THE PERFECT MAN

JUST AS THERE IS NO PERFECT WOMAN, THERE IS NO PERFECT MAN, BUT MEN FOR ME HAVE GENERALLY COME CLOSER TO A PLATONIC IDEAL, WHICH EMBODIES A PERSONA THAT CAN "GROAN AND GROW." ONE TACTIC TO CLARIFY THIS CHOICE IS TO CONTRAST TWO TYPES OF MEN. THE FIRST IS THE SURVIVOR. TODAY, JANUARY 28TH MARKS THE DAY IN 1945 THAT ELIE WIESEL'S FATHER DIED IN A GERMAN DEATH CAMP NEAR THE END OF WORLD WAR II. FATHER, UNTIL HIS END, INSPIRED HIS SON TO FIGHT TO LIVE. ELIE LOST AND REGAINED HIS SOUL IN THE NIGHT OF CONCENTRATED HELL, BUT HE SURVIVED TO LEAD A PRODUCTIVE LIFE AS A WRITER AND HOLOCAUST AWARENESS ADVOCATE, EVEN EARNING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. HIS WAR EXPERIENCES MIMIC IN THEIR HORRIFIC ORDEALS THOSE OF AMERICAN POW'S ON JAPANESE DEATH MARCHES AND JAPANESE DEATH SHIPS. MOST OF THESE SOLDIERS WHO RETURNED HOME ALIVE ALSO RE-ESTABLISHED MEANINGFUL LIVES.

IN CONTRAST, IS THE ECO-TOURIST. THIS MAN PAYS $200 A NIGHT PER PERSON (IMAGINE THE COST TO A FAMILY) TO EXPERIENCE NATURE FROM A COTTAGE ON STILTS (TO PROTECT THE FOREST FLOOR) ON A TROPICAL ISLAND. HE HAS FLOWN 2700 MILES FROM HOME ON A PLANE THAT USED UP 65 GALLONS OF JET FUEL ( CERTAINLY ECOLOGY FRIENDLY ) PER AIRLINE PASSENGER. HE DABBLES INTO THE IDYLLIC ON DOMINICA, AN ISLAND IRONICALLY TRANSLATED AS THE LORD'S LAND FROM THE LATIN WOULD GOD BE PROUD?

THE LATTER TRAVELER, MAKES ME GROAN. THE FORMER SHOWS ME HOW REAL MEN GROAN AND GROW UPWARDS. THE CHOICE IS NO CHOICE AT ALL. AMERICA SHOULD KEEP MOTHERHOOD ON ITS PEDESTAL, BUT IT . SHOULD ALSO KEEP REAL MEN AT THEIR EQUALLY IMPORTANT PLACE AT THE TOP. NO NATION CAN EXCEL IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT STRONG, COURAGEOUS, UN-GIRLY MEN.