Men on the Edge of Panic: Boomer Esiason, Mike Fancesa and Toxic Masculinity

[radicalliberal]

65. There are different kinds of strength.

In my middle age, I've finally come to terms with the fact that I, as an individual guy, am more physically inclined than I was willing to admit when I was young. I continue to be amazed by the stark contrast between my ongoing health club experience and the daily misery that was the mandatory P.E. of my youth. I'm in my early sixties now, and I'm more muscular today than I ever was in my youth! I feel like I belong at my health club.

The traditional approach to mandatory P.E. simply does not promote physical fitness for nonathletic kids. Different kids have different physical fitness needs. In other words, the "one size fits all" approach fails. Also, I don't see any evidence that the phys ed establishment (with the exception of a few innovators and reformers) has any problem with bullying, especially the bullying of nonathletic kids.

I could go on and on about this issue, but I'll end with a single observation: One form of strength (mental, not muscular) -- namely, moral courage -- IMHO is not appreciated by our society. The father of a childhood friend of mine was a white Southerner who was a WW2 veteran. He became a civil rights attorney after the war. He and members of his family repeatedly received death threats. As far as I know, he didn't participate in any sport when he was in high school. But he was one of the most fearless guys I've ever known. He was tough as nails.