Regardless, this was a great article, Brett. I’ll be pondering it for a while…

The eras you use as reference material (what some would call being nostalgic) were not perfect. Some of the worst excesses of racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia of modern times occured during the forties and fifties (and earlier). These were far from perfect times. However, these are also the times when some of the greatest advances in human endeavour occured. Penicillin was developed in the twenties and was first widely used in the forties. The space race, responsible for the development of some of the most important technologies in the world today started in the fifties. Just two examples of some of the wonders perfected during this time.

Having been born too late (1969) I can only rely on the evidence available to me to form an opinion of these eras. My Grandfather, born in 1910, was a solid, honest man who said what he meant and meant what he said. My relationship with him was not allways the best, as a teen I couldn’t see that someone that old could possibly know what I was on about. When I worked it out though I realised he had so much he could teach me, ethics, morals, self-reliance, independence, working with my hands and honesty (to yourself and others). Unfortunately, like many of us, he died way too early (WW2 and the malaria of Papua New Guinea finally caught up with him) and I truly miss him. My father, born in 1943, is a similar man, he has spent his whole life helping others who need help, not just those who want help. He has put his life on the line for others on any number of occasions, almost every time a stranger but on several occasions for his family. Not once though, has he ever asked for any form of recognition, a truly humble man. In fact, the day he received a very high award from one of the groups he works with I was watching his face when it was announced. I’ve never seen the old man so embarrased in my whole life, even more than when he walked in on my girlfriend and I, well, thats another story.

These men were always thinking of others yet always respectful of themselves. I think this is at the core of being manly, respect. Respect for yourself, for others, your family, what you do and how you do it. Live your life with respect and you couldn’t be more manly (or womanly for that matter).

No world or person is perfect, I know that, but if you live your life in a manly manner then you have a strong basis to work from.

@Anthony
Does being gay stop you respecting yourself and those about you? Your sexual orientation is only one part of you. At least, if you follow the stereotype, you dress better than all of us so-called ‘straight’ guys :-).

On a separate not, I would strongly disagree with the idea above that there can “different truths for different people.” This is called relativism, and it is precisely moral relativism which has led to the majority of the major problems our society is facing.

A quick and simplistic example: 2+2=4. This is true for everyone. No matter how they happen to feel about it, or whether they understand it or not. The same holds true in moral reality: Rape is always wrong. No matter what. I think we can all agree on that one easily enough. If we can see that rape is always wrong, then it follows that absolute truth is not the special domain of mathematics, but exists in the other spheres of life as well. It is harder for all of us to agree on what many of the other moral truths are, but this doesn’t mean they don’t exist, or that two contradictory moralities can both be true. How do we come to understand what is true in some of the more complex matters of life? Well, speaking of nostalgia, learning the foundations of traditional morality is a good place to start. Many people reject morality because it was poorly presented to them and they never saw it as a whole. Going back to read the early philosophers and theologians so that we can judge the system on its own merits is a big project, but probably important enough to pursue. I’d hate to get it wrong just because I wouldn’t take the time to read a few more books.

If you are interested in the question and are ready for some serious thought, check out the document “Veritatis Splendor”: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor_en.html