Pink or Blue, You Must Choose

  Whether we'd care to acknowledge it or not we live in a world that places much emphasis on one's gender. In a country which has overcome the strife of imperialism and tyranny under the iron fist of the British empire we've done an exemplary job of being an empire unto ourselves. One can only be male or female, man or woman, there is no third option. And once you have selected from the inventory of black and white western philosophies you must adhere to the creed, be true to the cause or face ostracization in the eyes of your fellows. Women must be womanly and men must be manly. 

  In order to be a registered voter a male must also register for selective services, a trumped up government euphemism for the draft. You see because you're male that means you are already more than capable of taking someone's life with reckless abandon, yes? Even if one intends to file for financial aid to further their education yet again they face the brick wall of mandatory military service should the government choose to pluck you from your life and force you to die for the nation. 

  Women still bear the cross of their "social duties" as wives and mothers. Many a time have I witnessed women being scolded and scorned for their lack of interest in starting families. Girly girl reinforcement is brought to the our living rooms with such programs as "Dance Moms" and "Toddlers in Tiaras". The battle cry being, we must raise our girls to be soft and easily manipulated barbie dolls for the whole world to gawk at in despicable reverie. 

  I sometimes find myself the victim of such stereotypes attributed to my biological gender. I'm male so therefore I must enjoy sports, beer, trucks and pornography. And I say, NO. I shall say this for the last time to anyone who has had any bright ideas about what I like based upon the fact that I can grow hair on my face. I do not enjoy any of these things. I enjoy classical music, renaissance art, science, history and I prefer wine over any libation. If this makes me less than a man, so be it. The image of the American male is so apish and blase I'd rather be nothing. There are times when I feel ashamed and embarrassed to be associated with the gender that commits two thirds of all violent crimes and has a history of being rash, overbearing, nonsensical neandertals. 

  The image of the ever hungry, eternally horny male and weak, easily manipulated female has emblazoned itself into the American psyche in film, music and television. The media is more than eager to wage their secret war of social fascism to put everyone in their proper place. Shave with Gillette because that's what real men do while they play Madden football! Real women stay in on Saturday nights and watch Sex and the City with their catty friends no doubt! Real men drink Budweiser and drive Dodge Rams! Conform one and all, conform to your assigned role and keep your mouth shut! They tell us all what to eat, wear, watch on television and go see in the theatres. We have become a nation of autonomous robots trained to bark on command, whatever Tyra says must be true. Fit into our mold or risk exile! 

  What do we have now because of all this? A declining educational system, teenagers are more depressed and unpredictable than ever and everyone in the country is lulled into complacency with prescription drugs. It seems everyone is in a stupor as the proverbial ocean liner that is the United States heads into treacherous waters. We claim to be a nation of free thinkers and doers but are we really? The conservatives wage war on a woman's reproductive rights as if they're property to be bought and sold. This offends me deeply as a human being, it cuts into the very fabric of my soul. I seem to remember slavery being abolished by a noble man some one hundred forty years before whom we all need now; desperately. Are there any more noble people to follow? Any righteous yet down to earth saints among many sinners? 

  So we are here today, lazing down the river of the twenty-first century. Content to take in our last gulp of air before the white water rapids of the world pull us under. Men are blue, women are pink, get used to it! Just as two hundred years ago people in this nation were convinced that one person is worth more than another based upon the color of their skin or the nation from which they immigrated. Am I falling into the mold as the manly man? No. In the eyes of the nation, I am now and will always be nothing.