Ayn Rand’s We the Living inspired me. It’s a story of a young woman who escaped Bolshevik Russia and lived free. It’s as close to an autobiography that she would ever go, she said. Rand escaped the USSR, and left us a great body of provocative literature.
I like this. I want to know more about this big-faced woman, and where does she come off like that, making demands, and how did these men respond? Did they make way for her? Did they fall silent, then break out laughing? Who does she think she is, with her hairy knuckles? I have some impressions. I see maybe three parts. A personal Mom part, too. Good. Not just rhetorical about valorous men or today’s men of hollow chests. Lots to talk about. If you like! Good going!
You've seen her. She works at the library or that indie book store on University Ave. -- the one that's also a knitting emporium: Feminist Kniterature I think it's called, lol. She also frequents the vinyl record re-seller stocked with Ruth Bader Ginsberg prayer candles and hemp shoes. Anyway, normal dudes with pretty girlfriends and football weekends don't think it's worth the effort to have her hot breath in their faces, so they trudge off. A generation lost, even if they don't know it yet. And I wrote half of this with Birdie in my lap, one of her tiny fingers up my nose, mostly. Thanks, Theo!
This is an excellent essay. One of your very best. The love of my life & I were blessed to raise 3 sons & 1 daughter. Each has a different personality & each, in their own way, successful. We relentlessly encouraged them to “expand their horizons” in every endeavor.
In a concise manor your composition hit all of the right notes using art, literature & music. If people took your words & examples to heart they could expand their own horizons & make our world a better place.
My two cents:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate the encouragement and support and your always insightful comments. I’m grateful for the restack, too. I can’t say thank you enough.
C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition Of Man” is an important book more relevant today that ever. This column of yours —also very important. My favorite part was the trans radical feminist stomping into a rather high class bar and claiming it for radical alphabet Mafia. Priceless!!
I feel like there are 12 ways I could respond but I must pick one. This is my first piece of yours I've read and reminds me of so many men I have been fortunate to know, my father, uncles, grandfather, fellow carpenters. Thanks. I am a subscriber now. Here is a poem you might like and an essay. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/sunday-essay-sundays
Thank you for the humbling words. I think this is a space left to fall between the cracks and I hope men and boys enter a world that values their unique strengths and irreplaceable virtues. Courage, always.
This is a tour de force of an essay that you have written. Well done! Please keep up sharing the beautiful and compelling things that you write!
Thank you, Sean. This means a lot. If there are readers, I’ll write!
"A man who lives avoiding questions is a person who lives a fearful life. He lives for validation." Oh so true. Sadly, this describes my own father.
That’s very humbling, Jeff. I hope the lessons learned here don’t fall on deaf ears. Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate it.
Ayn Rand’s We the Living inspired me. It’s a story of a young woman who escaped Bolshevik Russia and lived free. It’s as close to an autobiography that she would ever go, she said. Rand escaped the USSR, and left us a great body of provocative literature.
I’m grateful for your wisdom, Al. Thank you for sharing what has made an impact on your life. Never stop learning!
That was very observant and inspiring. You're definitely becoming a consistent home run hitter.
Thank you, sir. I’m very humbled and grateful for your kind words.
I like this. I want to know more about this big-faced woman, and where does she come off like that, making demands, and how did these men respond? Did they make way for her? Did they fall silent, then break out laughing? Who does she think she is, with her hairy knuckles? I have some impressions. I see maybe three parts. A personal Mom part, too. Good. Not just rhetorical about valorous men or today’s men of hollow chests. Lots to talk about. If you like! Good going!
You've seen her. She works at the library or that indie book store on University Ave. -- the one that's also a knitting emporium: Feminist Kniterature I think it's called, lol. She also frequents the vinyl record re-seller stocked with Ruth Bader Ginsberg prayer candles and hemp shoes. Anyway, normal dudes with pretty girlfriends and football weekends don't think it's worth the effort to have her hot breath in their faces, so they trudge off. A generation lost, even if they don't know it yet. And I wrote half of this with Birdie in my lap, one of her tiny fingers up my nose, mostly. Thanks, Theo!
Birdie’s finger up your nose! 👆🏻🤣
Jenna,
This is an excellent essay. One of your very best. The love of my life & I were blessed to raise 3 sons & 1 daughter. Each has a different personality & each, in their own way, successful. We relentlessly encouraged them to “expand their horizons” in every endeavor.
In a concise manor your composition hit all of the right notes using art, literature & music. If people took your words & examples to heart they could expand their own horizons & make our world a better place.
My two cents:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
—Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate the encouragement and support and your always insightful comments. I’m grateful for the restack, too. I can’t say thank you enough.
Bingo! Rem acu tetigisti.
I got this one. Latin is a little lost on me without a dictionary handy. But it’s good to dust off once in a while. Thank you for reading!!
C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition Of Man” is an important book more relevant today that ever. This column of yours —also very important. My favorite part was the trans radical feminist stomping into a rather high class bar and claiming it for radical alphabet Mafia. Priceless!!
Haha, well I try to incorporate a bit of humor. It helps the medicine go down!
Yes, it did! 😂🤣
Translation: “You have hit the nail on the head.”(Latin)
I feel like there are 12 ways I could respond but I must pick one. This is my first piece of yours I've read and reminds me of so many men I have been fortunate to know, my father, uncles, grandfather, fellow carpenters. Thanks. I am a subscriber now. Here is a poem you might like and an essay. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/sunday-essay-sundays
https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/this-autumn
Thank you for the humbling words. I think this is a space left to fall between the cracks and I hope men and boys enter a world that values their unique strengths and irreplaceable virtues. Courage, always.
What an amazing post!!!
Gosh, thank you, Jim. That’s so kind of you.
Thank you! Maybe a rising tide lifts all souls??