Comment Response
December 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, manliness, pornography, Virtue
Not too long ago, I received a comment on a post called “Porn Proves Deadly” about a driver of a big rig who, while driving was streaming porn on his laptop, hit and killed a woman whose vehicle was disabled in the median. The comment was poorly written, unsubstantiated and downright unnecessary. I receive occasional comments like this and respond as I can. Typically, when I respond, I don’t hear back. Such was the case of this comment and its author. Here is his comment in red italics:
“While I’m not saying I’m pro-porn, I have to say that logically, you’re using a false correlation here. Some of the things you post I agree with, some I don’t, but saying that the reason he crashed was because of porn is just misleading. The reason he crashed is because he was being stupid and not paying attention to the road. It could have been porn, or a regular movie, or he could have been playing solitaire. It wasn’t the porn, it was his actions and negligence while he was driving.
Frankly, I don’t appreciate your attempts to whip up a fervor. Countless accidents happen because people text while driving, but I don’t see you talking about that here. As far as I can tell, you’re just trying to get people on your side with stories that have an untrue “if-then” correlation. That’s lying, and that, sir, is just plain unmanly.”
I then responded with the following, below in gray:
Thank you for your comment and continued visits to my site. I’m glad that you agree with me most of the time. For those times when you don’t agree with me, as in this case, that is certainly your choice.
I have read over your comment, and after review of my post, I believe you are incorrect in your critique of my writing. Therefore, I am not approving your comment, which is my prerogative, here’s why:
I am not lying, pornography kills. I even wrote in there “sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally”. You are correct; it could have been any number of other distractions. It wasn’t. It was porn. This man was looking at porn and killed a woman. Besides, texting, or watching another movie, does not involve the chemicals in the brain the way that pornography (or any sexual activity or stimulus) does. The brain emits oxytocin during orgasm and oxytocin is a bonding agent. It is the same bonding agent between a mother and child at birth and during breastfeeding. This was not the man’s first time viewing porn, so the bonds that were created in his mind from previous exposure were firing at incredible speeds and it most likely caused such a stir that he lost all recollection that he was driving.
You are correct in saying that you don’t see me posting about the dangers of texting and driving. You simply didn’t see it. I posted on August 27, 2009 about it. The post came over from my old site, so the majority of the post is missing. Here’s the link… https://www.truemanhood.com/the-dangers-of-texting-and-driving. I suggest taking the link from the post and watching it on YouTube.
When you send a critique like this, do you homework first. Don’t call me a liar. Don’t criticize me when you don’t know what you’re talking about. My site is not intended to make everyone agree with me, it is intended to do 3 things. 1. Fight pornography and the dangers of pornography addiction. 2. Fight cultural manliness, the idea that the world tells a male. 3. Teach men about virtue and how to live virtue.
Why am I sharing all of this with you? For a few reasons:
- Because I believe that those of us that understand the Truth, must share the Truth! So often the world asks us to sugarcoat everything and water it down. I refuse. People are longing for the truth and desire badly to grasp it. (You simply can’t grasp a watered-down, sugarcoated false-truth… it’s all wet and slippery.)
- To remind the TrueManhood.com Blog readership of the 3 intentions of this site.
- To remind the men who read this site that we are striving for virtue.
- To ward off the nay-sayers.
- To challenge the “status quo” out there that is indifferent to pornography and the dangers associated with it. Apathy doesn’t change problems, it makes them worse.
- To show that being charitable doesn’t mean being an old, soggy dishrag that someone can wipe the ground with. Being charitable may offend or upset someone. Jesus offended many in His day.
I really do appreciate comments. And when someone has a legitimate question, concern or suggestion, I typically heed them. So, if you’ve got a comment, please pass it along. If it’s negative, poorly written, distasteful or something similar, I won’t be posting it.
TrueMan up!
