Men, God And Popeye: In Defense Of Men

In almost all cultures males have been elevated to be all-powerful, all- knowing, imputed with attributes of a god, a burden far beyond mortal abilities; a heavy load to carry - it’s unfair.

The term “man-kind” puts the collective concept of “male” as dominant, in control of all hu-mans, in control of bodies and minds - an overwhelming responsibility. All hu-mans are perceived as “man”- kind, but in reality, we are males and fe-males, men, wom-men (womb-men). No hu-man is all powerful nor all-knowing.

Daily, momentarily, society expects a man to make right decisions, have the right answers at hand. He’s supposed to understand tax laws, how to fix the plumbing, fix the car, hit a homer, be a well-paid executive and a patient, caring, all-wise Dad and husband. This happens only on TV.

This perception of omnipotence of “man” is a burden - unrealistic. When a man seems “incompetent” - mortal, he’s labeled “failure”, “loser”. Society covers up this perceived “failure” by sympathy, “Well, he’s a good man anyway,” “Well, he didn’t have a chance,” “Well, we need to be more patient…” We’re chaffing the wound, encouraging division.

Women, on the other hand, are encouraged, expected to set their needs aside to accommodate the man. When they don’t, both men and women perceive that independence as selfish and society becomes antagonistic - we take sides, divide.

C. S. Lewis in “Mere Christianity”, suggests humans were created with a built-in sense of right and wrong. The expression varies with the culture, but the sense is innate in all cultures. This sense is based in the need to cooperate, so the species will survive.

Plato and Aristotle said the same thing, i.e., “Let’s get along…it’s the right thing.”

However, the media encourages division and antagonism between males and fe-males; we’re not cohesive - we’re “us” against “them”, divided by race, gender, politics, religion and nationality. This is profitable for the media but destructive to cultures and families. We cannot survive divided.

Perhaps the basic dividing factor is religion, not “God”. Organized religion is often warped; it teaches that “man”, solely, is the representative of God. The “man” assumes control of all life. “Woman” is perceived as inferior. She is then forcibly en-cumbered by pregnancy, so she is easily controlled.

Let’s dispel the myth that God is a man and a man is God. It ain’t necessarily so…
Each man needs inner peace, self-appreciation, - all attributes of Popeye, an en-dearing, homely, self-accepting, individual. Popeye is Everyman - every “hu-man”.

Since this book is written for men I’ll be talking directly to them to explain men’s behavior from a woman’s point of view. No doubt this view will be skewed; any clarifying, exchange of perception, is welcome. We need each other.