The Power to Positively Effect Change
I don’t typically follow mainstream media, news or happenings, and I definitely don’t follow the NBA, so this story was interesting to me when I heard about it. Recently, in an interview with Maxim Magazine, LeBron James (Team Captain of the Cleveland Cavaliers) was quoted, when asked “If there was one guy on the planet you could dunk on, who would it be?”, as saying: “If it doesn’t have to be a basketball player, George W. Bush. I would dunk on his [ass], break the rim, and shatter the glass.” (LeBron is a known-supporter of Barack Obama.)
The friend who told me about this LeBron story wrote this to me in our correspondence: “Boston just beat the Cavaliers with King James and Shaq. After LeBron’s majorly inappropriate comment about wanting to dunk and shatter the backboard over Pres. Bush (more than any other person), I have lost respect for LeBron. How about dunking over Osama Bin Laden? In LeBron’s role model position, you just don’t show that kind of disrespect for the President even if you don’t like him. Not to mention, his poor sportsmanship in losing the playoffs last year… he wouldn’t shake hands after the game. Your manly opinion on this?“
In response, I wrote: “In my humble opinion, LeBron has no class, no leadership and an immaturity that rivals others. He who, in his position, could effect MAJOR POSITIVE CHANGE on a global level. On a manliness scale, he’d rank very very low. No virtue = Not Manly.”
The reason I highlighted positive change (both in my response to my friend and in the title of this post) is because LeBron could bring
about so much positive change in this world, simply because of his stature, his following and his presence in the media. The trouble here, is that if you ask a fan of LeBron if he’s effecting positive change in the world, they’ll emphatically say “Yes!” It’s a clouded judgment that some people can’t see past because he appears to be so influential and such a boost for the sport. A TRUE boost to the sport would be challenging men to live virtuous, moral lives.
Just my $.02 today.
Man up!
Virtue – a MUST
I feel like I’m constantly either writing or talking about virtue, but nearly everyday, I realize that we all need to hear about virtue more and more. Virtue is vital to living a Christ-centered life. What is virtue? In short, virtue means manliness (from the Latin virtus). Maybe that doesn’t make sense… how can Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance mean manliness? They don’t – they mean what they mean. It’s the opposite – manliness means possessing the virtues. Does that mean that in order to be manly a man must be virtuous?
Precisely! Authentic [true] manliness (the whole point of this website!) is living virtue! Plain and simple. Alright, so how do I know if I’m virtuous (or manly)? Take the test; the definition is “Virtue is the habitual and firm disposition to do the good.” You can’t partially possess virtue – it’s all or none. The test: do I perform the virtue as a habit while also doing it promptly, easily, consistently and with joy? If not, you don’t have that particular virtue. If so, then you do.
If you want to grow in virtue, it takes two things: 1. Grace and 2. Practice. The grace part isn’t up to you, but the practice part is. If you want to grow in virtue, practice makes perfect! Ask God for opportunities to practice each virtue. If you ask (sincerely), He’ll give you the opportunity. Try it, you’ll see. I recommend that you think long and hard about which virtue you need/want to work on the most (and soon!) and ask God for it. (I’d like to know how this works out for you – please keep me posted via comments or emails.)
So, then does that mean that women can’t be virtuous, or shouldn’t even try to be? No, not at all. And it doesn’t mean that a woman who is virtuous is manly. In the case of women, they should also be striving for virtue, which also means character, excellence, valor, etc. Women grow in virtue the same way men do, through grace and practice.
For a more concise explanation, check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1803-1845.
“The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.” – St. Gregory of Nyssa.
Man up!
Worshipping the ESPN God
Here is my latest article on iibloom.com. The title is “Worshipping the ESPN God”.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE, or start reading below…
“We are in the time of year when it is quite easy to become enamored by the lure of sports. The post-season is in full-swing in Major League Baseball, football season is flying at us from all sides (both the National Football League and College Football) and the National Hockey League recently kicked off their season. The National Basketball Association will be tipping off in a matter of weeks and NASCAR and the Professional Golf Association are both going strong. There is no other time on the calendar when all of these sports are played at one time. If you are a sports-junkie, you love this time of year. For many of us, sports have always been an important aspect of our lives.”
Continue reading HERE.
Man up!
Do You Think You’re Better Than the Men You Write About?
A man recently asked me the question (from the title):
“Dave, so when you’re writing about stuff on your blog, do you think you’re better than the men you write about? For instance, the dad that left his family to play arcade games?”
My response to the question is good for everyone to read and understand, and I want to be clear about my reasons for my blog posts. My response to him was:
When I write my posts, and when I critique a man, I critique not the man himself, but his action(s). In some cases, I see something that is clearly not manly and I write about it. Sometimes, I see something that is manly, and I write about that. In either case, I want to highlight the “thing” done or not done. Each man has the same dignity, but not all men live up to the calling of that dignity.
It is never my intention to condemn a man, regardless of his actions. Condemnation isn’t for man, only God.
I really appreciate questions like this because I want my readers to fully understand me and my position on manliness. If you have questions, comments, suggestions or concerns, please send them my way and I will be happy to respond.
Just Strollin’ Along
So near my office (at the Air Force Academy), there’s a trail from the chapel parking lot over the hill to the visitor’s center. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people trek over this trail every week. Yesterday, as I was walking to my truck at the end of the day, I saw something that was NOT manly.
A man was strolling along, walking up the hill easily, without a care in the world… while the woman next to him (I’m assuming his wife) – in a skirt and 4 inch dress-shoe-heels, mind you – was struggling to push their stroller, with baby inside, up this trail! I couldn’t believe it! I wanted to yell out – “Hey, you there, the guy NOT BEING MANLY!!! Why don’t you help her out and push the stroller?! And oh yeah, I’m going to blog about you on www.TrueManhood.com” In an attempt to be civil, I decided not to. (It would have made a scene and would NOT have been the correct way of challenging this guy to be manly.) Oh, how I wish I had my camera.
Guys, whether the women around you are your wife or not, HELP THEM OUT! If it’s another guy, struggling to make it up the hill, you should offer to help him out too! Use common sense, be aware of what’s around you and be a man of action. Do something!
Man up!
Monday the Hero
I’ve been a sports fan my entire life and had never heard of this until today. Glad I saw it. This man, Rick Monday made a heroic choice to protect the flag, which stands for our freedom and liberties. Great job, Rick!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo]I just saw this video.
What can you do to protect our freedom and liberties?
Man up!
NEWLY REDESIGNED SITE COMING SOON!!!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION!!! This site will soon look completely different! “New look, Same Great Taste”.
Coming soon, the newly redesigned TrueManhood.com! Thanks to John at KickStart Media! The site will contain all the archives, plus new material, resources and links. Make sure to subscribe to the RSS Feed so that you know it’s up and running!
Here’s a sneak peek at what the new site will look like…