“To Be Thankful…”
November 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, Fatherhood, manliness, Virtue
I’ve been thinking that a number of my posts have been negative examples of males lately, or simply negative innature in one way or another. I wanted to post this video of an incredible man. Nick Vujicic is an awesome inspiration. You may have seen him before, but I suggest that you watch this video all the way through. Shortly into the video, he shares some principles for life. The first thing he says is simple, and important considering that tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. He says, “I’ve learned to be thankful.” Simple, but true.
“It’s a lie to think that you’re not good enough. It’s a lie to think that you’re not worth anything.” From Nick Vujicic, the man with no arms or legs. Believe this!
Watch the video, then think of all the times that you’ve wanted something you shouldn’t have, and in turn, have been completely lacking in thankfulness for the things you do have. This guy doesn’t have any arms or legs, for goodness sake! He swims, plays soccer, fishes, drives boats! This man is incredible… what do you have to complain about? Nothing!
I thought a part of the story that is important for men who are either newly married, engaged to be married or hoping to one day be married, was the part of the story when he spoke about not needing hands to hold her heart. Powerful.
TrueMan up!
Changing a Man
Is it possible to change a person? Specifically, is it possible to change a man? I hear this topic brought up a lot, especially in the case of bad relationships. The question is frequently asked in regards to a man who isn’t doing what he’s supposed to be doing. The question is frequently coming after hindsight kicks in and someone recognizes that they picked a less-than-perfect-man to date, marry or befriend.
So, what do you think? Is it possible to change a person? Is it possible for a person with little-to-no-potential to change? I firmly believe so! Why do I believe so firmly in this? Because I changed! I change everyday, I strive to get better, I strive to change my ways – further away from my desires, interests and comforts, and more towards Christ Jesus! I think we all have the internal power to change for the better.
I write this post because I see situations regularly, and some very “close to home”, that cause me to wonder why people (men specifically) don’t change!?! There are so many wonderful things in life to experience, and so much good to be done, and so many people to influence for the positive… why do some people wallow in their filth? It boggles my mind.
I look at my life and notice that I desire change. If my wife isn’t happy with something I’m doing, I don’t become defensive and argumentative, I work on getting better! If my children aren’t responding to my parenting, I don’t blame them, I work to be a better father. If my prayer life isn’t as strong as I need it to be, I don’t get angry at God, I pray more. You see, in my life, I have learned that I must be the cause for the change I want to see. I can’t blame others for things I don’t like. I can’t sit around and stay stagnant. I can’t be okay with mediocre. I must work to grow, to change, to be the man that God created me to be. We all must do this!
One other thing here… If you know a guy who needs to change, give him the chance. Have really high expectations and don’t settle for second best. He has the potential to be better, he just might need to see that someone expects more out of him and that it really does matter how he lives, treats others and believes. However, if you’ve given someone a chance, and they constantly choose to make poor decisions, to wallow in their filth and refuse to grow, be careful how much you invest in them. I’m not telling you to stop investing in them, I’m merely suggesting that you be careful. Ladies – if you are dating a man who doesn’t want to change, be very weary to stay with him. You deserve a man who will strive to be the best he can be. Don’t expect marriage to make it better, it may in fact make it worse.
TrueMan up!
Beards for Breath – No Shave November
October 31, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, manliness
A man with a great idea… Beards for Breath. AJ Garcia, a young man with a pro-life passion, posted an invitation to thousands on Facebook just a few days ago. The info is below. Great job AJ.
As always, I have my beard and am pro-life. “For there are only two kinds of people without beards; They are 1. Women and 2. Children. And clearly, I am neither.”
“Most of us are familiar with what has become known as “No Shave November” a great time for men everywhere to join uniting in hairy faces. Each year I am asked to join friends in this shaveless endeavor and each year I am hesitant to commit. There are a few reasons for this, 1. I have symmetrical bald spots on my face preventing the growth of a full and natural beard. And 2. What is the reason for not shaving, is there a cause or what?
