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• Friday, September 7, 2007 12:26 PM

  What is a Man?

  Apologies if anyone has made any of the following observations, but I was unable to review all of the comments.

  It strikes me that among the reasons for the Republican faux macho posturing is that, more than physical appearance, this posturing is the only thing that separates them from the "elite" liberals whom they despise. Many of these "macho" Republicans went to East Coast Boarding schools and Ivy League colleges and graduates schools. Quick, other than Regent University, I dare anyone to point to a Republican attorney who did not attend an Ivy League law school.

  These Republicans have always been on the higher end of the socio-economic scale and probably have little to no experience doing the things that are traditionally considered masculine (e.g., build a house, fix a car, etc.) and have not held any jobs that would be considered masculine (police, firefighters and soldiers come to mind, which seems to be why Republicans are always in such a rush to speak with and be photographed with these groups).

  Also, it seems that many of these Republicans have come from traditional families with a strong father and pliant mother (although one has to wonder how much of that perception was actually reality). They base their ideals of masculinity upon the traditional stoic male who showed no doubt and no emotion. Many of the over-50 crowd in general (whether Republican or Democrat) seem to cling to these ideals, whereas men under 40 are generally more comfortable with shifting gender roles. Numerous times when I have been out with my three sons without my wife, I have had women of my mothers generation come up to me and compliment me on taking care of my boys by myself. Of course, I think nothing of it. These women then begin to comment how their husbands never did anything like this, and I can years of resentment and bitterness flow past me with each additional word.

  I think that these factors, along with others, lead Republican white males to think that to be "Real Men" they must be arrogant, loud, crude, cruel, homophobic, xenophobic, racist and mysoginistic. This attitude really leads me to wonder why anyone other than a white male would vote for the Republican party. Are tax cuts or curbs on abortion really more important than personal dignity.

  With that introduction, I offer the following title:

  The Mis-Measure of a Man

  How the Republican Party's misjudgment of masculinity leads to their far more serious misjudgments in government and politics

  I look forward to seeing the book when it comes out.

  —John PM Read John PM's other letters
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