In Praise of Men
Men get a bad rap in our society. Granted, statistically they’re responsible for most crime, most wars, and well, pretty much most of all the bad stuff that happens. But that doesn’t mean most of them are bad. I think the opposite is true. Most men are decent people and many of them are incredible, amazing individuals.
I guess I’m just sick of all the men-bashing that goes on. My son showed me the Hugh Mongus video last night. It’s become a viral video. I’ll provide a link below, but basically, a woman is filming a guy, and she asks him his name.
He replies, “Hugh Mongus.”
It’s a joke. I thought he was referring to his weight, but she assumed he was talking about a specific body part (where is her mind?) and then she accused him in a hysterical manner of harassment and abuse. She became the thing she decries–attacking a person simply because of her assumptions and his gender.
Security was called and she continued on with her hysterical accusations until you feel genuinely bad for everyone dealing with her. You also feel bad for everyone who has actually been a victim of harassment and abuse, because her overreaction is tantamount to the boy who cried wolf. People may take real accusations less seriously if they think all women are missile-seeking-targets like this lady.
Youtubers have called her out, and instead of admitting that yes, she overreacted, she went on to produce four videos defending her position and accusing anyone who disagrees with her as being indoctrinated into our rape-culture.
Sigh.
I agree that there are a lot of things wrong with our culture. (Don’t get me started.) But the question I’ve been asking myself since I saw this video is how many bad men did this woman know before she formed her opinions? She couldn’t have known the men I’ve known.
Since last night I’ve thought of my father who was one of the most generous people I know, my husband who is the most patient person I know, and the all the young men I know who work and save and willingly give up two years of their lives to go on missions to serve others. I think of the strangers–all of them men–who’ve stopped to help me when I’ve had flat tires. One of them was a heavily tattooed guy who might have frightened me if I’d met him in a dark alley, but he crawled underneath my van to get my spare tire. (Note to Toyota–that’s a stupid place to put a spare.) I think of a male friend who recently stood up to a thug in order to protect a woman he didn’t know–just because she looked afraid. I think of the men at my church who give up so much of their time to serve people in our congregation–never complaining. I think of my friend’s husband who not only designed this website for me, but who answers all of my technical questions, just because he’s a nice guy. I could go on and on.
I know amazing men; men that I wish I could be more like.
This is me clapping for you–all the awesome men!
And here’s the link: Hugh Mungus video
