our androcentric culture-第25章
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holding them enslaved and selling them for profit？ （These things are
only 〃misdemeanors〃 in a man…made world！）
And what about a crime like this； to use the public press to lie to the
public for private ends？ No name yet for this crime； much less a
penalty。
And this： To bring worse than leprosy to an innocent clean wife who
loves and trusts you？
Or this： To knowingly plant poison in an unborn child？
No names； for these； no 〃penalties〃； no conceivable penalty that could
touch them。
The whole punishment system falls to the ground before the huge mass of
evil that confronts us。 If we saw a procession of air ships flying over
a city and dropping bombs； should we rush madly off after each one
crying； 〃Catch him！ Punish him！〃 or should we try to stop the
procession？
The time is coming when the very word 〃crime〃 will be disused； except in
poems and orations； and 〃punishment；〃 the word and deed； be obliterated。
We are beginning to learn a little of the nature of humanity its
goodness； its beauty； its lovingness； and to see that even its stupidity
is only due to our foolish old methods of education。
It is not new power； new light； new hope that we need； but _to
understand what ails us。_
We know enough now； we care enough now； we are strong enough now； to
make the whole world a thousand fold better in a generation； but we are
shackled； chained； blinded； by old false notions。 The ideas of the
past； the sentiments of the past； the attitude and prejudices of the
past； are in our way； and among them none more universally mischievous
than this great body of ideas and sentiments； prejudices and habits；
which make up the offensive network of the androcentric culture。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
XII。
POLITICS AND WARFARE。
I go to my old dictionary； and find； 〃Politics； I。 The science of
government； that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and
government of a nation or state； the preservation of its safety； peace
and prosperity； the defence of its existence and rights against foreign
control or conquest； the augmentation of its strength and resources； and
the protection of its citizens in their rights； with the preservation
and improvement of their morals。 2。 The management of political
parties； the advancement of candidates to office； in a bad sense； artful
or dishonest management to secure the success of political measures or
party schemes； political trickery。〃
From present day experience we might add； 3。 Politics； practical； The
art of organizing and handling men in large numbers； manipulating votes；
and； in especial； appropriating public wealth。
We can easily see that the 〃science of government〃 may be divided into
〃pure〃 and 〃applied〃 like other sciences； but that it is 〃a part of
ethics〃 will be news to many minds。
Yet why not？ Ethics is the science of conduct； and politics is merely
one field of conduct； a very common one。 Its connection with Warfare in
this chapter is perfectly legitimate in view of the history of politics
on the one hand； and the imperative modern issues which are to…day
opposed to this established combination。
There are many to…day who hold that politics need not be at all
connected with warfare； and others who hold that politics is warfare
front start to finish。
In order to dissociate the two ideas completely let us give a paraphrase
of the above definition； applying it to domestic management；that part
of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a
family； the preservation of its safety； peace and prosperity； the
defense of its existence and rights against any strangers' interference
or control； the augmentation of its strength and resources； and the
protection of its members in their rights； with the preservation and
improvement of their morals。
All this is simple enough； and in no way masculine； neither is it
feminine； save in this； that the tendency to care for； defend and manage
a group； is in its origin maternal。
In every human sense； however； politics has left its maternal base far
in the background； and as a field of study and of action is as well
adapted to men as to women。 There is no reason whatever why men should
not develop great ability in this department of ethics； and gradually
learn how to preserve the safety； peace and prosperity of their nation；
together with those other services as to resources； protection of
citizens； and improvement of morals。
Men； as human beings； are capable of the noblest devotion and efficiency
in these matters； and have often shown them； but their devotion and
efficiency have been marred in this； as in so many other fields； by the
constant obtrusion of an ultra…masculine tendency。
In warfare； _per se_； we find maleness in its absurdest extremes。 Here
is to be studied the whole gamut of basic masculinity； from the initial
instinct of combat； through every form of glorious ostentation； with the
loudest possible accompaniment of noise。
Primitive warfare had for its climax the possession of the primitive
prize； the female。 Without dogmatising on so remote a period； it may be
suggested as a fair hypothesis that this was the very origin of our
organized raids。 We certainly find war before there was property in
land； or any other property to tempt aggressors。 Women； however； there
were always； and when a specially androcentric tribe had reduced its
supply of women by cruel treatment； or they were not born in sufficient
numbers； owing to hard conditions； men must needs go farther afield
after other women。 Then； since the men of the other tribes naturally
objected to losing their main labor supply and comfort； there was war。
Thus based on the sex impulse； it gave full range to the combative
instinct； and further to that thirst for vocal exultation so exquisitely
male。 The proud bellowings of the conquering stag； as he trampled on
his prostrate rival； found higher expression in the 〃triumphs〃 of old
days； when the conquering warrior returned to his home； with victims
chained to his chariot wheels； and braying trumpets。
When property became an appreciable factor in life； warfare took on a
new significance。 What was at first mere destruction； in the effort to
defend or obtain some hunting ground or pasture； and； always； to secure
the female； now coalesced with the acquisitive instinct； and the long
black ages of predatory warfare closed in upon the world。
Where the earliest form exterminated； the later enslaved； and took
tribute； and for century upon century the 〃gentleman adventurer；〃 i。e。；
the primitive male； greatly preferred to acquire wealth by the simple
old process of taking it； to any form of productive industry。
We have been much misled as to warfare by our androcentric literature。
With a history which recorded nothing else； a literature which praised
and an art which exalted it； a religion which called its central power
〃the God of Battles〃never the God of Workshops； mind you！with a
whole complex social structure man…prejudiced from center to
circumference； and giving highest praise and honor to the Soldier； it is
still hard for its to see what warfare really is in human life。
Someday we shall have new histories written； histories of world
progress； showing the slow uprising； the development； the interservice
of the nations； showing the faint beautiful dawn of the larger spirit of
world…consciousness； and all its benefitting growth。
We shall see people softening； learning； rising； see life lengthen with
the possession of herds； and widen in rich prosperity with agriculture。
Then industry； blossoming； fruiting； spreading wide； art； giving light
and joy； the intellect developing with companionship and human
intercourse； the whole spreading tree of social progress； the trunk of
which is specialized industry； and the branches of which comprise every
least and greatest line of human activity and enjoyment。 This growing
tree； springing up wherever conditions of peace and prosperity gave it a
chance； we shall see continually hewed down to the very root by war。
To the later historian will appear throughout the ages； like some
H
