Posted on 01/01/2002 3:03:51 AM PST by Dr. Good Will Hunting
In the hours after American Airlines Flight 63 landed safely thanks to the courage and strength of the flight attendants and passengers, there was a refreshing clarity about the sexes evident in the land.
Let's review: When Richard C. Reid leaned down and began touching lighted matches to his sneakers, it was a flight attendant who first attempted to stop him. She grabbed at his hands and he shoved her so hard that she landed, according to The New York Times account, four rows back. She yelled for help, and another flight attendant attempted to thwart Reid's shoe-lighting. Reid bit her on the hand hard enough to draw blood.
When she screamed, a number of male passengers, including the 6 foot, 8 inch NBA player Kwame James responded. Using anything at hand -- including plastic handcuffs, a dozen belts offered by other passengers and, eventually, sedatives from the plane's on-board kit -- four or five large men were able to subdue the "almost possessed" Reid.
The female flight attendants deserve high marks for their courage. But the episode does reveal that physical size and strength still matter in this world. It took the advent of real danger to reawaken our politically correct society to this truth.
Three years ago, my then-5-year-old son came home from kindergarten and looked at me sympathetically. "Mom, when you were a little girl, people didn't think women could be firefighters, did they?"
I knew immediately that his teacher, a lovely lady of decidedly liberal outlook, was instructing her charges on the wonderful progress of civilization.
"Well," I said, "I'm still not sure I think women firefighters are a good idea." I explained that women had been discouraged in the past from pursuing careers at all -- and this did not make sense. There is no reason that a woman cannot try a case, run a business or heal the sick.
But when it comes to tasks requiring physical strength, well, women are still smaller than men. And while many women have just as much courage, ingenuity and self-possession in emergencies as men, only the most unusual women have the strength to carry the average overweight American out of a burning building.
We've pretended for decades now that physical differences between men and women are insignificant, and where they exist, stand as a rebuke to men. Big dumb jerks. We don't need you to hold open doors for us! I can carry my own bag, bub! Except, it turns out, that when a 6 foot, 4 inch terrorist is swatting women away like mosquitoes, you do need men -- the bigger the better -- to overpower him.
What feminists have never understood, and have actually gone out of their way to distort, is that male strength has always been viewed, in Western culture, as a responsibility, not as a weapon with which to subjugate females. Women and men have traditionally taught their sons (in all but the worst families) that with physical strength must come mental and moral strength. Boys were taught the honorable use of their power -- not to intimidate but to prevent intimidation; not to bully but to protect. Despite reams of disinformation circulated by some feminists, husbands are the last people to beat or abuse women.
Perhaps the new climate of danger -- danger from evil men -- will quiet the anti-male agitation we've endured for so long. For the threat from evil men can only adequately be met by good men. Why not cheer when the manly virtues are called for and demonstrated?
Our admiration for Rudy Giuliani is not based upon his empathy -- though he showed plenty of it -- but rather for older virtues like command, authority, competence and leadership. The businessmen on Flight 93 who whispered their farewells to their wives and families, and then set down their cell phones to take on the terrorists were real men -- the best of masculinity. Were we proud of the female flight attendant who quietly boiled water to throw at the terrorists? You bet. But if it came to a fight, mano a mano, the men would have to take the lead.
As Peggy Noonan observed in Opinion Journal, Sept. 11 has brought old-fashioned virility back into style. God bless our men, who've taken so much undeserved abuse for decades, yet never stopped being men and gentlemen.
This was a volunteer company. She was more than qualified for any professional company--probably overqualified--but the dummy she had to haul as part of her physical agility testing was 160-165 lbs., as I remember it, and she and the other firefighters--male and female--had the same test--and they had to pass it annually. Hauling hose up six flights of stairs (the dreaded Tower) wasn't fun, either.
Don't forget with gun control you will also lose your right to express your views NYpeanut. And you could very well lose your right to vote as well. Don't forget their are over 80,000,000 reasons to not have gun control for that is the approximate body count of people murdered under regimes aka Stalin, Hitler, Amin, PolPot etc. that used gun control to propagate their will.
Have a great new year NYpeanut protect your right to vote and your right to live by preserving the 2nd amendment.
Freegards
He is the lowest in the food chain. His children laugh at him
Women are portrayed with uncanny abilities. Black, asian and hispanic males are equally blessed.
Pure, unadulterated propaganda.
All jobs should list the level of certain physical and mental qualifications which are required. If women can meet them then it's fine, not all men can drag 165 pounds due to back problems or other limitations they have so it's not gender itself that limits people to certain jobs. Feminists would rather lower the qualifications and have people left in burning buildings.
Knowing my daughter, she'd refuse to take a test in which the standards were lowered for women.
Her amusement with the physical agility test were the guys who came in, said they were in great shape and didn't need to train because they were so buffed, taunted her for even daring to become a firefighter, then were reduced to quivering masses of twitching muscle halfway through the test while she finished the test with flying colors.
Why do you hate women?
8 posted on 1/1/02 5:18 AM Pacific by pcl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Duh...the article was written by a women you pea-brain! doc doesn't hate anyone! Now YOU on the other hand...have a hatred for the unborn! Don't even try to deny it!
However, nothing I have said takes away from the fact women are best and contribute most at making a "home" – even when working outside the home.
Though, women remain the best at making a home -- it helps them to have support -- maybe even from a man. My daughter is a nurse anesthetist – and this required two years of intense extra schooling, after the RN -- however, at present she is having children and making a home -- while working part time to keep her credentials. Thank God she has a husband that supports her now– after which she can proceed with her own career and will have a home -- now is that all so bad? No she does not wear a burka – and I would fight to the death that she have her freedom and not be required to wear a burka – or something prescribed by any other religion or other social dogma.
Have a great new year and may you realize all of your dreams -- including a warm home.
No, but maybe some kind of qualifying test is warranted to see who votes with their feelings and who votes with their brains. Oh, I guess we know that already...
The post was going to end there, but when I previewed it I realized how it would be taken. You KNOW I mean LIBERALS of either sex!
I need a new hobby. I can't bear another year of retorting to the "repeal the 19th amendment" morons.
She sounds fantastic. Given high standards, unmoderated for any demographic group, I fully and without reservation support equal opportunity for men and women in all facets of life.
I'm always curious the definition of "making a home" is. You'll have to define your terms before I understand your argument.
WE'RE HERE. WE'RE INTOLERANT. GET USED TO IT!
OR We'll Kick your A$$
bigophobia has no place in this age of tolerance. Support BRAAD and support yourself and Bigots everywhere. That's why when you appose us yer jus wearin down yer Grinders Eatin' goober Peas
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.