~ Hearts With Soul’s Angels~
I'm a single male who's proud of being one. Before the inevitable inane question arises, let me say emphatically that I LOVE WOMEN...REAL women who can be strong, intelligent, and articulate while being feminine, sensual and loving of her man and her family!!! They can be CEOs, they can be clerks, they can be mid-managers, they can be lawyers, they can be seamstresses, they can be athletes, they can be homemakers...in other words, they can do whatever they, themselves, are happy doing. (In case I sound contradictory in making that statement, take a look at the top person at HWS...da BOSS!!) However, I've refused to follow the trendy mindset that wants to dictate to men that they should feel ashamed or guilty about being men...of being what WE want to be...for the purpose of not offending someone else's sensitivities. While that may not be the most chic point of view, I won't apologize for it, nor will I back down from it. I will not be "infeminated" (I just made up that word) to gratify people (it's not just women) who spend most of their waking hours taking all of life's (and the world's, for that matter) frustrations and failures out on the entire heterosexual male population. That is to say, I refuse to assimilate traits that are what would ordinarily be female-specific behaviors for the purpose of appeasing those with their own agenda or parochial interests....or ax to grind.
My hope for the Celebrating Men element of HWS is to hear from the men membership about loving (NOT sexual!) relationships they've had with their wives, children, their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, girlfriends, high school teachers and coaches, etc...and how they've come to be the man they are. I want to hear how they've grown and lived through these experiences to become a better man, a better partner to a good woman, a better father, son, nephew, etc. To date, I know of no other forum that allows men this kind of outlet to say these things...and I think they've got a LOT to say. The method of expression doesn't concern me. I expect to see essays, poems, short stories...maybe even a Master's thesis or two...art, photography...whatever medium the contributor chooses to express their appreciation of the male of the species, including themselves. The other part of that is...I'd like to hear from until-now unheard women who have their own stories to tell in celebration of the men in their lives.
You should know beforehand that I'm the last person who's going to be concerned about political correctness...and being an unintimidated single heterosexual male in today's society isn't something for the faint-hearted...we're normally target practice. What I'd like to see are the TRUE, unheard men out there start to express that which has always been within them, but has never had an outlet. I know that, in some cases, this may go against the grain...it may be embarassing, it may not be "the way I was raised"...but I think it's an avenue that needs to be explored and traveled by many. I hope it's an avenue that needs constant repaving.
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Celebrating Men Editor
John Hinman
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