An interesting article posted in General: The Death of Macho

[glowing]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=472247&mesg_id=472247

In a synopsis, the article discusses the fact that the current Global Recession is more like a He-cesscion. It also discusses that more women are becoming predominantly the academics in society.. and that they are in professions like healthcare, education, sciences, etc. that aren't losing as many jobs. The housing bubble in particular was kept afloat for as long as possible because of its ability to pay well for low-knowledge based work. Of course, this doesn't help the family dynamic because the "good" pay is gone, and the women's pay is keeping afloat... leading to depression, higher rates of suicide, and substance abuse problems. Its 8 web pgs long, but discusses implications of the effect globally, such as the problems in Russia, China, and areas where militant Islamic radicalism is held onto. The coming of power of women and the ability of men to adjust to the changes.

Perhaps, this is the reason the crazies are just screamin "NO" so loudly at townhall meetings. They don't know how to deal with what is happening around them. There is no turning back. This may pit gender against gender, change the roles of marriage, and give this world the ability to let the grasp of rich, white men subside a little bit.

Interesting article to read. I'm not so horribly concerned over the male ego or their "macho". I am concerned about the ability to change the structure so that women (now having to become the economic provider and normally paid less) and children (traditionally raised "at home" by women) are not ill effected. I think providing educational opportunities, day care a family can trust and count on (I would prefer govt run like school is), living wages for modern times, and teaching men and women to co-equally share in responsibilities together would be a start.

[get the red out]

1. "Macho" has created ALL the world's problems

let it die and I won't mourn it. It is time for "manhood" to mean contributing meaningfully to equality for all in our society, not trying to get rich and tear everyone else down or hold them hostage with the patriarchal religions and economic structures. Men need to get with the idea of cooperation, especially white men. And that is exactly why we see the "rednecks against healthcare" demonstrations, and why talk radio makes so much money spreading its hate and lies. And why the majority of church goers in our country polled in favor of torture. Sick stuff.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Absolutely. Power, and getting over on others, is not "manhood".

The male ego is so very vulnerable. The Shift must be causing a vast amount of pain in those unwilling to give up dominance and control. And yes, oh yes, can we be completely finished now, with dominance and control? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

[glowing]

3. I think I remember PC discussing women coming into power and then an equalizing

dynamic to eventually sit in place. I think women have to become more dominant in order to catch up to the power that men have asserted for such a long time. I know I'm teaching my son "fair" and that nothing is for girls or for men more than anything else... just need to get his father more on board with equal distribution of housework load.

[mntleo2]

4. Male/Female is not the deal IMO

...it is about creating a society base that operates from the bottom up, not from the top down as we have right now. It is now based in punishment instead of healing, and power is considered to be something like "who has the biggest gun" instead of on love. This is because we cannot see the power of love ~ but I have said this often: You can MAKE someone do whatever you want at the point of a gun, but you cannot change their heart with a gun ~ only love changes the heart.

The point I am making here is that until we realize that the power we put our trust into ~ King/subject, rich/poor, president/citizen we are denigrating the REAL power as weak when in fact love is stronger. whether this is "male" or "female" well to be honest I have seen as many women put their trust in "guns" more than in love.

I am not talking about some flowery love here, I am talking about the strength to stand up to the entire world, your friends, your family if necessary and risk one's life for real love. this means being laughed at, denigrated or whatever, because it is in the "weak" where true strength is found.

Recently I pointed out to my little non-profit group that fights for poverty issues, that we were strong. Everyone looked at me in skepticism. I explained to them that, since we were all poor, nobody cared what we did and this was a strength. Again the skepticism. I had learned what I was trying to convey from the 2nd generation of slaves who knew what this meant. It is that while everyone is looking the other way at the rich and powerful, WE could be doing things under the radar that basically wound ropes around their feet with things like the law and changing minds that basically wrapped those ropes around the powerful before they realized they were trapped. But we *had* to find unity and work together and also not be frustrated when we were denigrated but rejoice because it meant we were "not important enough" to watch while we do our work. We could plant a lot of seeds that look like nothing but eventually grows into trees. So in our "weakness" we could find a strength.

The transformation in that room with a lot of young people was amazing when they saw what I was trying to teach.

Love isn't male nor female. Love is a "weakness" but in reality is is much more work to work with love, find unity and then work in tandem for a goal, but it is possible and has worked in the past. It is not male or female it is about knowing in your heart who you are and then acting upon it with others who know who they are. So things like being poor can be a shame ~ or it can be a strength because what we are doing nobody watches, nobody cares ~ until it is too late and the "powerful" are tied down. It is about working from the bottom up even though most of our society works the opposite direction.

Hope this makes sense.

Cat In Seattle