Re: Ken - In Defense of Men

July 7, 2005

Hi Ken.

It's true. There is a lot of the stereotypical crap being portrayed all over

the tv through advertising. I'm glad my kids don't watch much tv!

I am fortunate enough to have a good man in my life. He does ALL the

laundry, garbage duty, picks up stuff from the store if I need it. Above

all, he has shown incredible strength since I became sick with RA and

Sjogren's this year. When I turn over at night (we all know how difficult

it can be when you have RA), he wakes up EVERYTIME to help me get

comfy and to adjust my pillow. In the morning, he brings me some

crackers and water to the bed so I can take my pain meds before

attempting to get up for the day. Most importantly.....he isn't annoyed

or bothered when I complain about the pain or discomfort. He's

understanding and tries to ease my suffering.

There are MANY wondeful men out there who take care of their

partners/wives who have this disease. There are also many wonderful

wives/girlfriends and children that do the same. RA changes a person

physically and emotinally. If you're fortunate enough to have a

partner/family member(s) in your life that can adjust with you......then

consider yourself very lucky.

The Arthritis Society of Canada has a " Heroes " program where you can

nominate people who suffer from Arthritis or who care for or assist

those who have it. Maybe the American Arthritis Society has the

same? I would check it out. Why not give credit where it's due?

Always nice to read your posts!

> Greetings to my Family!

> I woke this morning, in pain, as usual, and as I sat there, listening

to the rain coming down upon my roof, I got to thinking. There's been an

awful lot of rain this summer, more than we've ever had. Listening to

the rain often makes me feel " melencholy " , brings back lots of

memories, yet, at the same time it's kind of comforting, hearing it,

knowing you are warm and dry, not out in it (done a lot of camping in

my life...it's kind of like being in a tent, when you live in a mobile home)

> Then, I thought about this " Husband " thing, that's got everybody

in an uproar.I KNOW that I am different. Enough people have told me

that, so I tend to kind of believe it. But, is it because I have R.A?I don't

know.

> What I DO know, is that I can't " identify " with most men, can't

figure out their " thought processes, or answer why they do the things

they do!

> .But I say to myself: " Surely I am not alone! Surely, not ALL men

are like this! "

> I am going to pose a question to ALL of you, and it is my sincere

hopes that you answer me........When you turn on the television, has

anyone else but ME noticed how the Media " Male Bashes? " Has

anyone ELSE noticed HOW the t.v.uses male bashing in their

advertisements?The media is a powerful tool. It affects the

subconcious of most people. I don't know how many of you remember

this, it happened a long time ago, but " the Law " had to step in and deny

the media the right to use " subliminal advertising " ,on T.V., in stores,

and on billboards! Really!What IS subliminal advertising? you might

ask?It's when a messege is flashed so fast that your concious mind

can't recognize it, but your subconcious CAN.!R.C Cola is a perfect

example....they had a picture of a beautiful girl showing, did a " close

up " on her lips...and the word " sex " was imprinted there. NOT so you

could see it with your concious mind. Stores were notorious for

including in their " music " little phrases such as " buy this

> product " , naming the product.

> It was said so quickly the ordinary mind couldn't pick it up!

> Why am I telling you all this? Because, if you really sit down, and

honestly think about it, tell me....how many commercials show a man

as even a little smart? Instead, they show some guy rolling around on

his lawn tractor, saying " somebody help me " , after he has shown you

his new car, his new house, his nice neighborhood, and telling you he's

in debt up to his eyeballs. They show two little boys, hanging upside

down on a set of monkey bars, holding a " new " style of mustard

called " upside down " mustard, and one says to the other " I don't get

it " ...and some little girl shows up, grabs the bottle, shows the boys how

to use it, and contempt in her voice, she merely says " Boys! " .....I

wonder what that DOES to the mind of a child that age? If people see it

on t.v., they tend to soak it up, and believe it! And I personally don't

think all men are as dumb as they are portrayed!

> Boys are taught from an early age that it " isn't allowed " for them

to show emotion, to cry, to feel.I wonder what that does to

them....especially when they are told they are stupid,told that to be any

way otherwise makes them " sissies " ?

> Do me a favor...try this little experiment: next time you turn on the

t.v., now that you have been " told " about it, try and count how many

commercials show some kind of portrayal of men being weak, stupid,

dumb, unable to do even the simplest task with out help? I'd really like

to know if you see the same thing I see?

> Not ALL of us ARE that way. Some, like I, actually DO the

dishes, vacuum the floor, and be supportive to their wife, weather they

are sick or not.Personally, when I married Tammy, I told her I would

never tell her what to do, unless it was for her own safety,: She is my

PARTNER, not my handy live in slave!SHE goes to work, and I stay

home...(R.A.) Hahaha....she calls me her little " house bitch " (in fun, of

course....but you know what? Most nights we go to bed laughing, and

that's how we wake up too!

> T.V would have you believe I never grew up) haha! So do this little

experiment for me...watch the t.v ....tell me how many times YOU

see " male bashing " ...and e-mail me back with your responses to all of

this please?

> All my love to all of you......squarehead ken

>

> ---------------------------------

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July 7, 2005