5 Best Qualities of a Modern Canadian Man
I am issuing a meme/theme post challenge to all Progressive Bloggers out there. I think it's important that we attempt to discuss: 5 Best Qualities of a Modern Canadian Man
The idea behind this is to reflect on the ideal of the modern (post-post-modern?) Canadian man in relation to the old school, traditional one. Where are we going as a gender? Are we on the right path? What baggage do we need to ditch and what qualities should we be aspiring to?
Is there are an archetypical modern Canadian man you would point to who exemplifies the best of what the gender has to offer the world, country, community and family? Alternatively, do you feel this exercise merely objectifies men as a gender? Should we be talking about the modern Canadian 'person' instead of dividing the sexes?
I would love to see what you diverse blogaholics think about this subject, because I really believe we don't talk about it enough (at all?). Hopefully, we can try to focus on this in a fairly non-partisan way- though I'm sure everyone's ideas will be coloured by their own political, religious, cultural and socio-economic views.
Give it a shot and let me know if you did... I will write my inaugural post tomorrow.
Just to get things rolling, I will pick a few bloggers to tag with the burden.They in turn will tag others and so on... Here's my list:
ChuckerCanuck
KarmaCake
Joanne
Joe Calgary
Romana King
Please help pass the word on!
The idea behind this is to reflect on the ideal of the modern (post-post-modern?) Canadian man in relation to the old school, traditional one. Where are we going as a gender? Are we on the right path? What baggage do we need to ditch and what qualities should we be aspiring to?
Is there are an archetypical modern Canadian man you would point to who exemplifies the best of what the gender has to offer the world, country, community and family? Alternatively, do you feel this exercise merely objectifies men as a gender? Should we be talking about the modern Canadian 'person' instead of dividing the sexes?
I would love to see what you diverse blogaholics think about this subject, because I really believe we don't talk about it enough (at all?). Hopefully, we can try to focus on this in a fairly non-partisan way- though I'm sure everyone's ideas will be coloured by their own political, religious, cultural and socio-economic views.
Give it a shot and let me know if you did... I will write my inaugural post tomorrow.
Just to get things rolling, I will pick a few bloggers to tag with the burden.They in turn will tag others and so on... Here's my list:
ChuckerCanuck
KarmaCake
Joanne
Joe Calgary
Romana King
Please help pass the word on!
Labels: Top Lists
posted by K-Dough at 8:17 PM
30 Comments:
I am of course, the archetype of a perfect Canadian male and I will gladly share with you my insights on what makes me so special.
Polly- oh puleeease, I'm blushing!
But seriously...(drum roll)...
What about us girly males? Don't we get any recognition?
Being a modestly perfect Canadian male, I will just have suffer the indignation of paling next to Chucker... the Archie of Canadian males. Sorry, I meant Architypical Canadian male.
Me bad.
Leather- I'm a hybrid girly male.
And not just in the Dee Snider sense- ie lotsa girly glitz but spectacular musculature.
Seriously though, I think any man worth the title of man these days is a hybrid of the old and new.
The Archie Bunker of Canadian males...
Archetypal MODERN Canadian male, eh? OOOOOOhhh, the possibilities are so few and the jokes a-plentiful.
Unfortunately, someone has already offered my option -- me, the great she-male, am the archetypal Modern Canadian Male -- strong and stern when necessary, compassionate and comforting when needed. I espouse politico-bull-cacca AND partake in erotica-based porn; I am a hockey nut and a beer afficinado -- you would have to be to swill Alberta's generic BEER beer. But alas...I do believe I am too plentiful in this day and age of strong and sassy she-males...soooo...my actual list of potentials is as follows:
1) Eugene Levy.
Come on! You KNOW what they say about Jewish men, right? Big nose…long hairs. And it’s TRUE! Plus, he’s a Canadian icon FROM Hamilton who was able to act in the big leagues (does American Pie count?) while keeping the Canadian ideal of straight-faced comedy. He’s my FIRST choice for Archetypal Canadian Man.
2) Peter Mansbridge.
