The Testosterone Crisis

American Thinker ^ | November 22, 2008 | Ed Kaitz

[neverdem]

The sweeping Democratic electoral victory has left many conservative Americans concerned about their children's future.  With the federal government, educational establishment, entertainment industry and media thoroughly in the hands of the left, disturbing questions surface concerning the kinds of values our children will begin to accept as "mainstream."  Matters get worse when one considers what might become forced indoctrination in "community service" organizations as a prerequisite for college admission.

These concerns were on my mind during a recent outing with my young children to a local playground.  While I watched my kids try to scale walls, climb ropes, and navigate through other challenging structures various male voices I had obviously missed on previous visits to the park suddenly resonated.  "Try it on your own" or "you don't need any help with this one" the gaggle of fathers would say as their sons and daughters sized up various obstacles.  And while many of the moms cringed on the benches the young ones tripped, fell, clawed, and cried at times but they usually ended up victorious.

The ancient Chinese thinkers would have called my local park a microcosm of nature -- a dynamic reciprocity between the forces of feminine yin and masculine yang.  It is as natural for the moms to be overly concerned about the bumps and bruises as it is for the fathers to be encouraging independence and self-reliance.  Yin and yang represent two complementary energies in nature, the balance of which determines the health and harmony of a marriage, a family, a village, and even a nation.  These same Chinese philosophers warned however that unhealthy families, like unhealthy nations, are usually the victims of an overabundance of either the feminine yin or the masculine yang.

Chinese emperors for example attempted to head off this underlying and menacing threat of imbalance by castrating their ministers.  Why?  Too much yang testosterone in the palace would lead to dangerous factions and competition.  More eunuchs around the court meant the palace would be a better reflection of the harmony in nature.  Imperial concubines would also be sheltered from potential male rivals of the potentate, but this was entirely incidental to the theory.)

While an excess of yang energy was considered explosive and dangerous, what happens in a country like contemporary America when there seems to be a dangerous oversupply of feminine yin?

In his book The Suicide of Reason Lee Harris argues that our present state of liberal democracy has led to "eliminating the alpha males from our midst, and at a dizzyingly accelerating rate."  Instead of supporting and valuing testosterone's virtues we're "drugging our alpha boys with Ritalin."  In addition, one could view Barack Obama's election as the triumph of yin over yang.  Obama's policies promise to cast the father out of America's parks and replace him with the more "caring" and yin oriented federal government.  For Lee Harris however the feminization of American men comes at an extremely high price:

"The end of testosterone in the West alone will not culminate in the end of history, but it may well culminate in the end of the West."

It was in ancient Greece for example when the West began to associate the masculine yang voice with freedom and self-reliance.  Why?  Because when Athenian citizens perused the known world they noticed something rather curious: in no country other than Greece did citizens enjoy freedom or the virtues of democratic government.  Famous Greeks like the fifth century B.C. physician Hippocrates attempted to explain this fascinating anomaly. What Hippocrates and other Greek observers all tended to conclude was that the rest of the world's subjects must be "effeminate" or else, like the Greeks, they would have demanded -- like real men -- to be left alone by their leaders. 

In his essay On Airs, Waters, and Places for example Hippocrates notes that those who endure life under a despot are "cowardly, as I have stated before, for their souls are enslaved."  Greeks however are "independent, and enjoy the fruits of their own labors," and in addition they "encounter dangers on their own account, bear the prizes of their own valor, and in like manner endure the punishment of their own cowardice."  The good doctor concludes with a rather chilling observation: "A man's disposition will be changed by his institutions."  In short, what Hippocrates argues is that the more "maternalistic" the government, the less the citizenry will value freedom.

We can now start to understand part of Obama's appeal.  Alpha males in this nation have been browbeaten in every profession, most notably in education.  Indeed, the largest percentage ever of young, educated Americans in a presidential contest threw its support behind Barack Obama.  In addition, whereas John Kerry received 51% of the female vote in 2004, Barack Obama garnered close to 60%.  When black Americans overwhelmingly supported Obama to the tune of 90%, how much of this support was a product of race and how much was simply a product of a culture in which 70% of children are raised without fathers?

Both political parties now believe that they can garner votes by playing the yin, or compassion card.  We've seen this with the Bush Administration and its heavily statist "compassionate conservatism."  On the other hand, Democrats in congress thought that extending loans to unqualified borrowers was an act of compassion.  An excess of yin is now causing many of our states, like California, to go broke.  Despite these examples an "uncaring" America was the chief rallying cry of Barack and Michelle Obama during the recent election.

