200 Books

As I start to write this, a hundred explanations, apologies and caveats spring to mind. I will not countenance them.

Men, you live today in a Western culture that your gender built. The great literary works, the great musical compositions, the great paintings and sculpture are almost exclusively the work of men. I see enormous talent, drive and ambition in that. I also see incredible discipline and work. As a reader I am greatly indebted to you for so much from Homer to Lewis to Chaucer. Thank you.

In America, at least, you now labor under constant suspicion of misogyny and yet I still rarely have to open a door when my hands are full. I have never had a single one of you refuse to kill a spider or open a pickle jar for me. Thank you.

Thank you for always being willing to walk me to my car on a dark night.

I am also grateful for your readiness to offer a solution to any problem I may mention. You are so intent on sacrificing yourselves for our well-being that you will spend your mental energies solving the slightest complexity for a complete stranger.

Thank you for going to war for us so many times through out even our short national history.

Despite an awful disparity in the family courts so many of you still make every effort to remain a respectable part of your children’s lives. Despite no real national recognition of the importance of fatherhood you still spend so much of your time playing with your daughters and sons; offering them all the wisdom you have.

I don’t know a single one of you who throw yourselves in front of a bullet for any woman or child who needed that saving. That is beyond admirable.

Thank you for setting aside your physical tendencies toward other women and making a more than respectable effort toward monogamy. Your track record is actually quite impressive.

Thank you for listening to the criticisms hurled at you by a culture that marginalizes you. Thank you for listening and striving to be better people. Don’t let the barrage get you down. You have proven throughout history that you are strong. And whether or not the public dialogue ever finds truth and balance, I, for one, believe men are our better half.

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