Regarding "the moment in American history when our revolutionary faith was reworked to become a tool for male power": I had to sit with that thought for a minute. "Whose male power is this?" I asked myself. I wonder if the term "male power" here is a duality, in that it is both palpable and chimeral.
I see a bait-and-switch that occurs with a faith that uplifts male power. Many men might assume this patriarchal power is advantageous for all of them, and they might believe (as so many believe) that if the collective of men is lifted up, that tide will lift all (men) boats.
This reworked faith loses sight of the fact that, as humans, we are nothing - we are abjectly failing - if we are not focused on being the best individual we can be. Instead of calling men to aim for our personal bests - the best father, the best neighbor, the best spouse or family member that we can be individually - the reworked faith calls us as men to dedicate our energy to securing power for the collective of "male power." Those who do so betray themselves and consign their energy to building a palpable male power that is consolidated among the few who already have that toxic power and crave more of it to exploit it for their personal gain.
Patriarchal power is also chimeral in the sense that it is a false prophet that men choose to follow in the direction that runs 180° away from becoming the best possible version of themselves. The violence, and the dominion in the home, and the diminishment of caregiving, etc., are all poor substitutes that patriarchy recommends to men who are seduced into not focusing on seeking to be their best selves.
For example, the election night violence you reasonably fear serves no personal end for those men who engage in it. In fact, they diminish themselves in fealty to the end of building a male power that's ultimately less and less personally attainable the more invested they become in their well-disguised servitude toward building up the palpable power for the Trumps and Musks who depend on so many "manly" dupes to be their handmaids.
It was a delight to read your words and hear how you articulated something urgent and true. Patriarchy does rob men. It is a pot with a hole in the bottom. Thank you for your time, attention, and thoughtful response. I am grateful.
Regarding "the moment in American history when our revolutionary faith was reworked to become a tool for male power": I had to sit with that thought for a minute. "Whose male power is this?" I asked myself. I wonder if the term "male power" here is a duality, in that it is both palpable and chimeral.
I see a bait-and-switch that occurs with a faith that uplifts male power. Many men might assume this patriarchal power is advantageous for all of them, and they might believe (as so many believe) that if the collective of men is lifted up, that tide will lift all (men) boats.
This reworked faith loses sight of the fact that, as humans, we are nothing - we are abjectly failing - if we are not focused on being the best individual we can be. Instead of calling men to aim for our personal bests - the best father, the best neighbor, the best spouse or family member that we can be individually - the reworked faith calls us as men to dedicate our energy to securing power for the collective of "male power." Those who do so betray themselves and consign their energy to building a palpable male power that is consolidated among the few who already have that toxic power and crave more of it to exploit it for their personal gain.
Patriarchal power is also chimeral in the sense that it is a false prophet that men choose to follow in the direction that runs 180° away from becoming the best possible version of themselves. The violence, and the dominion in the home, and the diminishment of caregiving, etc., are all poor substitutes that patriarchy recommends to men who are seduced into not focusing on seeking to be their best selves.
For example, the election night violence you reasonably fear serves no personal end for those men who engage in it. In fact, they diminish themselves in fealty to the end of building a male power that's ultimately less and less personally attainable the more invested they become in their well-disguised servitude toward building up the palpable power for the Trumps and Musks who depend on so many "manly" dupes to be their handmaids.
Stay safe.
Jim (or Stan),
It was a delight to read your words and hear how you articulated something urgent and true. Patriarchy does rob men. It is a pot with a hole in the bottom. Thank you for your time, attention, and thoughtful response. I am grateful.