Posted on 03/03/2013 6:04:59 AM PST by Kaslin
This past week an episode of Sesame Street set off a firestorm of debate over whether a boy muppet named Telly should be ashamed that his muppet friends caught him playing with dolls.
In one corner "traditionalists" who called out the episode as gender and sex confused. In the other "modern feminists" who were offended by almost everything the traditionalists said and believe.
In light of these op-eds and arguments I decided to do a bit of personal surveying for myself.
I popped the question to my bride and her best friend as the two couples were headed to Gramercy (in Manhattan) for dinner on Friday night.
"What do you think about boys playing with dolls?" I asked.
"If the dolls are laying around (belong to another child), then it's unlikely to bother me," one of them replied. "If they happen to pick it up, if they are at friend's homes that are girls then it's almost unavoidable."
"But would you ever buy a doll for your young son?" I followed up.
"NEVER!!!" came the reply.
The fervor with which they answered the second question intrigued me. In essence it boiled down to the reality that boys are boys, they are designed to do boy things, and grow from boys into men. Throwing feminine play into the mix delays, interrupts, or intrudes on the development of masculine identity.
In one article Caryn Rivadeneira, writing for Christianity Today, in her even more boldly titled piece, "God Made Boys To Play With Dolls," she argues that: "When we say baby dolls are for girls, that only girls should cuddle and coo dolls, we claim that babies are women's domains, that only mothers should rock and coo and play with their children."
Even though I disagree with her premise, I also disagree with her comparison, and the implied conclusion.
She is arguing that boys should play with dolls because men should become the primary or equal caregivers for newborns? Really?
In a world where abject fatherlessness already exists. In a world where that fatherlessness has single-handidly created the largest welfare state in American economic history. In a world where discernment and wisdom about appropriate sexual behavior is threatening the very well being of our children's future...
Do we really need to question whether or not women are--by nature--designed to be--better at nurturing children?
There is a fascination with the theological and political left in America to appear to have an absence of judgment against immorality, while simultaneously attempting to judge the theological and political right so as to win popularity with the culture, to appear to be intellectual, and to imply that God would love it all.
But to be candid, we are entering "stupid territory" now.
I even confessed to the girls last night that I imagine it won't be all that long into the future before someone writes an article for Christianity Today on the idea of allowing the man to carry the baby to term (since it appears to be medically possible) and that in some way some person will write an article defending it as the ultimate sign of feminist justice.
Meanwhile God sits and laughs at us.
Why? Because we are going to such great lengths to go the other way around the universe to arrive at a simple conclusion: "What's best for children?"
No God didn't make boys to play with dolls. God created boys to grow up and become strong men who would provide for their family and would protect them from the harmful elements of this life. That is the true core of manhood at it's most basic element.
But men that I know personally who excel in that, also generally tend to be some of the most tender-hearted fathers I've ever seen. Fathers whose children feel their love, appreciate their sacrifices, seek diligently to obey or to make them proud, and even desire to pass on a similar legacy when they become parents themselves.
Sometimes the modern feminist (someone who believes in "sameness" between men and women and NOT "equality") ties themselves into pretzel-like knots to argue something foolish to replace something traditional--almost always for no good reason.
In life children are a blessing. In training them to become responsible for their own behavior and consequences it is important to groom them with truth. And the truth is few boys who ever became great fathers ever "played with dolls."
Taking responsibility for your future, owning your actions and behaviors, understanding the choices you make in this life will affect those you love, and preparing them to be ready for it, is what our young men most need to learn.
Miraculously... Having affection for their flesh and blood, learning to be tender with them when they are little and can't sleep, and loving them with all their heart comes much more instinctually to fathers than most feminists would like to believe.
And I should know...
That humility, affection, tenderness and love grew deeper with all three of my sons, and I never played with dolls.
Gott'a laugh at that one ...
I'm one of eight ... six boys/2 girls ...
