Nexuseuss
09-14-2005, 08:39 AM
I'm terribly sad these days because of the upbringing my parents thought it best to envelope me with as a youth.
The idea that men and women are equal.
Two human beings with a mutual attraction on one or more levels, whom come together in a healthy nature of respect, love, and possibilities.
Children became a natural extension of this, and we were 5 strong over 16 of the 19 years they continually considered and followed through with it.
I mean.... the youngest, the black sheep of the family... the prodigal "girl" that never seemed to come, arrived just before I recieved my drivers license.
Can you imagine being 15 years old and looking at your 1 day old sibling in your arms and thinking, I'm old enough to be your father?
Yes, yes, we quickly dispersed with the uncomfortableness of her foreign gender and began tossing her amongst ourselves like a football when mom wasn't looking... but she loved it, probably both of them were laughing somewhere in that mix. Alright...maybe one of them was unduly quiet.
Happy to say that the little girl in my arms has nearly grown up, and has just recently grabbed her driver's license. In the process, I've seen her drop at least 3 brothers in crotch kicking contests, 3 brothers in verbal jibes and quickwittery (is that even a word?), and is top of the pops for every honor roll and community effort out there.
The world is her oyster, yet she's confused. Not about her academic achievements or her philanthropy... She's confused about her gender and what she should expect and give.
She's a mess. We all were integral parts in raising her the "same" as all of us. No more or less, and she was happy to be a part of the family until this now close age to adulthood... hence the problem. She watches television, mingles with other young girls/women,and feels the full brunt of a culture that doesn't understand her. Not like a disenfranchised goth, or teen angst candidate...rather as a someone reasonably well adjusted in modern Western world... and a world to boot that called for the fruits of her experiences multiple decades ago.
But she's not 60 years old and she knows it.
So here I ponder what culture says it is, says as it wants it to be known it does, and pretends to know what is utopian in any future wishes. After all, how many milleniums did men and women peacefully exist together before feminism, before 20th century rewriting?
She's damaged goods, because she has ideals which can't be compared to anything in her immediate adult life, probably for the rest of her life, so she suffers.
I hope the best for her, but can't help but to look around and admit defeat on this.
Feminism, sexism, any 'ism, has delivered far more harm than it's helped.
Much like an occupation force in Baghdad attempting to install "democracy" with a heavy and quick hand.
Given time, humanity adapts and changes, and becomes comfortable with it's general makeup. Rushing it, forcing it, demanding it does as much harm as rejecting it, and reason enough for me to firmly believe that feminism and equality is a red herring misnomer meant to keep the people divided, and away from posing a threat.
What else can be more powerful than a couple whom join together in near total uniformity, produce children raised in such an enviroment, whom go on to be able to pick apart the bullshit from the organic mulch?
The idea that men and women are equal.
Two human beings with a mutual attraction on one or more levels, whom come together in a healthy nature of respect, love, and possibilities.
Children became a natural extension of this, and we were 5 strong over 16 of the 19 years they continually considered and followed through with it.
I mean.... the youngest, the black sheep of the family... the prodigal "girl" that never seemed to come, arrived just before I recieved my drivers license.
Can you imagine being 15 years old and looking at your 1 day old sibling in your arms and thinking, I'm old enough to be your father?
Yes, yes, we quickly dispersed with the uncomfortableness of her foreign gender and began tossing her amongst ourselves like a football when mom wasn't looking... but she loved it, probably both of them were laughing somewhere in that mix. Alright...maybe one of them was unduly quiet.
Happy to say that the little girl in my arms has nearly grown up, and has just recently grabbed her driver's license. In the process, I've seen her drop at least 3 brothers in crotch kicking contests, 3 brothers in verbal jibes and quickwittery (is that even a word?), and is top of the pops for every honor roll and community effort out there.
The world is her oyster, yet she's confused. Not about her academic achievements or her philanthropy... She's confused about her gender and what she should expect and give.
She's a mess. We all were integral parts in raising her the "same" as all of us. No more or less, and she was happy to be a part of the family until this now close age to adulthood... hence the problem. She watches television, mingles with other young girls/women,and feels the full brunt of a culture that doesn't understand her. Not like a disenfranchised goth, or teen angst candidate...rather as a someone reasonably well adjusted in modern Western world... and a world to boot that called for the fruits of her experiences multiple decades ago.
But she's not 60 years old and she knows it.
So here I ponder what culture says it is, says as it wants it to be known it does, and pretends to know what is utopian in any future wishes. After all, how many milleniums did men and women peacefully exist together before feminism, before 20th century rewriting?
She's damaged goods, because she has ideals which can't be compared to anything in her immediate adult life, probably for the rest of her life, so she suffers.
I hope the best for her, but can't help but to look around and admit defeat on this.
Feminism, sexism, any 'ism, has delivered far more harm than it's helped.
Much like an occupation force in Baghdad attempting to install "democracy" with a heavy and quick hand.
Given time, humanity adapts and changes, and becomes comfortable with it's general makeup. Rushing it, forcing it, demanding it does as much harm as rejecting it, and reason enough for me to firmly believe that feminism and equality is a red herring misnomer meant to keep the people divided, and away from posing a threat.
What else can be more powerful than a couple whom join together in near total uniformity, produce children raised in such an enviroment, whom go on to be able to pick apart the bullshit from the organic mulch?