Of Mice and Men

The Washington Post had an interesting (and misguided) piece of commentary today, attacking President Bush and the White House for being too "manly." The writer, Ruth Marcus, even went so far as to say, "Manliness does exist. The problem is that it's overemployed -- nowhere more than in this administration."

Really? Nowhere in the world is the supposed problem of manliness more prevalent than in this administration?

Leaving aside the toxically feminist view than men, and all things manly, are inherently evil, let's think about Ruth's statement. We'll even use her negative connotations of masculinity.

I would say a country whose males assert their power over women by keeping females bound behind veils of black is too "manly." I would say a group whose males train for war against innocents and violence against all is too "manly." I would say an ideology which teaches males acts of terror as the only form of international influence is too "manly."

And I would say that America needs her men - real men, who are protectors and warriors - to stand up to these threats against mankind and exert the true forces of independence and justice.

For too long, the United States sent boys to do a man's job. Ruth says, "The undisputed manliness of the Bush White House stands in contrast to its predecessors and wannabes." Well, thank God for that. The president's wannabes (Gore and Kerry) couldn't figure out who they were, let alone where they wanted to lead the country. And the president's predecessors (Bush senior and Clinton) were so defined by the womanly qualities of "restraint, introspection, a desire for consensus, maybe even a touch of self-doubt," that they left the nation vulnerable to, and victims of, terrorist attacks.

Regardless of whether we are at war or peace, strong men - yes, men, as in natural leaders - must guide this nation with conviction and resolve.

We need a few more cowboys, a few more hunters, a few more unapologetically manly men. We need to stop telling boys be quite, be nice, be gentle, be feminine, and start teaching them how to be both strong men and gentlemen.

We need men willing to take up the fight, stare down the threat, and protect the lives and legacy of the American people.

"Good people sleep peaceabliy in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." ~ George Orwell