I'm #4 of 5 boys (all about 2 years apart), 2 girls, and a boy
I've reared 5, boy,girl,boy,girl,boy
THAT'S where the fun is, growing up in suburban Boston in the 50's and 60's
no you didn’t your wife did
A sizable number of women don't want to cuddle and coo a baby either. Not just talking about the 50+ million dead babies since 1973.
There are a number of women 25-38 who say "I'm NEVER gonna have a kid".
The myth of "Sex in the City" and modern feminism. Why get married if the only reason to "tie the knot" is to keep your steady from tagging it with someone else?
Someone I know is now a quadriplegic from a biking accident he had a few years ago. I don’t know whether a helmet would have made a difference in his case but it did in a recent crash I had skiing.
I don’t exactly remember the fall but I was told I was out for 3-4 minutes. Once my brain finished “rebooting” I was fully aware of where I was and approximately what happened. My helmet was cracked, my face was scraped and bloody, and I was sore all over.
I was able to ski off and called it a day. After having x-rays the next day I found out I had a non-displaced fracture of the ankle and bruised ribs but no head trauma other than the scrape on my face.
The helmet I was wearing is a lot like a bike helmet in that it is made to absorb an impact rather than your skull taking the hit directly. I could have had a concussion even with the helmet just like football players can as the brain still slams against the inside of the skull to some extent. But a cracked helmet is easier to replace than a cracked skull. I will be back on the slopes in 2 weeks as the ankle is almost healed and I have a trip planned and paid for. Not sure if I will be 100% but I doubt I would be as healthy if I hadn’t been wearing the helmet.
I also have a GS race suit and a race helmet as I do masters and club ski races. I guess if you go fast enough, it doesn’t matter if it’s “mannish” or not.
how did boys ever get through their childhood with out laws protecting them, maybe thye could make laws to wear pads to protect arms, elbos, knees, shins etc .
ARF
Sissies, thankfully around here most men don;t wear their tights and helmets
As for you at over 200 pound and over 50 wearing spandex, sorry pal but many don’t want to see that
agreed, men wearing helmets to ride a bicycle and now tights, sorry spandex, just shows how far some males have turned sissy
I wish you only the best of luck.
“I won’t get on my cycle with out a helmet.”
I am 77 and still ride my bicycle, sometimes on the trails, sometimes on the road. I wear a helmet. 20 years ago or so I often rode my bike to work, a 19 mile round-trip. One evening going home, on a paved bike path, my front wheel slipped off the edge and trying to come back on my wheel caught and threw me over the handlebars. My helmet the paved path first. My glasses were broken. I had a broken rib. Skinned knees and elbows. But no head injuries. The helmets here are not required by law. I wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is NOT a ‘girly’ thing to do.
Now, for the record, I do have a problem with Nanny-State laws. I am ok with helmets not being required for bicyclists. Here in Ohio they are not required for the motorcyclist. I am ok with that, though I think they are really stupid for not wearing the helmet. I have a big problem with seatbelt laws. Using the seatbelt should be optional, just as is the helmet for motorcyclists. I also have a problem with the passive restraints (airbags) in automobiles.
As for ‘spandex’, I prefer shorts when riding, but will not wear the spandex crap.
LOL, if I wore a helmet and spandex and I have a decent body then my wife would shoot me , that;s after eevryone in this area laughing at me.
Like what has been said, there is something wrong with seeing grown older men wearing tights, and helmets and tight tight tight shirts to ride a bicycle.
I remember seeing near Daytona around bike week a group of bikers taking the scenic ride on A1A, all gruff older men, then they got stoped at a red light.
Then two around 35 years old males came up on their bicycles with their very bright, shirts, so bright you needed sunglasses to look at them, their tight spandex showing off their skinny legs and their dynamic shaped multi colored helmets.
Even my kids friends in the truck started laughing and the bikers gave wolf whistles to these two males, my wife told me that if I eevr look like those two shemales then she would disown me.
