Jimmy Carter, "A Call to Action" and raising boys to men
Recently, I read an article and excerpt from former President Jimmy Carter’s new book entitled, A Call to Action. The book exhorts all countries, and especially the United States, to improve the lot of all people by treating women with respect, dignity and the honor they deserve as equals and powerful individuals. There are reasons why I appreciate the tack that the former President and outspoken advocate for peace, unity and equality has taken in his latest book. However, I will also take issue with one of the platforms upon which the book is based.
Entitling it a “call to action” makes the book more crucial and urgent. We have gotten to breaking points in several areas of equality and recognition of traditionally underserved groups. It seems odd then, that women, of all the underserved groups, are still mistreated. After all, they have been with us men since the beginning. The oppression of women comes from the feelings of entitlement and superiority and thus, the fear of loss, of men; it is with men that we have to continue to work in order to improve women’s lot in society.
Aside from changing men’s perspective and the way we raise our boys, we need to realize that religions were constructed by men and thus favor men. It would be too much to ask religious people to assign the bible to the other piles of self-help books that fill libraries and bookstores but we can ask them to re-conceptualize and re-interpret the words in the bible(s) of every culture to be more accepting and uphold the position of equality that women hold in the 21st century. Women are not the property of men to be ordered, controlled and subjugated. I will use the Judeo Christian bible’s creation of women story to illustrate my point. Eve was made from the rib of Adam; therefore, men are lesser without the women figuratively made from their bodies. We should appreciate that idea.
The re-training of our boys into men happens in the microcosm. Although depictions of men and how they should treat others and the honor and integrity with which they carry themselves is portrayed on television, movies and music, it is in the interactions and responses to and with them that fathers and other significant men in their lives have that will shape them. That interaction happens daily, between those males and that is why grown men have to reflect on their own upbringing and realize that we are in a new world of respect, honor and love. Subjugating others is not a sign of strength but a sign of fear and men have to stop associating fear with a loss of control and power. We can teach that to our sons so that our daughters never have to worry about being victimized. The women in our world shouldn’t need to learn how to protect themselves – they shouldn’t need to have to protect themselves. Whether it is against religious dogma, a man’s broken past or society’s need to control them; it is the victimizer’s obligation to be better. Violence against women is not a natural part of life; in truth violence against anyone is not a natural state of humanity – we choose violence when we are afraid. It is the 21st century in the most powerful nation in the world and we needn’t be afraid. When one doesn’t fear, one tends to help openly, it is time to help others openly and be a beacon of positive behavior for the world.
Former President Carter has written a wonderful book about respecting, and no longer violating, women in various methods. It is a wonderful read and optimistic in the face of pessimistic odds. But, ultimately, it comes down to individual decision – making. A man shouldn’t raise his hand to his wife, he should be a role model of non - violence to his sons and daughters and he should condemn those who commit violence. I concede that there are psychopaths in our society, but we outnumber them and can say no. There is strength in standing tall and refusing violence.
Entitling it a “call to action” makes the book more crucial and urgent. We have gotten to breaking points in several areas of equality and recognition of traditionally underserved groups. It seems odd then, that women, of all the underserved groups, are still mistreated. After all, they have been with us men since the beginning. The oppression of women comes from the feelings of entitlement and superiority and thus, the fear of loss, of men; it is with men that we have to continue to work in order to improve women’s lot in society.
Aside from changing men’s perspective and the way we raise our boys, we need to realize that religions were constructed by men and thus favor men. It would be too much to ask religious people to assign the bible to the other piles of self-help books that fill libraries and bookstores but we can ask them to re-conceptualize and re-interpret the words in the bible(s) of every culture to be more accepting and uphold the position of equality that women hold in the 21st century. Women are not the property of men to be ordered, controlled and subjugated. I will use the Judeo Christian bible’s creation of women story to illustrate my point. Eve was made from the rib of Adam; therefore, men are lesser without the women figuratively made from their bodies. We should appreciate that idea.
The re-training of our boys into men happens in the microcosm. Although depictions of men and how they should treat others and the honor and integrity with which they carry themselves is portrayed on television, movies and music, it is in the interactions and responses to and with them that fathers and other significant men in their lives have that will shape them. That interaction happens daily, between those males and that is why grown men have to reflect on their own upbringing and realize that we are in a new world of respect, honor and love. Subjugating others is not a sign of strength but a sign of fear and men have to stop associating fear with a loss of control and power. We can teach that to our sons so that our daughters never have to worry about being victimized. The women in our world shouldn’t need to learn how to protect themselves – they shouldn’t need to have to protect themselves. Whether it is against religious dogma, a man’s broken past or society’s need to control them; it is the victimizer’s obligation to be better. Violence against women is not a natural part of life; in truth violence against anyone is not a natural state of humanity – we choose violence when we are afraid. It is the 21st century in the most powerful nation in the world and we needn’t be afraid. When one doesn’t fear, one tends to help openly, it is time to help others openly and be a beacon of positive behavior for the world.
Former President Carter has written a wonderful book about respecting, and no longer violating, women in various methods. It is a wonderful read and optimistic in the face of pessimistic odds. But, ultimately, it comes down to individual decision – making. A man shouldn’t raise his hand to his wife, he should be a role model of non - violence to his sons and daughters and he should condemn those who commit violence. I concede that there are psychopaths in our society, but we outnumber them and can say no. There is strength in standing tall and refusing violence.