So this year I invite you to join me in a cause for “No Shave November” and join me in “Beards for Breath”. Some of you know that October was Pro-Life Month, but why should it end in October? So this November instead of just not shaving I invite you to fast from shaving, giving you an easy opportunity to offer something up in prayer. So every time you itch your face or are running your hands through your beard and think how much it is driving you crazy, offer it up and say a prayer for those little ones that have yet to take a breath and for those who were never given a chance to breathe.
Now I understand that some of you may be hesitant to commit to this due to a female influence; girlfriend, wife, mother, daughter, etc. Well invite them to join you. Not to stop shaving, but to offer up how bad you might look or how much they might hate your facial hair in prayer that those breaths of the unborn might be taken.
There are so many women that are using contraceptives or are considering an abortion, some that have never even considered life for the one inside of them. At the same time men are using contraceptives and encouraging those abortions.
Another thing, have you ever thought of your beard as a weapon? Well this month it can be. Just think, each time someone asks you why you’re going out your facial hair you have such an opportunity to witness to the Pro-Life Cause. Or you can choose to say you’re growing it just for No Shave November knowing that it is for something much more. Be careful with your weapon.
So men let us sharpen our razors one last time this Sunday and then let us unite in prayer and hairy faces as we pray for an end to abortion.”
Message from “Morality in Media” President Robert Peters
October 26, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, manliness, pornography, Virtue
Today, the President of Morality in Media, Inc., shared in a press release what White Ribbons Against Pornography Week (WRAP Week) can do in a community and across the country. For information on what TrueManhood and The King’s Men are doing for WRAP Week, visit “The Fight” on TrueManhood.com and www.TheKingsMen.org.
Annual WRAP Week a reminder that citizens are not helpless to fight back against the proliferation of hardcore adult pornography
This year’s White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) Week will run Sunday, October 31, through Sunday, November 7. The primary goal of the annual WRAP Week is to heighten public awareness of the harms associated with pornography and the need to enforce obscenity laws to curb the proliferation of hardcore adult pornography online and elsewhere.
WRAP Week began with one woman in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 1987. Norma Norris heard the pastor of her Catholic parish lament that prosecutors and law enforcement agencies acted as if people didn’t care about the hardcore pornography being sold in their communities. Norma looked at the people in her church and said, “That can’t be; they’re here!” The idea of a white ribbon as a symbol of community standards of decency came to her and a movement was born.
Robert Peters, President of Morality in Media, had the following comments:
In 1987, the same year that Norma Norris launched the White Ribbon Against Pornography Campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese announced in Washington, D.C. the formation of a National Obscenity Enforcement Unit to combat the flood of “mail porn” and “video porn” that was then pouring into American homes and communities.
Back then, defenders of hardcore adult pornography said that the widespread availability of this material was proof that the average American was no longer offended by it and that obscenity laws were no longer enforceable because to be “obscene,” sexual material must depict hardcore sexual conduct in a “patently offensive” manner as measured by “contemporary community standards.”
Between 1987 and 1993, the U.S. Justice Department proved its critics wrong, winning one obscenity case after another and prompting John Weston, an attorney who represented hardcore pornographers, to describe the crackdown on Los Angeles area businesses as “a holocaust.”
Today, defenders of hardcore adult pornography are still saying that widespread availability of this material is proof that the average American is not offended by it; and undoubtedly there is growing acceptance of hardcore adult pornography, particularly among young males who are hooked on it.
But as the Supreme Court observed in Hamling v. United States, the mere fact that pornographic materials are available in a community does not “make them witnesses of virtue;” and in October 2009, Morality in Media commissioned Harris Interactive to ask two questions in a national survey about pornography, with the following results: Overall, 76% of U.S. adults disagreed that “viewing hardcore adult pornography on the Internet is morally acceptable” and 74% disagreed that “viewing hardcore adult pornography on the Internet provides, generally, harmless entertainment.”
