The way we were

Independent libertarian columnist Kent McManigal reminds us that we Americans used to mind our own damn business, expected the same from others, and followed our own dreams regardless of what others thought and we expected the government at all levels to respect that. Good times now largely past.

Being a "manly man" for real

Never put your full trust in a man who has never been in a fist-fight and isn't prepared to be in one again too if need be. Last time I was in a fist-fight was back in 1995. Guess I'm due. If you fancy yourself a "stand-up" kinda guy then you have to be willing and able to "stand up" (i.e., throw a punch) when required or else you're just a fraud or you are deluding yourself but either way you're likely to eventually  be a victim.

"Men who have fought know how difficult it is to stand against the crowd", says Scott Locklin @ Taki's Magazine, "and that civilization is fragile and important. A man who has experienced violence knows that, at its core, civilization is an agreement between men to behave well. That agreement can be broken at any moment; it’s part of manhood to be ready when it is. Men who have been in fights know about something that is rarely spoken of without snickering these days: honor. Men who have been in fights know that, on some level, words are just words: At some point, words must be backed up by deeds."

So there you are.