Looks like it’s been slow blogging here for a while. As I mentioned in my previous post (which, I believe, attracted more comments than any prior post on this blog*) busy last week finishing the first draft of my “concept paper” for my dissertation, focusing on how Athena primarily serves men in Greek myth.
Well, today (it’s still Wednesday on the West Coast as post this), I shared that paper with my dissertation formulation seminar where, I am delighted to report, it was well-received. For a while I had debated not continuing on with my program, but, as I realize that my topic is not only an important one, but one which interests people other than myself, I am ever more eager to press ahead. And I’m enjoying the research as well. The more I delve into this topic, the more it fascinates me — as it seems that the Greeks were not the only ones to see a female deity as providing the civilizing influence in patriarchal society. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, quite possibly the oldest extant myth, goddesses set in motion the chain of events which help transform the eponymous hero-king from a tyrant abusing his authority to a more humble–and self-conscious–king.
I intend to explore how certain goddesses in myths serve to civilize men — and how they represent the feminine attributes we males need to become mature adults. The Greek Athena (as her Roman counterpart Minerva) counseled restraint and provided guidance to her male favorites, but, remained herself a virgin. Unlike her sister Aphrodite, she was always depicted fully clothed. Through Athena (and other similar goddesses), I will attempt to understand the power of the non-sexual feminine in men’s lives, something of which, I believe, we gay men are particularly in need. Given the nature of my program, I may well be able to explore this notion in my conclusion.
I hope to be back to regular blogging by the end of the week and have a number of things to say about items in the news, particularly how the MSM seems to be spinning the president’s trip to Europe by focusing not on the growing consensus between the president and our European allies on a number of issues, but on the areas of division. They seem to be using the same template to cover his foreign policy that they have used since former French President Jacques Chirac found common cause with then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in opposing the liberation of Iraq.
Yes, there are differences, but there is more common ground — and with Chirac and Schroeder no longer leading their respective nations, it’s clear that it wasn’t as much the president’s policies which created friction with our allies, but the determination of certain world leaders to oppose him at any cost. (This is not to say he didn’t make my mistakes, but to note that the president’s policies have not caused as much damage to our nation’s image as many in the MSM and in the Democratic Party allege.)
And I hope to do a post looking at both an Australian ruling allowing a gay pub to ban straight patrons and a lesbian’s suit against the dating service eHarmony “for refusing to offer its services to gays, lesbians and bisexuals.” Suffice it to say that I take the side of freedom in both cases. And expect to blog more about this in the coming days.
Finally, I’m not sure what to make of Bruce’s recent post. I would not have posted that picture for a great variety of reasons.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com
*probably due to the absence of new content on this blog for several days.
Out of curiosity, and with all due respect, what does a PhD in Mythology get you these days? In other words, what do you want to be when you grow up?
And Dan, don’t forget how HRC and its willing accomplices in the media are all bent out of shape over the surgeon general nominee.
Calling his view of homosexuality “torture” would make any gay person in Iran seethe with rage. But then again, libtards think that FNC is “torture,” so consider the source.
Regards,
Peter H.