Feckful or Feckless

for the men in our lives

drawing of a pair of cowboy boots down on the ground

Three million years ago, the genus homo first appeared. And, after much morphing, the first homo sapiens appeared 300,000 years ago. But, only 3,000 years ago, these sapiens invented and imposed monotheism. Goddesses were exiled and their temples destroyed. Because monotheism is patriarchal. *

Patriarchy has obviously restricted the equal participation of women in society. However, patriarchy has restricted men as well by forcing them into harmful macho roles that obstruct their personal growth and their own idea as to what the ” pursuit of happiness” means.

Patriarchy gives men, whether or not they can handle it, a disproportionate power. And this power has produced a bunch of men who strut around crowing and flapping their wings because that’s what they think that a man is supposed to do–impose his presence then subjugate those in weaker positions.

But not all men feel the need to be bullies. Not all men are so insecure that they have to minimize women so that they can feel superior. Because there are men who believe that we are all created equal and that men and women have complimentary and not conflicting roles. These are the men who need to raise their voice and express themselves. Because, to continue our evolution, we need poets, not soldiers. So keep the boots at home.

*Timelines are extremely difficult to establish–interpretations are always changing and, with new technology, we have new ways of studying the past.