrayed as winners are basically women in men's clothing. Often times gay characters, these men wouldn't know a power tool from a flower tool. What ever happened to the “manly man”? I believe our society has d emasculated our men to such a degree that a serious gender identity crisis is occurring. Many men live miserable confused lives unable to fit either role in which the culture wishes to cast them. As a woman (and wife, and mother of four future men), I feel inclined to start a grass roots campaign to stand up and salute men who dare to hold on to some outdated notions about who they should be. (By “manly man”, I in no way mean the chauvinist. Pigs of this sort have no use in any society. I also don't mean to imply that every man should fit the description laid out below. My husband doesn't possess all of these traits, but he is still a manly man. Some of it is a matter of preference.) Here's to you Mister Manly Man! Here's to the man who still respects a women enough to open the car door for her, not to encourage her to rely on him, but to show gratitude for her role in his life. Here's to the man who loads the dish washer during the half time show, knowing that the dishes will still be there later, but watching the big game with his buddies is better than all the cigars in Cuba. Here's to you, mister ________ the tool man _______. For your extensive collection of tools, for your vast knowledge of horsepower, and your undying fondness for anything that could be described by how many cylinders it has. I tip my hat to you, Manly Fix-it Guy. When the toilet overflows, you have the willpower to overcome the ankle deep moat guarding the bowl in order to exemplify your amazing ability to battle the plumbing and live to tell about it. All the while shouting, “Don't worry honey, everything is under control” and really meaning it. And let's not forget Mister Wrestle-with-the-boys. His job is one of the most important of all the manly men: Teaching his sons to rough house, play swords, the physics of baseball, and the vocabulary of the garage, all the while wearing the pink tutu his daughter made for him in Home Ec class. A real manly man prays for his wife and children, leads them in the blessing at dinner, and passes on the moral code of chivalry. He is a knight in shining armor. He rescues the house from the dangerous weed monster, hauls the garbage dragon to the street by it's tail, and lops the limbs from the mad Oak medusa that threatens the very life of the sacred tree house. And when his adventuring is over, he showers, puts on his finest doublet and takes his queen out for a candle lit meal. And while there, he's not afraid to order a beer. After all, he deserves it! I applaud you, Mister Manly Man, for not being whimpy and femme, and for not being crass and idiotic. Most of all, I thank you, for being the kind of man God created you to be, calloused hands and all.
Love it! I remember you sharing this with us before...an I honestly have referred to it before also. Very nice!
LOL...it was a VERY long time ago..I just remember it. It's nice to read it again. I think you should post it every Father's Day!
Well, then I guess I don't feel quite so silly. lol And I'd be more than happy to repost it each year.
Love it! This paragraphy especially hits home. We have one son and one daughter. My husband has done both.