I love a good story of slaying monsters. Who doesn't? Greek mythology has so many excellent examples. The fearsome Gorgon whose gaze turns one to stone. The powerful Nemean Lion with a roar powerful enough to crumble buildings and hide incapable of being pierced. The mighty Hydra who raw strength cannot defeat.
I like many boys were inspired by these tales growing up. I wanted (and still do) to be a man capable of saving others from monsters and demons a like. I fiercely wanted (and again still do) to protect others, and sought my own innate strengths and talents to do so. I would be far less of a man without these tales of monsters and beasts pushing me to be better. Telling me to gain the strength to protect the weak.
But I ask...
What then do we tell the young men of this generation when we say they are the monsters? To anyone who says we are not...I will tell you we are. I believed I was a monster growing up. I believed and feared I would one day be an abusive drunk husband. I consistently thought I had to keep myself under control from some...thing, else wise I would do something terrible to some one I may not even have known. I thought about getting chains tattooed on my arms as a reminder to stay in control at all times.
And it hasn't gotten better. Media about men has not improved. I work with a lady, who I care deeply for. She is a flower and beam of sunshine at work. In our more serious conversations however she holds strongly to what I see as a deep hatred, resentment and fear of men that well echos modern media. If I despised myself so truly growing up, what do boys think of themselves now? What do they think and feel when we call them the modern day monster?
On these more gloomy days, when the rain clouds settle in and my pensive thoughts take over...I am reminded that men are problem solvers. Therapy for men, involves taking back what they feel is a loss of control. Solving issues. And... that one of the reasons males have a higher success rate of suicide, is because they see themselves as a problem and their death as a solution. There's no conversation to be had past the swift click of a revolver.
I guess... I hope that modern day boys don't feel the need to slay monsters.