[naturalman1975]

Indeed!

I teach in an all boys school in Australia, which means we have the luxury of trying to teach them to come out right.

One of the school's explicit aims is to create 'gentlemen' and 'gentle men', with the emphasis on 'men'. Avoiding the idea that creating men who care about other people, means turning them into wimps.

We use Kipling's If.. as our template of what a man is.

[MSF BU]

Does your military provide the type of support (overnight billeting, jamboree support, tours) that ours does? I am just curious.

[AppyPappy]

One word

Australian Rules Football... A man’s sport

OK more than one word.

[BlueLancer]

"We use Kipling's If.. as our template of what a man is."

It's easy to grin
When your ship comes in
And you've got the stock market beat.
But the man worthwhile,
Is the man who can smile,
When his shorts are too tight in the seat.
Judge Smails

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RESISTOR

Swear allegiance to the flag, whatever flag they offer;
Never hint at what you really feel.
Teach the children quietly for, someday, sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still.

Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmändø (EMØØK)

[panaxanax]

“Kipling’s If..”

Excellent! My Dad gave me a plaque with the printed verse of “If” on it when I was twelve (46 years ago). I still have it. I introduced my 3 sons to Kipling’s work at around the same age. I told them to follow the advice in this poem and things will always work out for you and “you will be a man, my son”. They all grew up to be MEN.

Robert Service is also great reading for young men. “A promise made is a debt unpaid”.