Comments on: Manvotional #3: Adversity Molds the Great Man

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:33:01 +0000

This is a great essay and its very true. In comparison to say the greatest generation, so far in my life I have not encountered much adversity, for which in part I feel blessed but I also yearn for some harder times to test my mettle and come out a better man, like the essay is saying. In the ’40s, someone my age would be halfway around the world fighting for their lives. Today, I’m in college focusing on what are ultimately mundane and unimportant matters like girls and watching my friends play stupid drinking games, and when a break comes, I head back home to my cozy house in the suburbs. Society today certainly has a coddling effect on people, especially those my age and in similar situations. But I feel like I’m in a bubble, and that there are so many more important things in life worth going after that will force me to leave that bubble and accept hardship in order to achieve. Anyways, I just wanted to say this essay really struck a chord with me.

By: anon

anon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:05:36 +0000

“A life without adversity makes a man weak, dull, and effeminate.” I didn’t know that there was such a thing as a life without adversity. Everybody has problems. This blog seems like it was written in the 19th century.

By: anon

anon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:01:02 +0000

Alex,

I have the same concerns that you have about our educational system. We have all these Harvard guys working in investment banks and look where they got us.

By: anon

anon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:57:27 +0000

Touche. I’m not stuck on anything. You asked me where you mentioned war and I told you. That’s it. I didn’t argue against the fact that having fought in a war is one factor that may lead to a heightened ability to deal with adversity.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:47:21 +0000

Great article. I really enjoyed the debate ethics and the On Providence part, which it’s topic could easily make its own blog.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:19:45 +0000

I can’t understand Anon’s point……does he really believe that men who fought through wars haven’t faced greater adversity and aren’t manlier than those who haven’t? I’m a good man, but my fortitude and strength and manliness is no match for my grandfather’s. He spent his 20’s on a battleship, I spent my 20’s playing beer pong. I don’t think they call it the greatest generation for nothing.

I’m always amazed at some of the comments on this blog. There’s always some people that really get a post, and then a few who are totally off-base. People like anon read everything through a pre-conceived prism of belief instead of actually being able to analyze and parse the text intelligently. When I read this post, I didn’t at all think that Brett was arguing that men need to go to war. It’s just an argument for the benefits of adversity, which can take a million forms other than war. I really worry about the educational system some men today are schooled by.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:42:50 +0000

@anon- You’re really stuck on to this war thing aren’t you? Sure, being at war can help men learn to face adversity. How can you argue against that? You’re facing life and death situations and you have to confront them. But war is not the only way. I didn’t mean to suggest that in the post and I clarified my point in my comments.

P.S. Can you at least own up to your comments and not comment anonymously?

By: anon

anon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:33:07 +0000

Your words “My generation has grown up in a time of unprecedented peace and affluence” combined with the poster of the soldier with several WWII battles listed, and followed by the words “Consequently, we’ve become wussified man-children,” suggest that your bias is that being at war is a circumstance that makes men predisposed to being able to face adversity.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:19:55 +0000

@Mine-

Strenuous life=enlisting in the Marines??? Can’t say I’ve ever heard that before.

By: Mine

Mine — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:08:12 +0000

So since you’re all about the strenuous life and conflict, you’re going to enlist in the Marines and head out to Iraq I take it?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:00:54 +0000

This post rings with truth. I am much more the man after having experienced financial failure, a dark depression, the death of loved ones, and a long struggle to succeed in my profession.

The cup of victory I drink today is so much the sweeter for having been withheld so long and at such a high price. We are all so, so much more than we think we are but we can only know our greatness through trial and pain.

By: Brett

Brett — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:46:03 +0000

“So your position is that, because the past generation was reared in a climate of relative peace, that many men are, by default, â€œwussified man-children.â€ So then war, in your opinion, is the only environmental circumstance that automatically leads to manliness.”

@anon-

That’s a mighty big leap in rhetoric there. Where do I mention war? If a man is raised in a time of peace, he shouldn’t go around trying to stir up war in order to create adversity. I’m simply saying that you are raised in a life of ease you should seek out difficult experiences that will refine your character. Join the Peace Corps, become a missionary, do community work, train for a marathon, teach, and on and on. And when adversity comes to you when you haven’t chosen it, you shouldn’t run away.

Ghandi didn’t use violence but he certainly faced great adversity and he embraced it, as all men should.

By: anon

anon — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:24:17 +0000

So your position is that, because the past generation was reared in a climate of relative peace, that many men are, by default, “wussified man-children.” So then war, in your opinion, is the only environmental circumstance that automatically leads to manliness. Otherwise, we need remedial mechanisms, such as the ones prescribed by TR.

Then what are we to make of men who fight for peace? Would you consider Mohandas Gandhi to be a “wussified man child?” Were the effects of his non-violent resistance, which ultimately led to the liberation of India, something that you would say is “unmanly?”

You know, we have spent the last eight years dealing with a lot of sabre rattling. A lot of macho crap that has isolated us from the rest of the world. Can we evolve into the 21st century, please? We’re already almost ten years in.

By: Daryl

Daryl — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:08:49 +0000

The manvotional series is true and honest inspiration. Thank you for the weekly reminder that we are not yet what we are created to be. Please keep up the good works.

By: tj

tj — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:47:22 +0000

perfect article at the perfect time. i am going through some tough family issues right now and i am taking the approach mentioned in this article. my mom worries that the family problems are taking a toll on me. but in fact, im actually looking at it as a growth opportunity, which really helps me deal. wow…too much info! anyways, great article, great approach to life.