Fjallabók is |
Fjallabok would like to thank Will von Dauster for his contribution of this runic font (in runes in origional)
LET IT SLIDE or: Macho is just a misspelled, cheese-covered corn chip by Wilfred von Dauster
The pick-up truck pulls ahead of you as you approach the intersection. Without signaling, the driver pulls in front of you as the light turns yellow. The jerk then slams on his breaks. You manage to stop: barely. Maybe your first reaction, spurred by anger is to raise the one-finger nidhing pole. Better think first (even if the jerk didn't). What will a hostile reaction gain you? OK, maybe you'll feel better, maybe not. You've at least made a nod to the warrior aspect of your religion, eh? Warrior? Traffic wars, of course. Perhaps the other driver will cower at the sight of your salute, humiliated at being told off in no uncertain terms. Right. On the otherhand, what might it loose you, even if you are justified? Maybe the other driver will put the pick-up into reverse and demonstrate its "destructomatic" rear bumper. Or, maybe just pick up a shotgun and customize your windshield, paint job, and face. Congratulations. You just died of macho. So what is the point of this story? It sounds so simple, but there are not many things in life worth dying for. A rude driver is not one of them. Judging by the number of scenarios such as the one described above acted out on the roads of the United States these days, this point seems missed by a great number of people. The point of this humble essay is not that traffic is a drag, but rather to think about fighting before engaging in it. Fights do not just happen, they typically escalate from cooperation, through conflict, confrontation, to combat (see "Forcing It," Mountain Thunder # 9). At any point in the process, either party can usually decide not to escalate the conflict to the next, more dangerous level. In other words, to let the transgression slide, to decide the conflict is just not worth the risks. The fact is, given the numerous conflicts that arise in our overcrowded world these days, it usually is not. Where does this hostility we see around us all the time come from? It is not this author's place to engage in a deep psychological analysis of the root causes of violence in the United States, but maybe one or two of these causes stand out more than some others, and bear a closer look. These are causes that followers of the Northern Path, and other so-called warrior- oriented traditions, seem particularly susceptible to. It is common in the United States to equate macho with manhood, with self- reliance, and standing up for one's honor. It is in fact none of these things. To understand the difference consider that macho is a Latin term, one born of the southern European culture that first embraced Christianity, then proceeded by often dishonorable means to impose it on the rest of the continent. Perhaps the easiest way to describe the macho ethic is as an exaggerated sensitivity to offense, real or imagined. The person who thinks of him, or herself as macho looks for insults, slights, and potential loss of face in even the most trivial of actions, and most impotantly, under circumstances where it makes no difference at all. The ensuing macho reaction is, then, as often as not indistinguishable from raw aggression. Especially considering that in many cases the "offending" party is not attuned to the same level of hypersensitivity as the macho person. As hinted, this concept is foreign to the Northern European traditions and cultures, which value self-control and reasoned responses over the "hot head." Saving face is an oriental concept, and although it may have application in simple manners---deliberately avoiding observations that would cause another embarrassment---it is hardly the same thing as what we in Asatru call honor. Indeed, embarrassment is seldom worth dying for. Does this mean we should back down when something of substance, ourselves, our kin and kindreds, are credibly and intentionally threatened? Of course not. But it is important to temper our reactions to a level appropriate to the actual threat. An evil look or simple words are seldom worth "drawing the blade." Given the rather high levels of homophobia, or anti-homosexual sentiment in the United States, one might speculate that the root cause of much of the macho behavior we encounter is repressed homosexuality. We seem to be terrified to be thought of as "unmanly," wimpy, a "girly man." How absurd. For one thing, a few years back the US Army's Soldier of the Year, the soldier the army recognized as its very best, came "out of the closet" after something like twelve years in the service. The point is, the wimpy stereotype is bogus. This author has known a few gays who are, when necessary, formidable fighters. What should we strive for as a warrior attitude, if that is what we choose? Quiet confidence is Germanic: Bragadoccio Latin. As in so many areas, those who talk the most about it, whatever it is, do it the least. The competent fighter, whatever the weapons, has no need to advertise the fact. Having dismissed saving face as an oriental concept, let's take something positive from the Chinese worldview. They have a proverb that says a fool works with his hands, the wise man with his mouth. The same can often be said for fighting. In times of massive, usually violent change or upheaval, such as Europe's Migration Age or the Viking Age, people are remembered for how well they fought. In times of relative peace, they are remembered primarily for what they accomplished. We live in a time, in the United States anyway, of relative peace. Do not think the only way to be remembered is by physical combat. Finally, it is better to be remembered for your deeds, not your words about yourself. "Show me don't tell me," says Neil Piert of the Canadian rock group Rush. Do it. Confidence comes from competence. Inappropriate bragging stems from insecurity. There is a significant difference between not backing down when the situation demands it, and "looking for trouble." The key is judgment. What is worth dying for? Not much in our day to day lives, really. If one is of a confrontational nature, at least be certain that the fight is worth the risk, the reward for winning worthy of your efforts, and the methods chosen the best for your purposes. Then, as Davy Crockett is supposed to have said: "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." The Gods are sure to take note of those who fight for good cause, and in the case of our Gods, as surely laught at the fool who squanders the gift of life and strength in meaningless squabbles.
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