Two Paths

 Some men never outgrow their self-serving, exploitive

values and behavior. Some fear a softening of their masculine

control. Some fear diminution of the elevated social status they

project. Some are obsessive attention-seekers who must

display their wealth, or cling to their idea of self-importance.

Some are xenophobic, misogynistic, racist, conspiracy-

fearing, apocalypse-predicting, delusional, paranoid,

and verbally abusive. They violently overreact

to any threat to their perceived dominance.

 

Some men allow themselves to strive toward their human

potential. They select virtuous, ethical role models and grow

their resilient roots deep. They persevere to spread their

goodness upward, to contribute to a better world. They evolve

gentler ways of looking at things. They teach us kindness,

tolerance, compassion, and the ways of peace. They

teach us that nothing is so strong as gentleness,

and nothing is so gentle as real strength.

 Will Walsh