Congratulation to Kathleen Parker for her book 'Save the Males'. I won't attempt to provide my own critique because firstly the one provided in today's Sunday Times News Review is very adequate, and secondly, I confess that I have not read it yet ! But I already know enough to want to start my own Kathleen Parker appreciation society.
Much of Kathleen's comment appears to state the bleeding obvious you might think - but then again maybe thats just me. For example, the idea that men are human, sensitive, strong, can only be men - and thats more than ok, its desirable for woman, children and the world - and their natural roles as leader, protector, provider etc. should not be undermined seems to echo what many of us feel but cannot articulate. Its as if we have lost the sense of place for the male of the species who must be all things to all woman in order to maintain some form of status in today's society - forget being equal!
Kathleen was raised by her father after her mother died at a young age and she has raised boys herself. She can therefore see things from a different perspective. The experience seems to have left her with a great deal of respect and love for men and boys, the support they need and the value of the roles they play. She admits being fortunate but good fortune itself should not diminish the value of her experiences. Indeed, its more normal than we might imagine.
Their is great concern, in North America it seems, for the preserve of confident masculine input at the heartbeat of society. Bingo - have they just got it or what !? Even Barack Obama said it was time for males to take responsibility, have some input to their children. The mark of a true man, he said, was how he brought up his kids. Responsibility, he said, did not begin and end at conception. He was actually addressing black males, but there was of course another side to his argument.
But Kathleen can also make wee mistakes too !! The Times review summarised one illustration of the value of the male input / preserve when as a scout leader, Kathleen with a female friend, lead a group of scouts - boys! It was obvious to her that what the boys needed, when it became difficult to discipline and organise them, was a man who might be able to help them let off steam and do boys stuff with. "Luckily", she said, "we found a man who was semi retired or between jobs or something" and who was able to help out !! Thank the Lord the poor needy fellow had some use otherwise he might have surely just remained on the scrap heep ...!!
All the same Kathy I think you are doing a tremendous job and I will be ordering your book this Summer.
Thank you
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