Any guy with the word MAN actually embedded into their name has GOT to be a good candidate. Plus, the guy made going bald – publically and oh-so-noticeably (according to me ma) – very sexy. My next vote would be for good ol’ woody Pete.
3) Bruce Cockburn.
OK, words in the name references aside, Bruce truly is an archetypal Modern Canadian Man. In fact, he may just pre-date this particular description given his long-standing commitment to human rights, social justice and the environment. So, needless to say the Cock-burn really is in the running for smart, sensitive, creatively-edgy Modern Man.
4) Celine Dion.
I just don’t believe the rumours that this twig-figure actually birthed a child. Really. The woman doesn’t have a breast to feed on…never mind a layer of lard to live on. No…her iconic status is simply because her sack did not drop and she is, in fact, the iconic boy-before-man teen idol.
5) Egerton Ryerson
This one is serious. What other characteristic exemplifies courage, cooperation and inclusivity (all aspects of the Modern Man) than an educational activist. While he may be five on my list, he is fighting of #1 in my heart. Way to go Eggie.
And that’s it. I know toss my gauntlet into the ring. Duke it out she-males and testosterone-freaks. The game is afoot.
KD:
I have posted my top five qualities here...
Okay, mines done and up.
Devin- also very funny...
Ah well, in the end, born a hundred years too late or a hundred years to early... I can't decide which.
Good contest though, one which is perhaps a question needing asking these days more than on others.
Why does every generation insist on using such platonic terms? In a free market economy what is ideally "perfect" is not exemplified by the product but by the purchaser. Since its a gendered discussion women are the purchasers of manhood... thus the question should be posed to women and not men. Men (especially young men) have odd role models who they think are perfect. Different kinds of men also seem to be attracted to the image of self-similarity.
Dear Paul(ine?) Vincent: I'm not sure if you read the entire post but 3 of the 5 bloggers I've tagged with this meme are WOMEN.
And re: your question Why does every generation insist on using such platonic terms?
Um, maybe it's because I spent a lot of time getting drunk in the Greek islands in the early 90s?
Watch out for the punch... it's to die for.
I hope someone tags Smenita on this one!
Oh no, someone's got Socrates in a hemlock!
Obviously, the perfect example of the modern Canadian male is Mike Harris. Another great example is Prime Minister Harper. All people around the world should be working hard everyday to be more like these great men of our time. Their wisdom and courage is a sign of hope for all humanity...
Forever Blue- you are a sick, sick man who is clearly in need of medical intevention.
Because I am trying to become more compassionate, I offer you a great a big hug instead of the slow miserable death by asphyxiation with a wet vintage Trudeau sweatshirt I may have offered you previously.
ah shit, forever blue, you are my muse. thank you!
I used to pick Socrates' hem-lock.
Thats funny, Socrates picked Eurasmus.
Thats just crazy!!
Warrens in.
Hmmm, this requires some thinking. It will be up by tomorrow.
K, how come you didn't post your own list too?
I'm not sure it's much easier for a modern Canadian man than it is for a modern Canadian woman. We have all the responsibilities as our parent's generations, with new responsibilities and pressures. But that wasn't your question..
5 qualities? Integrity, compassion, loyalty, honesty and kindness. Pretty simple, but these are the qualities I love about my husband and male friends. The men that I know and love have the amazing strength and wisdom of my father's generation without the bullshit chauvinist attitude.
My vote for Modern Canadian Man? (Because of course you are ineligible, as it is your blog..) would be..(drumroll)..Rick Mercer. My Canadian man.
Joanne: will post my list tomorrow!
stay tuned..
JC: let's see if he comes up with the goods. Let me know...
Pam- very sweet. I am happy for you that you have such great men in your life. So do I.
I think the gap between men and women socially is ever narrowing- which kind of scares me a bit that we will eventually lose the otherness of gender- the enigmatic things that make us different.
Of course, we will always have the hardwired differences that we will most likely never be able to escape- but they are just so scientific- not really romantic.
K, mine is up at my blog.
mine is up now too.
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