[December 22, 2022] Many years ago, while I was struggling with the U.S. Army, an old, grizzled sergeant told me something I would never forget. He told me that being a real man was a serious business and that the Soldiers with me were essential to the world and that each of us had value and if we did not bring that value to the surface, many would suffer the world over less for our failure. His lesson: be the best you can be, and more.
I did not really understand what this sergeant meant until much later. I did not understand how much people were starving for a word of encouragement. I had no idea the desperate depth of that starvation. Those of us new to the Army were there, partly because we wanted that recognition too. We were manifesting the masculinity that has always been valued seriously by all ascending great civilizations.
In contrast, today, we hear that masculinity is toxic and that men are part of the patriarchy, and everything we do is destructive and leads the world to ruin. And those are deep doubts. We should acknowledge that there is a calling to have a world free of evil forces, but it shouldn’t be purchased at the cost of denigration of the human being, especially at the cost of strong men. I don’t believe that is particularly helpful.
Denigration and shaming of men is a form of pathological resentment and hatred disguised as an ethical striving and a deadly problem the accusers have unleashed. I don’t believe that masculinity is toxic or some form of cancer in the nation. Those that target men and young men are indeed being targeted, so let’s not ignore that reality; they should be asked why they target those who are making the world a better place.
The accusers should see and understand what they wrought because this denigration is discouraging men from doing those things they know they must do to be better than they could be. So many men have come to believe that masculinity is an activity that is inherently destructive and that any ambition they have is evil.
The result is often a kind of nihilism that push men to believe they are agents of oppression. And they will refuse to defend those things that must be defended, like the weak, the elder and infirm, and truly oppressed; they will stand by while this takes place because, as they believe, they are evil and cannot do anything because anything they do is ethically wrong.
The result of such an ideology is nothing trivial. Those men, now many of them Soldiers, are stepping aside and doing nothing. Yet their absence from the world is wrong because they are the very ones we need to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves. I’ve seen this unfolding for many years, but we do not want to allow the examination of our faults to turn into the denigration of our essence.
Men! Be the best you can be, and more.
————–
Please read my books:
- “55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon (link here).
- “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).
best advice ever
Be the best you can be …… and more! Now that says something. But you also have to have the trust of others to push you to make it happen.
And this can ONLY occur with the help of others. And never never ever forget that, and that is why we all must do what is needed to have “good” friends around us who can tell us the truth no matter what and slap us upside the head when we do stupid.
All true!
I am not the smartest guy on the block but I can understand where Gen. Satterfield is headed with his articles and I do appreciate them. His message of “Be the best you can be and more” certainly resonates with me and I’m sure with other men.
I think it resonates with us all.
Thank you. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This is a strong message for men. Pay attention, men and boys. Pay very very close attention to this article.
🎁 In 3 days it will be Christmas and a time of giving. Christmas is about CHRIST and it is not a secular holiday that so many now want it to be. Christmas is celebrated by Christians who look to the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion.
Christmas is also about family …👪 and Christ ✝️️
There are very few, if any, institutions or people who will now press you to go beyond what you think you can be. It used to be the US Marines and Army but not anymore. They went WOKE and destroyed an institution that means more than just protecting America but stretching our minds to new heights and expanded our awareness of ourselves and others. Too bad our generals have gone political.
While this entire article is great, there is one sentence that stands out for me. Here it is, “Denigration and shaming of men is a form of pathological resentment and hatred disguised as an ethical striving and a deadly problem the accusers have unleashed.” This says alot about the pathology of the highjacked feminist movement that swept the country in the 1960s. Since that time, hard leftists have taken over the feminist movement and turned it from a pro-woman movement into an anti-man, anti-masculine movement. Very different. And now, very destructive.
Good ideas here Max. Well said. 👍
🏈 … kicked that football between the goals, Max. Well said.
Well said. 🇮🇹
Be More Than You Can Be
https://www.theleadermaker.com/be-more-than-you-can-be/
Be the BEST you can be and then be MORE than your BEST.
— and be an American Patriot like Gen. Satterfield. That will help you be content with yourself and not a whining, pinko, baby diaper wearing, liberal, snowflake college student.
*****, I nearly spit my coffee up thru my nose, American Girl. Hey, love your comments.
You and me both. American Girl, thanks for being you.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You go girl.
👩👩👩👩
Gen. Satterfield wrote, “I did not understand how much people were starving for a word of encouragement. I had no idea the desperate depth of that starvation.” Great observation. Pay close attention, this is where we all can improve ourselves and others by giving that word of encouragement.
POW!
“Men! Be the Best You Can be and More”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/men-be-the-best-you-can-be-and-more/#comment-514029
I’m sending this to all my friends.
Yes, Rusty D. If we could find a better leadership and personality website that was FREE like this one, I’d read it. But no, Gen. Satterfield is da man (ha ha ha haaaaa).
Good to have you on board at Gen. Satterfield’s website for leaders and those who want to improve their lives. Both go hand in hand. Welcome! 😎
Well written & to the point, thanks.
I’m guessing here a bit but I do think this just might be one of Gen. Satterfield’s “55 Rules for a Good Life” or something similar. 👍👍👍👍👍 Keep up the great works you are doing with your website Gen.S. and, in advance, Merry Christmas to you, your wife Nancy, dog Bella, and your entire family. I plan to have a great Christmas without narcissists from my family for the first time and that makes the holiday much much better.
Congrats Fred for having a Christmas without self-centered young people. The problem however, at least for me, is that this means we are not giving them the proper feedback to cut back on their self-centeredness. They need to be told their behavior is bad for themselves and their families too.
Yep, I do believe you are right Fred.
Get the book now.
A good message for men, esp. young men!