Peggy Noonan: Welcome Back, Duke

Opinion Journal ^ | 10/12/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

From the ashes of Sept. 11 arise the manly virtues.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column called "God Is Back," about how, within a day of the events of Sept. 11, my city was awash in religious imagery--prayer cards, statues of saints. It all culminated, in a way, in the discovery of the steel-girder cross that emerged last week from the wreckage--unbent, unbroken, unmelted, perfectly proportioned and duly blessed by a Catholic friar on the request of the rescue workers, who seemed to see meaning in the cross's existence. So do I.

[TroutStalker]

Bump for Peggy and The Duke.

[Fiddlstix]

Great Post!
Thank you

[Dubh_Ghlase]

I should discuss how manliness and its brother, gentlemanliness, went out of style. I know, because I was there. In fact, I may have done it. I remember exactly when: It was in the mid-'70s, and I was in my mid-20s, and a big, nice, middle-aged man got up from his seat to help me haul a big piece of luggage into the overhead luggage space on a plane. I was a feminist, and knew our rules and rants. "I can do it myself," I snapped.

It was important that he know women are strong. It was even more important, it turns out, that I know I was a jackass, but I didn't. I embarrassed a nice man who was attempting to help a lady. I wasn't lady enough to let him. I bet he never offered to help a lady again. I bet he became an intellectual, or a writer, and not a good man like a fireman or a businessman who says, "Let's roll."

I am that man. Maybe not the exact same man, but him in spirit...

I like to think I did become an intellectual. At least I rose above digging ditches and farm labor to put myself through college and become a white-collar worker who never lost his blue-collar roots. I will still hold the door for a woman or assist her with a heavy burden. It's her choice to accept it or not. If she's too proud to admit to needing help now and then, then let her struggle and keep on struggling. It's her choice...

I try to instill lady-like qualities in my daughters so that they know how to accept or reject a gentlemans offer of assistance without being jerks about it. I don't want them to become like this author, alienated and on the sidelines with helpless, hapless wimps when the going gets tough, as it invariably will.

It's the Dukes of the world who will survive, because they are survivors. All the PC propaganda being spewed currently will not move one piece of WTC rubble, or make this world a safer place. It takes vision, guts, and the will to make it happen. Playtime is over... Let's Roll!!!

[Preachers Kid]

How does she do it? She says it all, she says it perfectly. She is an American treasure. Thank you, Peggy.

[Snake65]

Or the courtroom scene in True Grit:

Lawyer: As you confronted the accused, did you have your pistol in your hand?

Marshall Cogburn (Wayne): Yes.

Lawyer: Was it loaded and cocked?

Marshall Cogburn: Well, a cocked pistol that ain't loaded ain't good for much.

[Arizona]

What a wonderful article to start my day! I have never understood some womens' attraction to the girly-men. I always supposed it was because those women were the insecure types who thought they needed to feel superior to the male gender and these wimps satisfied that urge.

How refreshing for Peggy Noonan to put what I feel into words. The world has been upside down too long.

Yes, real men ARE back - and I am just grinning!

[prognostigaator]

for your info

[Attillathehon]

Thanks for a good read.

BTTT

[AmishDude]

I am proudly flexing here at my desk.

[Mahone]

Amen, Peggy, and may the manly men now realize that letting the left redefine them into something no longer to be desired, was not good for anyone.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

But when we killed John Wayne, you know who we were left with. We were left with John Wayne's friendly-antagonist sidekick in the old John Ford movies, Barry Fitzgerald. The small, nervous, gossiping neighborhood commentator Barry Fitzgerald, who wanted to talk about everything and do nothing.

Thank you for posting this article. And for the discussion you started on this thread. We hunger for the truth and no matter how they spin it, NOW and the left is left wanting. E-mailing the whole thread to NOW. (^:

[riley1992]

LOL. Good, the more real men around the better.

[Jackie222]

This is a great article. I read it this morn. Someone very nice directed me to it.:-)

[SusanUSA]

Men

They hail you as their morning star
Because you are the way you are.
If you return the sentiment,
They'll try to make you different;
And once they have you, safe and sound,
They want to change you all around.
Your moods and ways they put a curse on;
They'd make of you another person.
They cannot let you go your gait;
They influence and educate.
They'd alter all that they admired.
They make me sick, they make me tired.

Eleanor Parker

Emphasis added by this poster. ;-)

[BruceS]

~opening the front door, and letting chivalry back into the house~ Great article!!!!!!

Let me get that door for you, ma'am.

[Gritty]

Peggy nails it again!

Now, instead of just getting rid of all the Muslim aliens and their resident 5th Column in this country, we have to get rid of the Woody Allens? It will probably be easier getting rid of the former than the latter, as the latter generally go by the handle of "Liberals".

[betty boop]

Nihilism is not manly, it is the last refuge of sissies.

God I love this woman! Thanks for the wonderful post, Pokey78.

[DCPatriot]

I was hoping she was referring to our "Dubya".

BTTT!

[HighWheeler]

The intact steel beam cross (center) during the blessing:

[HighWheeler]

yow! I hope you don't have the same sentiments!