Being A Man Should Not Be A Drag….
Where have all the men gone in this country – and the rest of the world for that matter?
We see a concerted effort to drive out all signs of masculinity from society, whether in the form of the social acceptance of fatherless families, not keeping score so that everyone is a winner, and the removal of “contact” sports from gym. Now comes this article that details how “men” are stealing and using their partner’s makeup and styling products.
Despite this, your Mandarin has not lost hope for the emergence of a renewed and traditional masculinity. Popular shows like Man vs. Wild, Survivorman, Apocalypse Man, etc., show men in life-threatening situations, pitting themselves against the elements and the odds. Here are men (although I do acknowledge that for insurance reasons, they are really never in mortal danger) who go out there and do the things that men do, or at least imagine that we are supposed to do.
Your Mandarin is also encouraged to see books such as The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Retrosexual Manual: How to Be a Real Man that are an effort to teach boys and men how to behave and in some cases survive.
The thing that really disappoints your Mandarin is the fact that we have to have shows and books to accomplish this. I remember when we looked to strong male figures whether that was your father, scout master, a favorite uncle, movie actors such as John Wayne, or those in the military for guidance and as a role model to aspire to.
Today, the progressives see the father as nothing more than a source of genetic material, vilify the Boy Scouts for their insistence on traditional morality, give us movie heroes that are either bumbling idiots in need of female assistance or are flamboyant in their “sexuality”, and look upon the military as a group of dysfunctional sociopaths who couldn’t get a job in the real world.
This should come as no surprise that the progressives would want to weaken the role of the male in society. Without strong males, it is easier to have the state take care of all of society’s needs.
The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.
The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.
The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.