In his classic work Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville entitled one of his chapters "What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have To Fear."  Near the end of the chapter there is a rather sobering observation:

"It is indeed difficult to conceive how men who have entirely given up the habit of self-government should succeed in making a proper choice of those by whom they are to be governed; and no one will ever believe that a liberal, wise, and energetic government can spring from the suffrages of a subservient people."

Will Americans become so subservient under an Obama administration that a future yang style candidate like Ronald Reagan becomes impossible?  A healthy nation, like a healthy family, should have a proper balance of yin and yang.  Ideally, the relationship should be a balance between yang's independence, competition, and merit, and yin's more gentle, cooperative, and egalitarian energy.  We're at a critical moment in our history however when the forces of yin in American threaten to bury, not complement, yang.  Despite what the radical feminists might tell you, alpha male energy is natural and necessary for many things, including national survival.

There's an eight year old boy in my neighborhood who still rides his bike with training wheels.  There's no father at home.  Is America looking at training wheels writ large?  We know that most contemporary, estrogen-heavy Europeans would like to rid America of its testosterone.  They may just get their wish.

[stentorian conservative]

American men need to stand up and be men again.

While your goal is on point, your method leaves much to be desired.

[islander-11]

Great video!

That made my morning! Thanks.

[Gabz]

girlymen such as this are not worth wasting your time, MM.

Having read through the thread it is apparent he has “issues” but far be it for me to be bothered helping him get over them. I leave that for the women in his life (if there are any or he even has one)!!!

Thanks for the ping, didn’t get a chance to see it last night. Interesting article, and thread. TTYL.

[metmom]

Actually, when someone needs to be told to shut up, someone needs to do it.

OK, I will.

Shut up.

It's men with attitudes like yours that have resulted in the demand by women to stop being treated like property. Wives are married, not bought.

[BykrBayb]

This may not be the best time for me to address the likes of you. I just had an uncomfortable encounter with a dear sweet woman my husband and I know.

Sarah came to discuss a business matter, as she does several times a week. But this time, she was sporting a bruise under her left eye, and a swollen and bruised nose. She sounded like her sinuses were completely blocked. My husband inquired about her nose, and she sheepishly replied that she had a cold. She then clumsily tried to discuss business, while we all pretended there wasn’t a big elephant in the room.

Until today, Sarah had the confidence that comes with her accomplishments and contributions. Sheepish is not a word that would have applied to her.

Sarah is an occupational therapist. She guides people through the most difficult battles of their lives. I wish I knew how to guide her through the battle she’s facing now. All because some loser decided to do the “manly” thing and tell her, in no uncertain terms, to shut up.

So excuse me if I have zero tolerance for your attitude today.

[little jeremiah]

Obama will one day be history (hopefully sooner rather than later). Those in the military are not serving the President actually, but upholding the Constitution. Under Obama we need good men and women in the military even more.

[raptor29]

No, sorry, the pendulum has swung so far in the other direction that it needs to be brought back. This country’s educational system, media, activist movements, therapist industry, and feminist groups have systematically undermined men for the past 30-40 years in America. Men have been brow-beaten, criticized, and been blamed for everything wrong in the country, to the point where many have simply capitulated and accepted that the path of least resistance is to just let it happen. And what do we have to show for this, for women having far too much of the political and social influence over the past 30-40 years? A complete mess. In EVERY election, women favor the more left-leaning candidate in significantly greater numbers than men do. They have selfishly and mindlessly sold this country down the river over their precious abortion rights and other emotionally-driven giveaway programs. And all the while, too many men sat back and didn’t step in and change some thinking. And now, as always, men will have to somehow fix things, although we’re getting to the point where we approach being beyond the capacity to fix this mess.

So, sorry, I’m not backing down, and if it hurts your feelings, too bad. It hurts my feelings to see how badly this country has slipped. And I refuse to avoid pointing out many of those most responsible for the slippage.

[Smokin' Joe]

Oh, and all you men out there: tell your wives to shut up every once in a while when they are mindlessly spouting emotion-based bullshit

LOL! Thankfully my wife doesn't mindlessly spout emotionally-based BS.

But if she did, she would not be my wife (we never would have made it that far).

I think the ability to decide there are certain things which are insufferable and either avoid situations where they become troublesome, or confront them when they do is essential.

There are plenty of other miserable buffoons who opted for style over substance, who are nagged to misery by their 'trophy' brides.

[raptor29]

“So excuse me if I have zero tolerance for your attitude today.”

