In a world where romance is a dying virtue and hookups and flings fill not only the tabloids, but everyday life, those who notice the absence ask why.
There are literally thousands of stories of fairy-tale loves and happy endings. However, we live in a jaded world, where contentment is found in the Mr./Mrs. Right Now.
Courtship for all intents and purposes is non-existent. Girls want the James Dean attitude, with a romantic, emotionally sensitive interior. Guys want a Victoria Secret model who can be one of the guys.
Media, in many cases, portray the ideal man or woman in physical proportions; what you should be, how you should look, the kind of things you should like in order to be considered “desirable.”
Do women really want a man with a heart as hard as his abs? Do men want a woman with a personality as malnourished as her diet?
Why is it socially acceptable for a woman to be a “tomboy” and enjoy watching the game and be “one of the guys,” and be equally as attractive while men who enjoy cooking, shopping, or are emotionally sensitive are labeled effeminate.
As a man who enjoys such things, where are my equal rights? Women wanted to work, to be what they wanted to be, do what they wanted to do and not be considered differently. Why can I not be a straight guy who enjoys baking?
Equal rights provided, in my mind, wonderful opportunities for everyone to be able to have freedom of expression and to live life as they wanted. At the same time, however, points of view eventually have changed.
With so many songs, movies and famous persons portraying the role of men as something of dominance, of superiority, women often feel that they have to win the man, and roles have become grotesquely reversed.
Opening doors for a woman, giving up a chair when none others are open and being a gentleman has become a lost art. Being a man consists of being respectful, being supportive and altogether decent.
It has always been the term that “nice guys finish last,” but really, why is that? Is it because they are forced to finish last, or is it because their actions chosen led them to it?
Nice guys will help others along the way; it’s not a race for a “look at me I’m the best” mentality. It’s a race to keep up with those who take advantage of situations.
Being the friend in times of need or distress, the shoulder to cry on or being the dependable one, very seldom gets you further ahead in the sprint. I hope there are still contenders in the race of endurance for those who take the time to put themselves second.
To refer to the montage of the “knight in shining armor:” armor shines only before battle, before it has been put to the test.
You want to find a knight who has fought for what he believes in, who has seen heartache and struggle, and has become stronger for it, continuing in that fashion. Be sure the “damsel in distress” is not herself the cause of distress, but in need of aid.
People are decent until proven otherwise; it’s not our job to stereotype someone based on their hobbies or interests.
It is our job to treat others the way we would hope ourselves to be treated. Before you knock someone else’s standards, be ready to stand for your own. Respect is the true background to equal rights.
