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In Search of Chivalry Did it sink with the Titanic?
National Review Online ^ | April 13, 2006 | Carrie Lukas

Posted on 04/13/2006 11:55:44 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds

Imagine a luxury liner sinking into artic waters with too few lifeboats for its passengers. Who would get those seats?

When the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, the answer was obvious: women and children had first priority. Why was this? Certainly, the male passengers could have over-powered most of the women and saved their own lives. What kept them from doing so?

Chivalry. The idea that part of being a man (and certainly part of being a gentleman) is to sacrifice willingly to protect those who are more vulnerable. Of course, all those aboard the Titanic were equally vulnerable to the near freezing water. The men who gave their seats in the lifeboats gave their lives. Out of all of the Titanic's passengers, 74 percent of women lived while 80 percent of the men died.

Christina Hoff Sommers began her review of Harvey Mansfield's new book Manliness by reminding readers of the memorial erected by women in 1931 to honor those men on the Titanic. The memorial's inscription reads: "To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. . . . They gave their lives that women and children might be saved." As Sommers suggests, this overlooked memorial is a fitting symbol of the state of chivalry or even of manliness today:

"...almost no one remembers those men. Women no longer bring flowers to the statue on April 15 to honor their chivalry. The idea of male gallantry makes many women nervous, suggesting (as it does) that women require special protection. It implies the sexes are objectively different. It tells us that some things are best left to men. Gallantry is a virtue that dare not speak its name."

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: chivalry; feminism; manners; men; titanic
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The growing issue of manliness, gallantry, good manners and feminists. A good read, IMHO.
1 posted on 04/13/2006 11:55:46 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

One word...Feminism


2 posted on 04/13/2006 11:57:43 AM PDT by Vision ("There are no limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence" Ronald Reagan)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
What a terrible disaster it would be today if such an ocean liner were to get into the same kind of trouble!!!

Both the men and women would be fighting each other tooth and nail NOT to board any of the lifeboats!

Screaming...throwing of things....claims of "passenger abuse"....crew and kids being trampled underfoot....!!

"I'm much more macho-ette....er...womanman....er.... manfem...than you ever could be!!"

Ship sinks with all hands...all kids....and all men and women long since dead after fighting with each other!

3 posted on 04/13/2006 12:02:59 PM PDT by LilDarlin (Being very feminine got me this far; it will take me the rest of the way, too!)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
When no man on a crowded bus rises to offer me his seat, I do nothing. As far as I'm concerned, we brought it on ourselves by allowing radical extremist feminists to attack and severely damage the culture of chivalry in this country.

When a man does offer me his seat, open a door for me, etc., he gets my sweetest smile and grateful thanks.

4 posted on 04/13/2006 12:03:49 PM PDT by American Quilter
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
Well, on the one hand chivalry resulted in nearly all of the men on the Titanic dying. On the other hand, one of 'em was Leo...
5 posted on 04/13/2006 12:04:11 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill
I thought most FReepers DIDN'T beleive a thing Holly-wierd every portrayed.

Or did you forget to add something after your post?

6 posted on 04/13/2006 12:07:06 PM PDT by ExcursionGuy84 ("Jesus, Your Love takes my breath away.")
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To: American Quilter

You, are a true lady.

My mother would have beaten me senseless if she ever caught me doing something like this. So, in this day of age, I still do these things because it's part of my character. Plus, it allows me to see what a real woman is on occasion.


7 posted on 04/13/2006 12:07:42 PM PDT by MadeInAmerica (- If ILLEGAL means Undocumented - Then Breaking and Entering means Unannounced Visit)
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To: LilDarlin

I was cruising HBO and ran across "Rosie O'Donnell's Caribbean Cruise." Since it was mostly (or exclusively) gay men and women (and their children), how would chivalry work? Lesbians and kids in the lifeboats with gay men drowning?

I wouldn't want to wrestle Rosie for a lifeboat seat!


8 posted on 04/13/2006 12:08:44 PM PDT by whitedog57 (Holland)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
Chivalry is not dead, it has only been temporarily forgotten.

Men like me will pass it on to my grandsons and it will not die.

9 posted on 04/13/2006 12:11:08 PM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Vision

Pretty much,

I used to say "yes ma'am", but two weeks in NY, and about a 100 "don't call me ma'am"s later i stopped.


10 posted on 04/13/2006 12:11:27 PM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
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To: American Quilter

I wonder if the stories of men being chewed out for holding a door or offering a seat to a woman are true. I've been doing so for going on 40 years now whenever I get the chance, all over the US, and have never had a female react in this manner.

Some just ignore me, but that's another issue. :)


11 posted on 04/13/2006 12:11:40 PM PDT by Restorer
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To: MadeInAmerica
"My mother would have beaten me senseless if she ever caught me doing something like this."

My father would have beaten me senseless if I refused to yield a bus or subway seat to a lady. I always keep in mind that if my father knew that I failed to surrender that seat, I would be left unable to use it anyways....;-)

12 posted on 04/13/2006 12:15:08 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

Chivalry died in men when "ladies"died in women!The women's movement made chivalry obsolete and taking a man to the cleaners standard operating procedure.


13 posted on 04/13/2006 12:15:41 PM PDT by INSENSITIVE GUY
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

Good post.

Only being in my early 40's, I always call men "Sir", and women "M'am". I've had some women object to this, one even going so far as saying "What did you call me?", witha tone of indignation.

Still manage to take my cover off when enterting a building and wearing when outside. Habit, I suppose...


14 posted on 04/13/2006 12:16:04 PM PDT by Fury
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To: Restorer

I once offered my seat on a crowded F Train to a VERY pregnant lady. She glared at me, and said, "Do you think I NEED it???" That was the only time I ever got a reaction like that. Usually, it's an amazed look.

LC


15 posted on 04/13/2006 12:18:30 PM PDT by LoneConservative (PEACE... Through SUPERIOR FIREPOWER!!!)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds; Constitution Day; Tax-chick
Imagine a luxury liner sinking into artic waters

Chivalry died along with spelling lessons.

16 posted on 04/13/2006 12:22:28 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
I have no problem holding the door open for women, giving up my seat on public transportation for those who need it, etc. I do the same for everyone, regardless of gender.

But give up my life for some strange woman simply because she's a woman? Not going to happen - not even if she guarantees to take care of my wife, my kids and my mom, which she won't.
17 posted on 04/13/2006 12:22:47 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

http://www.pottsoft.com/home/titanic/womens_memorial.html

Titanic Women's Memorial, Washington D.C., U.S.A.

The inscription on the Titanic Women's Memorial reads:

To The Brave Men
Who Perished
In The Wreck
of The Titanic,
April 15, 1912.
They Gave Their
Lives That Women
and Children
Might Be Saved.

Erected By
The Women
Of America.

The unveiling was performed by President Taft and his wife in 1931. People often assume that the memorial is to the women who perished on the Titanic, but if you read the inscription this makes it plain that it is to the men. Women in America raised the money and organized the building of the monument.

Titanic Women's Memorial © Steve Perez


18 posted on 04/13/2006 12:23:28 PM PDT by SaltyJoe (A mother's sorrowful heart and personal sacrifice redeems her lost child's soul.)
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To: martin_fierro

Too true.


19 posted on 04/13/2006 12:24:15 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Life is too short to drink bad wine." ~ The Captain)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds


Titanic Women's Memorial, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
20 posted on 04/13/2006 12:25:04 PM PDT by SaltyJoe (A mother's sorrowful heart and personal sacrifice redeems her lost child's soul.)
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