I just noticed this particular forum and I think it's a great idea. It might not be exactly what this section is intended for because it doesn't highlight a specific man, but I felt it would be fitting. This is something a wrote a little while back in my blog. It's in part dedicated to men everywhere and in part dedicated specifically to my husband.
Men Are Great


Now I realize a lot of you are probably confused by that title. Chances are you're waiting for the punch line of some anti-male joke (Men are great AT...insert derogatory male stereotype here). Nope, that's it. There isn't any more to it. I figured with the enormous amount of time and energy devoted to pointing out all the flaws of man, it would be nice to devote a bit of time appreciating them...even if it is only a couple of paragraphs in my blog. There are certain pictures that make me cry every time I see them. I'm referring to pictures of men, great men, doing what great men have done since the beginning of time...sacrificing all for the greater good. I'm talking about pictures of soldiers, giving their lives to protect us, pictures of firefighters on 9-11, pushing their way UP into the towers, going to their doom in order to save lives. How many times have men faced death in protection of their countries, their homes, their families? How many men have worked at thankless jobs, never complaining, never questioning, in order to provide for their families? Now, I'm not implying that this is what men should be doing...sacrificing themselves. I'm saying that, right, wrong or otherwise, this is what men always have done and continue to do, and the very least we should do is recognize and show appreciation for that fact.

To put it simply, I love men, and not in a 'I like to sleep around and men are great in that capacity' way, either. I love and celebrate all the wonderfully unique traits and characteristics that are distinctly male. Now, I could expand upon all the contributions men have made to the world, but I won't, I don't have enough room on my blog, or enough time. Suffice it to say that due to the minds and accomplishments of men, the world has benefitted more than can be conveyed. What I will take time to do is acknowledge some of the little things, the things that tend to be taken for granted and go unnoticed. I know for a fact that if anything gross, disgusting or dirty has to be done, my husband, no questions asked, is going to do it. There's never an argument over who's going to go outside and shovel the driveway or who's going to change the oil, or the tire. I can guarantee if anybody ever needed to kill anything or venture into a potentially spider infested crawl space, it wouldn't be me. Not because I'd refuse....I'd never have to. If there's anything repugnant to be done, my husband does it. I have at times volunteered, because I know he'd never ask me to, but he says no. Not because he want to do it, but because he takes care of and protects his wife and children, self-sacrificing in the way that man have done for ages. So I say "thank you" to all the men who quietly go about their lives, unappreciatedly sacrificing for those around them. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. I want you to know that although your are grossly underappreciated, you're not completely unappreciated.

Great post, Kim... teach the world!!!!

If I was not an emotionally dead human being, there would surely be a tear in my eye after reading that..

What saddens me is that for many men, the significant women in their life have just one thing to say about them..

"Useless, good for nothings.."..

And they will say that despite all that men do for them and others..

Its odd how one day women can be singing your praises to the whole world, then, in a short period of time, you are the very devil incarnate due to the way that women can rewrite the history of an entire relationship in a split second and see a future that can only suit them if they could get rid of that useless bloke..

My ex-sister in law commented the other day about her 22 year old toy boy (she's 49)that if he leaves she would have to train another one.

I responded " you're too old ducky, blow this one and it's the last", they really do not want to hear that do they.

Got really pissed.

Really enjoyed it..

Thanks!

I agree. They're too busy looking for the bad to ever see the good. I did see something encouraging the other day, though. I moderate on a very large, very active forum. One thread was a 'complaint about my husband' thread where women were jumping on to make little jabs at their husbands. I was happy to see that not only I, but 5 other women stepped forward in defense of men, delaring that their husbands were the greatest. most important thing in their lives and they couldn't imagine living without them. Granted, we were outnumbered by the complainers, but it was still a nice surprise.

Good post.

just to add a little balance to this, lets add hitler, pol pot and osama bin laden to the list.

lots of people think they're great too.

and those are just the famous ones..

wife beaters, rapists, murderers, theives, torturers, bullies, agressors..

all in the nature of men too.

you need some balance.

most men are neither of these extremes.

you might say its wrong for me to generalise men in a bad way, but likewise, its then wrong to generalise them in a good way isnt it?

its a lie! i've seen you smile drex

Yes fruitcake, there are good men and bad men, but once again, you have missed the point entirely. The point is that the good men are completely ignored, even lumped in with the bad. Young boys need some role models. How about not dumping on men every five minutes and actually letting them have one?

Thank you.

Much appreciated Kim - thank you.

Don't mind FC. Mind games are her thing.
Not in the nature of women, naturally. A sly finger on the scales is FC's idea of balance.

But let's not detract from your fine post. Good men are still to be found and it's good women that find them.