I had an absolutely magnificent stallion once. There is no way to describe what he was, but simply awesome. But I dropped his pearls because I was afraid of him. But Oldmanrip taught me a thing or two about the effects of testosterone in the bloodstream, and he taught me just how far the new-age gender-neutral naval-gazing has missed the mark.

But true undefiled masculinity is magnificent and something to be reckoned with. It is a strength that can only be tamed by one thing...and that is glorious beauty of undefiled femininity. There is nothing on this earth more intriguing, more seductive than a totally feminine woman. But the two are a million miles apart, and gloriously complementary.

But we twisted way off. A purpose of the strength and leadership of masculinity is to make women safe, but now in this age, the women (ostensibly) need to be protected from the masculine. How did that happen? What is wrong with this picture. I'm afraid this world has fallen of the wagon.

I think you may have a point Scott. I know many men who are not men who stand in the gap and protect their women. Many of the women today have been hurt and been allowed to be hurt by the men in their lives, past or present and have quit trusting men for protection.
I don't know a women who doesn't want a man who is protective of her and her family, a man who is secure enough to let the girls go out and be the best they can be, not isolated or controlled.
Nothing is sexier then a secure mans man.
Its not about the perfect abs, and the big bank account, its all about a man who loves his women with all he is, and would die to protect her. One who supports her and builds her up and is proud of her.
But sadly our many of the women today allow their insecurities and negative experiences to prevent us from sometimes letting the men be men. We want to protect our kids and aren't taught that men need to have the rough side in order to give our daughters security.
I find in our home sometimes the tough love dad hands out to our girls seems a bit brutal to me as a mom. However, I have come to understand that making the kids reap the consequences for their bad decisions actually gives the girls the security they need. They understand the security tough love brings. I see my kids go to their dad for the lecture when they mess up, somehow they seem to need it just as much as they need my emotional expressions of love when they are hurting.
I honestly believe that by making dads love their kids in a gentle mommas way we are actually hurting them more then letting the dads verbally tear a strip off them from time to time, and give them a "unreasonable" punishment.
Scott, as a mother the hardest time I ever have raising my kids is watching my husband deal with a specific incidents regarding the girls without getting involved. I keep wanting to bring my own baggage into their lives, my past and the abuse I went through have nothing to do with my husband and daughters relationship, yet it brings back memories for me that want to make me protect them when in reality they do not need protecting...too many of us gals have been through too much, and the consequences move from one generation to the next, it just takes on different forms.