My youngest plays soccer and a kid fell on the floor, right away the kdis started to get on one knee, they all stopped playing, the parents ran on and carried him off, got the ice, other parents around this kid all asking if he;ll be alright and is it broken.
The damage done was a slight small scratch on the thigh which you need a microscope to see.
That boy lapped the attention up, acted as he was now a martyr for the game and then low and behold pal, he ran on two mins later like nothing happened.
One woman said they should wear helmets to play soccer.
For crying out loud, will the wussification of America ever stop.
Took my kids to England and the kids were tougher there than here and the kids were surprised to hear from my boys that many boys at their schools have never had a fight[BTW my oldest is a boxer, won state champ3 or 4 years ago and my other kids only stay down when they are really hurt .
My youngest boy who need 5 stitches at aged 5 I think next to his eye and was bleeding a lot but still never cried and said after I’,m a big boy I never cried are you proud of me.
damn right I was
Have a nice weekend pal, take care of yourself and let it be known not all of my generation are raising fairies
I wish you only the best of luck
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?????
I might ‘need’ it if I had been on a bicycle ONCE in the last 57 or so years...
I also stopped playing softball/baseball around 30 as I lost a step or two, but then again I was a pretty decent ballplayer as a teenager/early 20’s so, in my mind, it was time to quit.
American work days didn't get to be 18 hour days until reletively recent times.
I was blessed to be born at a time when I could actually make a fair living working a basic 6 - 4 or 5 job and be home for supper, homework, ball games, discipline and all that Ozzie and Harriet stuff
Now ... maybe YOU were absent for your army brats, or doing corporate legal work ....
we home schooled ... WE ...
agreed, men wearing helmets to ride a bicycle and now tights, sorry spandex, just shows how far some males have turned sissy
Sorry I misread, I thought youhad been riding for the last 10 years.
I really don’t see how protecting yourself or your kids from injury somehow isn’t “mannish”.
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I realize I have put to much input into this string and you may have made a generalizing statement, BUT the only time I mentioned the word ‘mannish’ was in respect to putting a strap or something on my pant leg at 15 or so -
I personally think that helmets, seat belts, and whatever are ‘ok’ things BUT I resent GOVT forcing me (or anyone) making it mandatory.
I have said throughout this, I will NOT and have NOT ridiculed anyone for using helmets, seat belts, etc I just expressed MY not using them.
Also, as I stated, seeing ME in Spandex would not be easy on anyones eyes - At least I admit it and wouldn’t subject you or anyone to that eyesore.....
Sorry I misread, I thought youhad been riding for the last 10 years
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No problem, no offense taken, figured you had ‘misread’ it, just wanted to verify.
As to riding today, I have enough ‘problem’ navigating on my own two legs and feet (especially after having sat a couple of hours) - to even TRY and balance myself on two ‘skinny wheels’ would be a major accomplishment.....and then to get in motion....
Apparently I don’t believe in that oldie “Once you have learned to ride a bike you will never forget how” somewhat like sex - you seldom forget how to get mounted, it is whether you can perform once you get in/on the saddle..
IMNSHO it is like riding the escalator .. you are fine till you stop and think of what you are doing.... <: <: <:
I always tell them it’s like FALLING off a bike, you never forget how.
you never forget how.
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True enough BUT knowing how and performing are two entirely different entities.
“In case one might wonder (or care) I am NOT bitter with X because of any settlement etc, it was an uncontested D after 40 yrs.”
Just sayin’. Before calling out other’s manhoods, it might be good to examine your own.
So, you have a sample size of two, and that settles the issue?
Seriously, it isn’t that you don’t have a point to make, it is that you appear to be completely dismissive of any viewpoint counter to your own.
Is letting a young boy put on makeup,dress up in pantyhose and high heels perfectly fine with you? Or do you draw the line at playing with an easy bake oven?
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