Someone was saying that one of Trump's major accomplishments was to point out to America just how many stupid and gullible people there were littering the country - I retorted that it wasn't really an effort on his part as the devil knows his own.
Great post, Richard. None of this is new, of course: see Joe L. Dubbert, A Man’s Place: Masculinity in Transition (1979, later revised) deals with the history of masculinity in America including the masculinization of Jesus during the Little Lord Fauntleroy era. What is so pathetic now is the avidity with which some young people are absorbing these beliefs. Isn’t there such a thing as a phallus that is too big?
Thanks, Jim! Not new maybe, but the WWE-style performances of today's politicians and conservative grifters make it all seem even more cartoonish and pathetic.
OMG Richard, as you so often do, you took the words right out of my head. Literally! These guys are so eager to prove they’re Manly Men they’re tripping all over themselves, each other and their assault rifles to prove who’s ‘manliest’. Ask a WOMAN, a thinking woman, what a man is, and you’ll find the description of ours is far closer to Jesus (tho I’m not sure how funny Jesus was, and that’s a Top 5 desirable trait. Any biblical ‘humor’ is probably lost on us moderns anyway). Manly traits are by nature are imbued to attract females and/or induce fear in rivals. So adding a gun is really the epitome of cowardice (I mean, a spear is ‘manlier’, really). If they only had an inkling of how idiotic they appear…tho virtues like shame and self awareness would be needed for that and these gun obsessed, MAGA white Chreeestians have none of that.
My only additional thought is re the few women of that ilk who for some reason also need to project some warped idea of manliness. MTG, Palin, maybe Bobert. But there’s a subject for a whole ‘nother piece.
Thanks so much for your comment, Bonnie! I particularly enjoyed "they’re tripping all over themselves, each other and their assault rifles to prove who’s ‘manliest’." LOL.
Someone was saying that one of Trump's major accomplishments was to point out to America just how many stupid and gullible people there were littering the country - I retorted that it wasn't really an effort on his part as the devil knows his own.
Great post, Richard. None of this is new, of course: see Joe L. Dubbert, A Man’s Place: Masculinity in Transition (1979, later revised) deals with the history of masculinity in America including the masculinization of Jesus during the Little Lord Fauntleroy era. What is so pathetic now is the avidity with which some young people are absorbing these beliefs. Isn’t there such a thing as a phallus that is too big?
Thanks, Jim! Not new maybe, but the WWE-style performances of today's politicians and conservative grifters make it all seem even more cartoonish and pathetic.
OMG Richard, as you so often do, you took the words right out of my head. Literally! These guys are so eager to prove they’re Manly Men they’re tripping all over themselves, each other and their assault rifles to prove who’s ‘manliest’. Ask a WOMAN, a thinking woman, what a man is, and you’ll find the description of ours is far closer to Jesus (tho I’m not sure how funny Jesus was, and that’s a Top 5 desirable trait. Any biblical ‘humor’ is probably lost on us moderns anyway). Manly traits are by nature are imbued to attract females and/or induce fear in rivals. So adding a gun is really the epitome of cowardice (I mean, a spear is ‘manlier’, really). If they only had an inkling of how idiotic they appear…tho virtues like shame and self awareness would be needed for that and these gun obsessed, MAGA white Chreeestians have none of that.
My only additional thought is re the few women of that ilk who for some reason also need to project some warped idea of manliness. MTG, Palin, maybe Bobert. But there’s a subject for a whole ‘nother piece.
I sure enjoyed this one!
Thanks so much for your comment, Bonnie! I particularly enjoyed "they’re tripping all over themselves, each other and their assault rifles to prove who’s ‘manliest’." LOL.