I suppose your next post will include all the statistics of how women physically abuse men at a far greater rate than vice-versa. Yeah, fat chance there. This country has slipped so badly and is in an incredibly perilous situation right now. Much of the responsibility can be traced to the collective influence of the country’s educational system, media, therapy industry and activist groups who have brow-beaten men over the past 30-40 years, systematically reducing their influence and willingness to speak their minds. Women have consistently sold this country down the river to preserve their precious abortion rights and other mindless, emotion-over-reason giveaway programs, consistently voting for the more left-leaning candidates in virtually every election. EVERY election, every cycle. So I’m sorry your friend has a black eye. But frankly, I’m far more concerned with the current state of this country. Black eyes might be the least of our worries in the coming years, but hey, at least we all still have our abortion rights. Congratulations.

[raptor29]

True story, Smokin’ Joe. Congratulations on finding a super wife. Fortunately, I was able to do the same. Makes for a nicer everyday life, doesn’t it?!!

[raptor29]

“it is apparent he has “issues”..

Love the liberal terminology. I suppose your next post will contain “nuanced” discussions of my supposed lack of “gravitas”.

My “issues” have to do with how badly this country has slipped, and it’s time to tell the truth and identify some of the reasons why this has happened. And I’m sorry if some feathers get ruffled in the process, but this country’s feathers have been more than ruffled, they are being aggressively plucked out in dramatic numbers by the actions of policies of left-leaning politics. And frankly, women have supported the left-leaning candidates in far greater numbers over the past 40 years than men have, primarily to perserve their precious abortion rights. And we have lost greatly due to their selfishness.

[Smokin' Joe]

It takes a tremendous amount of stress out of life's ups and downs.

I think the best advice I could give any young man is to listen to a prospective bride, but to do so when she is on a tear about something. Listen to how she frames her arguments, the presence or absence of substantitive logic--whether she is emotional in her form of expression or not.

Women are emotionally based--that, after all is the heart of the matter, but that balances with the more analytical nature of men.

They are the nurturers, we the providers. Such is the natural state of the human species.

So, emotion is not bad in and of itself, but there should be some basis in logic for it, something which can be discerned and understood.

In the absence of that, the provider becomes frustrated in his inability to solve the problem he has been presented with.

That, FRiend, is a recipie for misery.

So, too, is the gratutious fomenting of discord. Where a kind word will do, save the harsh one for when a kind one will not.

[raptor29]

Wisdom for the ages, Joe.

[DBCJR]

Hopefully, Obama will be a one term POTUS and his time at West Point will get him through that era. He can be a part of rebuilding the military. Clinton dismantled our military and intelligence, while committing our troops to the Blue Helmets command. I would not want him serving in that sort of environment. It would not be upholding the US Constitution but that of the UN.

[BykrBayb]

You didn’t need to tell me, nor everyone else on this thread, that you’ve been brow-beaten. That much is obvious. But you shouldn’t project your situation onto all men. There are still plenty of men who haven’t been neutered. And there’s no need to blame all women for the brow-beating you took. There are still plenty of women who don’t want wimpy men. So please find some other way to cope with your inadequacies. I don’t know if you’re smart enough to be embarrassed about your display here, but I’m embarrassed for you, and I’m probably not the only one. Especially after that raunchy peak into that part of your soul that finds justification in giving a woman a black eye in promotion of your warped world view. Has it ever occurred to you that it might not be her fault, or their fault, that you’ve become what you are? Maybe you are what you’ve made of yourself.

[BykrBayb]

Allow me to clarify one of those points. As a conservative, I’m a firm believer in individual responsibility. I am not responsible for whatever your mother did to you. Or your sisters. Or any other women who thwarted your advances. I haven’t promoted any of your girly man liberal agendas, and I won’t wear a burka to help you get revenge for some real or imagined injustice that you’re not man enough to handle directly.

[raptor29]

Typical, mindless, knee-jerk liberal concepts leap to the front of your mind, to no one’s surprise. A guy stands up and speaks the truth and your response is to spout whiny, liberal, therapist-driven bs about ‘mother issues’. What a joke. You talk about ‘individual responsibility’ but the first thing that comes to your mind is to blame things on parents. You are exactly the type of person I am referencing throughout this thread, a mindless liberal woman who has bought all the bs coming from the left, and as a result, follows right in line promoting all of it, to the detriment of our country. Wake up. And again, you can toss whatever name-calling childishness you wish, I am not bothered in the least.

Oh, and by the way, I would bet my relationship with my Mom is far better than your parental relationships.

[Allegra]

Oh, shut up.

Moron.

[Gabz]

You’ve got some really weird notions about women there, m’boy. I assure you that insulting FReeper women is not going to get you far, either with them or the FReeper men who understand and appreciate real women.

You really need to rethink your approach. As you’ve noticed, many here are agreeing with you in principal, however your manner and means are far from agreeable, let alone acceptable.

Think about it.....and have a pleasant day.

[BykrBayb]

That was a pretty good “neener neener” type temper tantrum. When you grow up, maybe you’ll be able to address something I actually said.