Breeding soldiers & servants

Some somewhat pertinent words from George Carlin:

"Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're f***ed.

Conservatives don't give a s**t about you until you reach "military age". Then they think you are just fine. Just what they've been looking for. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers."

I don't have much to say about it except that if I had had my father in my life more than I did, I'm almost 100% positive that I would've been a womanizing racist. I'm glad I didn't. I think I'm better off than if it were different. Pretty sure I would've grown up hearing "man up" from him a little too often. Can't stand that phrase because it means that the person is demanding that you not be yourself or of free and individual mind. I'll leave this video here for you to watch since it pertains to the topic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFoBaTkPgco

steamboat28 wrote: But isn't the true path the path of balance between these options? The society limits our ability to be ourselves in so many ways that, ultimately, it is difficult to strike out on one's own without eventually coming to fight the system to be allowed to continue to be what we are.

What are options?

op·tion
1: an act of choosing
2a : the power or right to choose : freedom of choice b : a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time c : a contract conveying a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or property interest at a specified price during a stipulated period; also : the right conveyed by an option
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option

Who is believed to be "giving" these options to choose from? If I am given my options, what is to say I even want to choose one of them? All, everything, external and internal is dependant on perception. Come to terms with what is inside and then look externally... those "options" will have probably changed. Or how they were viewed.

Axiom Eleven wrote: Some somewhat pertinent words from George Carlin:

"Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're f***ed.

Conservatives don't give a s**t about you until you reach "military age". Then they think you are just fine. Just what they've been looking for. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers."

I totally read that with George's voice in my head. Love that one.

I was raised to be strong, and to go after my dreams. There were times that I was pretty much alone because my mother had to work longer days (she was a single parent until I hit high school). The women around me also sought out their own dreams and aspirations. Sometimes, I thought it was a bit of a bad idea for some of the people to pursue their passions, because they were unhealthy ones. But for the most part, my friends have all grown up to be strong.

I can't speak of men, because all of them turned out the same way you would expect a man to be. I don't know if this was their upbringing or if it was some instinct they have. But the women broke out of the servant cycle, unless that is where they wanted to be. My friend Erin works at a nice restaurant because she loves food and helping others, that's just her nature. But she was a warrior in high school, and on multiple fronts she still is.

Me, I took the soldier route. I'm even pursuing the route again now, because being a "servant" doesn't fit my skills and personality. It's not where I belong.

I don't know, I don't see this "breeding" with the collection of friends I have. But that's just my experience.

Alethea Thompson wrote: I was raised to be strong, and to go after my dreams. There were times that I was pretty much alone because my mother had to work longer days (she was a single parent until I hit high school). The women around me also sought out their own dreams and aspirations. Sometimes, I thought it was a bit of a bad idea for some of the people to pursue their passions, because they were unhealthy ones. But for the most part, my friends have all grown up to be strong.

I can't speak of men, because all of them turned out the same way you would expect a man to be. I don't know if this was their upbringing or if it was some instinct they have. But the women broke out of the servant cycle, unless that is where they wanted to be. My friend Erin works at a nice restaurant because she loves food and helping others, that's just her nature. But she was a warrior in high school, and on multiple fronts she still is.

Me, I took the soldier route. I'm even pursuing the route again now, because being a "servant" doesn't fit my skills and personality. It's not where I belong.

I don't know, I don't see this "breeding" with the collection of friends I have. But that's just my experience.

Out of curiosity, how well received were these traits and actions by others. Was there any ridicule, dissuasion, or social isolation due to not adhering to the servant lifestyle expected of women?

Were they by any chance labeled adversely because of their ambitions and pursuits, as opposed to how men may have been labeled in the same situations?

I do not think its the system proactively doing this. Maybe the blend of mimicking parents and absorption of history lead to forming some range of logical role models to fall into ie culture. Once puberty kicks in the biology does tend to support those historical work gender alignments, but in wealthy western nations this should be happening less and less I would have imagined, with it all becoming more free and open (in theory).

Just a quick point...the scouts (boys and girls) are heavily religiously based...and we all know how christianity views women....

Now anything worth having is worth fighting for...if you want to live a certain way, expect to have to fight for it...

Growing up I had stuffed toys(one of which was rainbow bright another being garfield) that I kept until young adulthood (my dog chewed on them and they had to be tossed), I also had toy guns, swords, and played survival games....I never had gender identity issues...I did get bullied....a lot...and abused...a lot...I never felt there was something wrong with me, but with the world....I grew strong willed, defiant, and certain (of who/what I am)...I fought back...a lot...

My sis and brother in law let there kids do whatever they want...my youngest niece was very much a tomboy until she turned 11 then she became more interested in "girly" things....she still ocassionally plays with guns etc...my nephew has always been interested in "boy" things...his favorite games are m.o.h, c.o.d. etc...

When left to their own children generally find their own identity and most often nature leads them to "traditional" gender roles with ocassional quirks...

Well I'll add my 2 pennith then, I have 3 daughters all grown now.. From the beginning of their lives I have been a strict by very giving mother.. When the girls were old enough they went to ballet, tap and modern dance lessons. They also went to karate along with swimming lessons. My eldest join the army cadet force also. When they played with their dolls it was my husband who would play along too, while I did the house work. (It so much easier to do house work) lol. Each of them is very different, my eldest is a diva but I think that more to do with her acting and modelling back ground. She doesn't cook well, is geeky but have a heart of gold and is a good person. My middle daughter can have people eating out of her hand, will take advantage of anyone if it gains what she wants.. An amazing cook, but a shit house keeper, until a row entails. My youngest is a caring and compassionate person, but hell when it comes to men, but makes REALLY bad choices when it comes to men.. In all this, they are very strong willed and will do only what they believe us right and don't LISEN to reason.. They are definately not in the service roll though, I think that's because I probably did serve them. What they wanted they got most of the time...

George Carlin is my favorite comedian ever! I just started listening to that whole set now so thank you!

The person that I looked up to the most and I really consider the only "parent" I learned from and had my values instilled by was my great grandmother. She basically taught me to be a libertarian, be conservative with your money (or smart as she said it) but give to others when you can/they need it. To love everyone rather regardless of their transgressions or way of life. To be happy all the time and love every part of life. She focused mainly on how I should treat others, so I got to figure the rest out of my own. She believed we were all equal and were all capable of doing whatever we wanted regardless of gender. She also encouraged me to show emotion, something I am very appreciative of now that I see how a lot of Americans view it. I am very appreciative that I was taught how to think instead of what to think instead of what to think.