So I saw (and shared) a meme the other day on Facebook, that actually got me thinking a bit (not about gaming for once - imagine that).
This has always been something I firmly believe in. I'm not sure I would call myself a feminist (because of all the extra baggage that now seems to come with the term), but I do believe in equal rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of sex, color, or origin. I also belief that fathers are very important in our society, and feel that many of the social issues we have today are because of the lack of fathers in children's lives.
But what does it mean to be a man - a "real" man? Interestingly enough, a lot of how I feel can be summed up by a song from back in the 80's when I was in college.
The Unforgiven was a band from California that had a unique stlye. It was very western, but not country at all. I think of it as cowboy rock.
The closest they had to a hit off their one album was "I Hear the Call", the single that actually had a video for it. The lyrics for it really resonated with me:
It wasn't just the one song though. The entire album had the feel of a post civil-war western. From "With my Boots On" and it's iconic idea "let me die like a man", "The Preacher", "All is Quiet on the Western Front" and "Hang 'em High" - they are all just great rock songs with a strong western theme.
The songs are all on youtube and I recommend giving them a listen. I was always disappointed they only had the one album, but it is still one of my favorites growing up.
While doing a bit of research for this, I discovered that an expanded edition of their only album came out in 2014 - I just ordered one myself! This is the fourth time I've bought the album - twice on cassette (the second one after the first died, as cassettes did all too often). I had a friend transfer it to mp3 then many years later - then I got a re-issue of the original on CD back a few years ago - and now a new extended version with a new(er) song!
Because it is all fun and games . . .
This has always been something I firmly believe in. I'm not sure I would call myself a feminist (because of all the extra baggage that now seems to come with the term), but I do believe in equal rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of sex, color, or origin. I also belief that fathers are very important in our society, and feel that many of the social issues we have today are because of the lack of fathers in children's lives.
But what does it mean to be a man - a "real" man? Interestingly enough, a lot of how I feel can be summed up by a song from back in the 80's when I was in college.
The Unforgiven was a band from California that had a unique stlye. It was very western, but not country at all. I think of it as cowboy rock.
The closest they had to a hit off their one album was "I Hear the Call", the single that actually had a video for it. The lyrics for it really resonated with me:
My poppa once told me, "Son, men can cry.
But that when they do It's not without a reason."
He also said, "Son, doing your duty, can be mighty hard to do.
But when the cryings done you've got to be the one to pick up the pieces."
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
Poppa was loud but he thought of himself as the poetic type
He'd never just talk when an anecdote would do
The last time he left he sat us down and said,
"While I 'm gone here's what I want you to do.
Go out and knock 'em down and help 'em up
And tell them you'll be there soon."
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call
I hear the call
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
I hear the call
I hear the call and I will answer it
Yes I will
It wasn't just the one song though. The entire album had the feel of a post civil-war western. From "With my Boots On" and it's iconic idea "let me die like a man", "The Preacher", "All is Quiet on the Western Front" and "Hang 'em High" - they are all just great rock songs with a strong western theme.
The songs are all on youtube and I recommend giving them a listen. I was always disappointed they only had the one album, but it is still one of my favorites growing up.
While doing a bit of research for this, I discovered that an expanded edition of their only album came out in 2014 - I just ordered one myself! This is the fourth time I've bought the album - twice on cassette (the second one after the first died, as cassettes did all too often). I had a friend transfer it to mp3 then many years later - then I got a re-issue of the original on CD back a few years ago - and now a new extended version with a new(er) song!
Because it is all fun and games . . .
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