Men don’t cry?!

    Klaus

November 30, 2007 by Klaus  
Filed under Klaus

When have you seen latest a man cry? A boy, a teenager, an adult? Do Filipinos cry? When?

Since I was a small boy my parents and even friends and neighbours liked to hammer into my mind and heart the slogan “Boys (Men) don’t cry!” Many incidents happened in my life as young boy, but also later and up to now after reaching the second half of my life. Incidents with oppressed and held back tears and emotions because of only one reason: “Men don’t cry!”

I made a complete fool, when I tried to satisfy my unquotable thirst and insatiable hunger as a young boy by penetrating the closed kitchen of our neighbour. A terrible good hiding followed together with the comment, “Don’t cry or you’ll never become a real man.” Bursting into tears I didn’t understand, why a boy should bear the pain of trashing but knowing during the same time that he might never become a real man. What an untenable mug’s game!

I never became a whipping boy or fan of brawl and fight because I always tried to find ways not to cry.

“You’ll never become a real man, because a real man knows how to fight!” Here we are… .Longing did I watch the girls in our neighbourhood, who had been allowed to cry because of any non-important thing or trifling matter.

My thirst of knowledge let me start travelling around the world, when I became 18. I learned that this silly custom (Men don’t cry) seemed to exist more or less worldwide. After my stay in Japan in 1976, the father of one of my “home stay families” in Kyoto couldn’t hold his tears anymore, when it was time to say Goodbye (Sayonara). Of course, why shouldn’t he cry? Sure, I learned before Japanese men don’t cry.

In South Africa in 1980 I became a sudden witness of a burial, because an original inhabitant family lost a child because of starving to death. Both parents, in other words, also the father cried. Sure, why not…

Step by step I experienced myself many examples and incidents where I didn’t care anymore fortunately about my tears and emotions. A special place with a good or even a bad remembrance can make me cry. Salt dissolves in water like emotions in tears: an unjustified treatment, arrogance and ignorance from people around me, a heartfelt condolence, a very special song, a very touching situation or speech, being choked with emotions - but ALSO crying because of being happy or a never expected gratitude… Are all these privileges only allowed for females? Are males only robots with stones? Objection my dear fellow creatures.

Let me cry today, even the reason is just because I help cutting onions and garlic in the kitchen for lunch :roll:  :lol: …!

About the Author:  Klaus is from Germany, but has been living in the Philippines since the late 1990’s. Klaus is a journalist by trade, having written for a number of newspapers, studied also Publishing House Management and Marketing and has also been a Radio Host here in the Philippines.