“The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place.”
-Leo Durocher
[Baseball Manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers, quoted in 1946, where the etymology eventually rendered into, "Nice guys finish last."]
I hope we have all recognized International Women's Day, as well as March as Women's History Month. I know it's a government issued acknowledgement of one day and one month. It's like Mother's Day, where sons and daughters will be attentive to their mothers for that one day. Needless to say, yet I'm going to say it anyway, we should honour and be kind to the women our lives everyday and all the time, if possible.
Now, we are human, and make mistakes. However, the overall theme reigns true.
We live in a world where men are increasing getting weaker in both character and moral compass. In addition, men are STILL getting paid more for lesser quality work, while remaining dominate. We would think by now, in this "modern" age that we would get our act together, and resonate in mutual understanding and respect. We must do this without degrading ourselves into "people pleasing" territory.
This doesn't just go for women, this goes for men too. To be that "nice" guy; that agreeable guy, is so unattractive, to a great extent. Personally, I'm working to step out of that role with force. No one wants to be a "doormat". Instead of being nice, I can proudly say that I'm kind. Well, I think most of the time (i.e. those that have met me, and have interacted with me extensively can testify that I can be quite mean, when I feel I need to be). Kindness is so different than being nice. Maybe I'll save that topic for another blog entry.
While I'm on the subject of women, I'm going to be blunt. Women can be so catty with one another. I'm not saying all women are like that, though many are. Men are less like that, though we are competitive because of our ego; many times to our own demise. This doesn't make men better than women, nor am I making a comparison. That's not the point at all. Women can be real subtle at tearing each other down, if not overtly. A crude analogy would be the "crab mentality". This is where if one crab appears to be making an escape from the bucket a group of them are in, one or more will pull it back down. I can say that holds true for certain groups, particularly the Asian community.
Unless someone points out something clear and compelling for me to say sorry, I don't plan to apologize for my candor; because telling the truth, as I see it, is of the utmost respect for all those concerned.
Here's to our strong women, who do more than men just be seen in the same light of "equality". It is not equality, by no stretch of the imagination.
May we work to show kindness to our women. May they continue to strive for progress, despite all odds, as life is an adventure in achievement.
AMOR FATI
Thank you and good night.
P.S. Below is a picture of my mom when she served as a Major in the US Air Force (stationed at Luke Air Force Base or LAFB in Arizona, where I spent a few years growing up). This is someone who fought "tooth and nail" to get to where she's at. [Side note: I mention "US Air Force" and not just "Air Force", because when the subject comes up, ignorant people will ask, "Was she serving in the US military?" smh] My nickname for her is "Major Mom". :-)
