The (manly) man...

As I sit here and write and think, I start to wonder about things that goes on in this world today. Whether it is, do I want to drink an extra cup of coffee in the morning, or what will I do for class as far as a design goes. But then I start to think about what I am and how society views me and then go on to think of what makes a "manly" man. First off, manly men were those who fought in the times where bow and arrow, sword and shield, and war hammers were used as weapons. One can't knock that and shouldn't, it's part of our history and as history states, they fought to the death and the only death would be to die on the battlefield. Flash forward to today and have a look around you. Men today are trying to portray that image horribly. Why? I have no good damn clue as to why. Should they? Well hell, if it makes them happy and they are not hurting anyone, why the hell not? I tend to think the definition of a manly man is quite obscure at best now and not in a bad way. Men today, well most men with a brain anyways, either care about being a manly man because that is how they are or want to be and other men want to look good because again, that's how they are or want to be. Let's start with the manly man first, what defines a man as a manly man? Is it that they work on cars or a lumber mill or maybe they are very rugged with monstrous calluses on their hands. Then again it could be the way they look, with big bushy beards and a summer sweater. What defines a manly man? I have damn clue. The term is written in black and white, yet it contains so much color it's not even funny. Let's look at the other spectrum, what society calls Metrosexuals, are they manly men? Most would say no.

But why is that? Is it because they get manicures and pedicures? Or is it because they get their eyebrows waxed or have a clean shaven face? Maybe it's because they don't carry around that year long sweater? Guess what, it's all of the above. They would say Metro men are not men at all but female wannabe's. Which is fucked because they are normal everyday guys that take pride and joy in how the way they look. Does that mean they get more tail than those bearded, summer sweater wearing, macho men? Probably, hell I don't know and I really have no desire to ask. What I do know is that the term "manly" man is a stupid term to begin with. So what, a guy wants to look good, some women actually love that and it is a huge turn on for them. Does that mean they are secretly lesbians? If you answered yes, then you would be sorely wrong. It just means they enjoy a guy who takes care of themselves and there is nothing wrong with that. Well what about those rugged lumberjacks? Again, some women find them attractive as well, doesn't mean they are in love with Pigpen but in love with the fact they are not afraid to get their hands dirty or calloused. Nothing wrong with that, it's diversity, nothing more or less. Was I one of those "manly" men? Yep, I was. That was until I started to accept myself more and more everyday. I enjoy getting pedicures and manicures and no I haven't had my eyebrows waxed.......yet. I enjoy wearing skirts, silks, satins and I do dawn make-up but then again I'm in a whole different category. Is my father a manly man? Hell yes he is and has the scars to prove it from working in a glass factory for forty years. Is the metro guy that is walking down the street a manly man? Yes he is, in a different sense. Hell there are gay men that are manly men and would put to shame some straight manly men.

Which then would make the term outdated and over played. One of those terms that needs to go away and never come back. Society looks at metro men, as if they are not suppose to be living, yet they forget our forefathers. You know, those guys who wore wigs, stockings, make-up, and carried purses. Yeah, they were also manly men, not only for getting our country to what it was but for helping to shape our country to what it is today..........well not so much today but you get the point. I find that the more people look around and really try to understand what is going on, they will see we are all the same with unique qualities. Instead of looking around wanting to see what they WANT to see and that would be that. I sit here behind my keyboard, staring at my monitor, typing these words that make sense to me but may confuse a lot of people. People, society, whatever you want to call yourselves, just have a look around. Go to a mall and sit on a bench or sit in the food court and actually look around. You will find that a lot of men are the rugged type that everyone is used to but you'll also see those who like to take care of themselves and realize that they are same, just different senses of what defines them individually.

Individuality is something that we need to keep because in this world of over 6 billion people, if everyone was the same, it would be one boring place to live. Please by all means, don't let this be a boring place because our little home of Earth has many wondrous places, animals and many unique people that live upon it.

I know I'm unique........................are YOU?