In May of 2000, Erica Goode reported in the New York Times on a study led by Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, which asserted that the female reaction to stress revolves around nurturing and seeking support of others, in contrast to the aggression or escape that typifies male response. The difference between the fight-or-flight response in males and the "tend-and-befriend" response in females is thought to be based in hormonal differences between sexes, which may help explain why stress-related illnesses like hypertension and alcohol and drug abuse tend to hit men harder--and more often--than women.
Now a new report finds "a huge upsurge in testosterone replacement therapy for men despite a paucity of evidence that it is safe or beneficial...." An expert panel assembled by the Institute of Medicine, part of the N a tional Academy of Sciences, urges more studies to determine whether testosterone therapy can counteract frailty, weakness, failing memories or the loss of sexual function.
Jonathan S. Landay reported in yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer, on a "top-secret" C.I.A. report from Iraq, endorsed by Paul Bremer, which warns of growing numbers of Iraqis who think the U.S. can be defeated. They are beginning to side with the insurgents. The tough guys.
And today in her New York Times think-piece, Maureen Dowd writes about the vice presi dent, who commands the tables of power with just his voice, cum attitude: "basso pretendo...[speaking] so sparsely and softly in [a] low hypnotic monotone..." out of "only" one side of his mouth. As though to say "Listen up, Pilgrim," or "Bring 'em on," or "Bombs away." Or any of the many other un-presidential utterances of the last couple of years.
Is it just me, or is there a connection here?
POW Private Jessica Lynch (the real Private Jessica Lynch, God bless her!) has stepped into the glare of the klieg lights, via ABC's PrimeTime, to issue an emphatically believable "NO" to the Ramboid fiction of her last stand in the Iraqui desert--unwilling to serve the testosteroid paranoia of the Pentagon press office, even as she swells with pride to serve her country. This, my friends, is a really tough soldier. And this is real patriotism.
President Theodore Roosevelt made the point this way: "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." [Thanks to blogger Dooley Adcroft troubled times dot net for that timely quote.]
Ciao for nao.
11/14/2003 01:00:24 PM
