On American Men

Some ladies on Facebook I know were sharing this, which I appreciate.
“Let this sink in for a minute.....Hundreds and hundreds of small boats pulled by countless pickups and SUVs from across the South are headed for Florida.

Almost all of them driven by men. They're using their own property, sacrificing their own time, spending their own money, and risking their own lives for one reason: to help total strangers in desperate need.

Most of them are by themselves. Most are dressed like the redneck duck hunters and bass fisherman they are. Many are veterans. Most are wearing well-used gimme-hats, t-shirts, and jeans; and there's a preponderance of camo....

...they'll spend the next several days wading in cold, dirty water; dodging gators and water moccasins and fire ants; eating whatever meager rations are available; and sleeping wherever they can in dirty, damp clothes. Their reward is the tears and the hugs and the smiles from the terrified people they help. They'll deliver one boatload, and then go back for more.

When disaster strikes, it's what men do. Real men. Heroic men. American men. And then they'll knock back a few shots, or a few beers with like-minded men they've never met before, and talk about fish or ten-point bucks.

And the next time they hear someone talk about "the patriarchy", or "male privilege", they'll snort, turn off the TV and go to bed.

In the meantime, they'll likely be up again before dawn. To do it again. Until the helpless are rescued. And the work's done.

They're unlikely to be reimbursed. There won't be medals. They won't care. They're heroes. And it's what they do.

4 comments:

  1. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A LOT of them showed up here two years ago. They took a week or two of vacation and drove here from Wisconsin and Indiana and all over the place, with Skid-Steers on trailers and lots of chainsaws.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ymarsakar8:57 AM

    The reimbursement is paid in advance from the divine heavens.

    Although that is not the primary point. The cultivation of the higher self and the spiritual over soul requires more than just taking a paycheck or material bribes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ymarsakar9:00 AM

    eating whatever meager rations are available; and sleeping wherever they can in dirty, damp clothes.

    Some of the (army) organizations in civilian ngos are quite well organized logistically speaking.

    Lots of people just went camping on specific territories that are allowed for it, and use a local restroom/portable toilet system.

    The rations are sometimes subsidized by local communities, which isn't necessary for a 3 day trek. Hunters can go a lot longer solo than 3 days. Plus hikers with their tents and what not.

    This is basically a Roman Legion at that point.

    It don't matter which community trees fall on. Sometimes it is a low end ghetto with trash on the ground, people on porches stuck to their smart phones, and crazy afraid dogs/chickens in the backyard running around as if they want to fight the heathen invaders.

    Sometimes it is a farm house in the middle of some field of soon to be food.

    ReplyDelete