Whilst the tsunami aftermath is being tackled and the nuclear emergency worsens, this is to extend a tiny recognition of the men currently battling to reduce and contain the catastrophe.
Of course, the news reports and analysis will tell you of workers facing lethal radiation risks, and brave technicians, and military assistance, and emergency personnel, but the fact is that these human beings that are being casually reduced to functionary labels – 200 men, I believe and heroes all – are men. If you think that there are any women at the reactor site, you are living in a fantasy land populated by Xena’s and Buffy’s.
These men are risking their lives as I write this and some have already died whilst they work. They continue to take these risks in full knowledge of the damage being caused to their bodies: the invisible killer of radiation poisoning.
As men have done since the dawn of time, they are sacrificing their health and some even their lives, to do what needs to be done. This is the essential nobility of man.
These men go unrecognised as men in our news articles and tv broadcasts, whilst that same media is only too ready to highlight the latest male paedophile or the latest man accused of rape. However, at least here, they get the recognition they deserve.
My heartfelt best wishes go out to these men who will never be thanked and celebrated for their manhood, but only as sexless functionaries, workers and personnel. No one will draw the link between the sex of these workers and what they are doing and the sacrifices they are making. No one will say: “Wow, this is what men are about; this is what men do. We should be thankful that men are like this, if they weren’t, who would we turn to?”
One news report does deign to state the obvious and recognise these men. And another. This marks a radical and very welcome change from even a short while ago in such reporting. It’s unfortunate that these still count as a drop in the ocean as regards typical reporting.
I thank these men and I hope they can salvage this terrible situation and keep it from the brink. Knowing that these brave men are on the scene should give those in the danger zone as much comfort as possible.
Heroic Men
1m 47s
(Clip from Women Focus )
Update
(18 march 2011) – It gets better.
So there’s this whole thing in using gender neutral terms in describing those who save lives regardless of there being little to no women doing the physical task of rescuing survivors. No doubt there are likely women in the hospitals saving lives, so I personally wouldn’t say that there are no women involved in saving lives.
However, I give credit where credit is due, and frankly when it comes to the life risking parts, you hardly see any women risking their lives in these situations to save others. Although rest assured that if there was one, the media would’ve spared no time to give her coverage.
But here’s what I want to know. Exactly what would be wrong for them NOT to use gender neutral terms in describing the rescuers risking their lives. Based off the two articles you gave me that actually gives men credit instead of using gender neutrality, I’ve not seen any comments that are outraged on that.
I would love to see if there would be any reactions from not being so neutral.
@kendal it can be complicated
It’s gender neutral when the vast majorities of those talking risks and dieing are men;
When women are talking some of the risk then gender neutrality disappears -(see spitfire women).
This happened with the asian Tsunami as well, what annoyed me even more is they’ll have a story about how paedophilic men are on the loose yet all the other broadcasts they’d show would be of a team of men recusing people from rubble and they would just call them ‘Rescuers’.
@yurlungur
Yeah, I looked up an article on Spitfire Women. One of them said that if it weren’t for them, WWII would not (or “might not” if you’re picky with words) have been won. I’d have to say that’s giving too much credit to the point that it reeks of bullshit.
Not that they didn’t serve their country and contribute anything to the war, as the most certainly did. But a great deal of the Allies’ victory during the war was mostly contributed to Hitler’s foolish actions with his military during the war such as spliting his forces during the attack on Russia and misjudging Russia’s strength in general.
Then after that, we bombed Japan with two nukes.
Talk about overcrediting a group, but it was just one article unless many more said the same thing.
This is from a typical news article:
“a group of men and women is voluntarily working round-the-clock to resolve the crisis, striving to save the world’s third biggest economy from a nuclear meltdown.”
“The two hundred men and women working lengthy shifts at the plant are exposed to lethal levels of radiation, which puts them at risk of suffering from exhaustion, hunger, temporary radiation sickness and in the long-term, radiation-induced cancers.”
(emphasis mine, written by one “gaby leslie”)
Like mwm I am extremely sceptical that there’s any woman within 20 miles of the reactor at all, but i can’t prove otherwise. Then again, on what basis does Gaby pose her assertions? I bet it’s just wishful thinking.
Exactly how many women have a background in Nuclear Physics and Engineering (or anything involving nuclear energy) over in Japan? Because that is so male-dominated that it is hard to see any woman involved there.
And I’m skeptical on the count that we usually tend to keep women out of places like that so that the radiation doesn’t hinder their ability to produce eggs. I’m sure Japan is no exception to that.
She could’ve atleast given a name of a woman involved if there were any. Although it would still be a wonder how many other women are involved as well.
Thanks for the story and thanks for your site and videos. I will be encouraging my sons to check it out. My hero, my dad, fought against the Japanese soldiers (all men) in Papua in WWII, they were determined and would rather die then retreat or surrender to honor their, emperor, themselves and their country ( however misguided the campaign was). It is in their nature to sacrifice themselves for the common good as it was for many of my dads mates who did not return.
Once again this site offers an excellent view that you will never see in the mainstream media. I take my hat off to this “Angry Harry” guy. I would not have the stamina and resolve to do what he does. Its like shoveling shit against the tides trying to educate the average man about how women exploit men every day. I don’t think there’s a man in this country (the U.S.) who does not have his rights stepped on at least once a month, if not every day.
Wonderful Highlights! Go Japanese Men! Men do most of our farming, investment banking, mining, and take most of the risks that keep our world functioning.
I’m all for celebrating their accomplishments, though I grow tired of whining about why they’re not celebrated enough.
I know hair dresser that say women get together and brag about how much they can get away with a man do have any information on this subject.