To their credit, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment does not protect obscene materials, and Congress has repeatedly updated and strengthened federal obscenity laws. What our nation now needs is vigorous enforcement of these laws by the Justice Department.
By displaying white ribbons and taking other steps, including writing to members of Congress and making complaints to local U.S. Attorney and FBI offices, citizens can express their opposition to the proliferation of hardcore adult pornography and in support of our nation’s obscenity laws.
More information about WRAP Week and what citizens can do to fight back against pornography is available at www.moralityinmedia.org (WRAP Campaign) or by calling 212-870-3210.
Men’s Formation Groups
October 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, manliness, pornography, Virtue
Interested in joining a men’s formation group? Sometimes they are referred to as a “small group”. (If you are interested, I can connect you with a group in your area or teach you how to start one on your own.)
If you are in the Colorado Springs area, a new group will be meeting weekly. Any man is welcome to join, at anytime. The format of the meetings follows the highly tested and proven model created by The King’s Men. No matter what stage of life a man is in, no matter his education or experience, no matter his marital status or career, a formation group is good for every man. A small formation group is intended to be multifaceted. Men may experience some or all of the following from being in a small group: friendship, accountability, challenge, spiritual fortitude, fraternity, strength, encouragement, purpose, virtue!
The meetings typically go something like this:
- Group prayer – the Rosary is suggested. 15-20 minutes.
- Discussion based on a masculine resource. 30-45 minutes. (Masculine resources might be “Boys to Men: The Transforming Power of Virtue”, “Be a Man!”, an encyclical/papal letter, “Signposts” or something similar.) The discussion time is facilitated by a leader and kept on-time by the time keeper. The discussion is not a “teaching moment”, but a formation moment where each man has time to share if he so desires.
- The 4-Cs. Commit, Confess, Challenge, Confirm. Each week, each man makes a commitment to something he is going to do over the next week. The next week, he comes back and “confesses” how he did with his commitment. This process continues each week. If a man needs to be challenged, another man may do so. If a man deserves to be confirmed, another man may do so. 30 minutes.
- Closing prayer, including each man’s intentions. 5 minutes.
- Total meeting should be 1.5 hrs or less.
Groups should be kept to no more than 10-12 men. Once a group grows too large, it should be split into two separate groups. This is done so that each man has the ability to share, seek guidance, be formed and grow personally. If a group is too large, it stifles men’s ability to grow.
For more information on formation groups, especially the Colorado Springs group, contact me at Dave@TheKingsMen.org.
The Power of One
October 20, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, cultural manliness, Faith, manliness, Military, pornography, Virtue
The following story, written by a website writer, is very disturbing and I hesitate to include it on my website simply because I do not know enough about the topic to speak to it specifically. What I will write about is the power of one man. As you will read in the linked articles below, Alfred Kinsey had incredible power and influence. His power and influence continue to this day and have [negatively] shaped the culture and specifically, the view of sex, sexuality and morality.
I write to share this thought… you, as one man, have an incredible opportunity to influence! Your scope of influence may be one other person, or it may be the entire society! If Kinsey, just one man, could influence an entire society, for over sixty years, just imagine what you might be able to do. But, you can’t do it sitting at your computer alone – you must get to work! Do something! If you don’t know what that is, figure something out and get started!
So, here is the crazy-gross article about Kinsey and his “scientific” experiments, which were basically just legal-pedophilia… CLICK HERE.
And then, CLICK HERE for another article about Kinsey. This article happens to include some information from the Air Force Academy from the 90’s, but that has nothing specific to do with this post – even considering my past involvement there.
I hope to do some more research and find out more about Kinsey and his “findings”, as well as report back more details about how screwed up he was. If you want to do some research your self, check out a book by Susan Brinkmann called “The Kinsey Corruption: An Expose on the Most Influential ‘Scientist’ of Our Time.”
TrueMan up!