Likewise, our public school system punishes boys for displaying male behavior. Energy, aggression, competition, and tactile learning are punished rather than accommodated (see books/articles by Christina Hoff Sommers on this topic). And because we don't permit boys to be boys and propagate the myth that masculinity is chauvinism-in-disguise, we have created a culture of twenty five year old man-boys who take little responsibility for their lives or for the women in their lives (see books/articles by Kay Hymnowitz on this topic).
And there are few things that rile me up as much as the sexist, patronizing propaganda that claims that males "only think with one part of their body." This mentality robs men of their dignity, as expressed in their sense of morality and intellectual acumen. Men are not over-sexualized strawmen that may be beaten and dehumanized at will.
All that is a segue to a great article by a woman I often disagree with. Camille Paglia is a first-generation feminist who butts up against a lot of values I cherish, but is unwilling to make war on men or declare them obsolete (as Maureen Dowd at the NYT has): http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/
I traveled out today with my predominantly-Australian team. They are always a delightful and witty bunch. Here are a few pictures from my excursion with them:
One of the mountains surrounding the work site and the city.
Our top-ranking officer on site meeting with several top Afghan officers.
An early-morning "selfie" I took once the convoy got rolling.
The name of this particular team, written on the turret gunner's weapon.
Several of our Turkish coalition partners.
One of our Aussie friends.
This isn't from the site. This is a proud papa enjoying early-Christmas festivities with his boy.
