Copper Chronicles

Yesterday I discovered how wonderfully and significantly men are different from me. Today, I persist in discovering a great and wonderful truth that leads me to believe there is a God. You mean, I don’t have to shovel snow off the roof of my house and pretend to happy about it?? Yes, that is exactly what I mean.

I am a committed to being a useful person. Call me champion of feminine utility, a Feminalist. Feminalism means recognizing how I am different than men. Then, appreciating and employing my gifts strategically.

Let’s start with two observations about men. Men seem to like women. In war stories they write home- telling their loved ones, mothers, wives, how they are doing. Letters to sweethearts are secret correspondences as vital as maps or enemy intel.

John Adams writing during the Revolutionary War show how fervently he valued Abigail’s observations and insights. One era may have been collapsing and a new one emerging as in our time. But, Abigail was his steady friend and ally- always by his side whether physically present or in his heart and mind.

Observation two: men traditionally work in stressful, challenging, or dangerous circumstances. Like wars, driving trucks on the New York Expressway and living to tell it, or washing windows on skyscrapers, are a few examples. Some do it gladly without complaining. But, they need to know what they do matters. Anyone who has labored and labored and labored with little to no thanks or appreciation knows the value of gratitude. It gives life.

So, both observations about men point to one phenomenon with two parts. Plus, my insights appear true of people generally, not male ones only. People like to be valued as human beings first- which engenders belonging. Then, people like to be appreciated for what they do. Our worth cannot be defined only by what we do for others, as if only useful tools. Otherwise, what happens when we break? Harbor Freight can’t replace those!

So, I meant to discover how men and women are different. But, then I realized aside from biological diversity, we are all human beings first. Gender is like hair color, nose sizes, or personality characteristics. These things cannot dictate or determine who we are inherently, or our worth. They can only give indicators of what we are like inside- our true nature.

I don’t have to do physically hard work like I used to. If I was a player on the reality series, “Survival,” I’d be voted off first for having few, biologically advantageous traits for surviving in harsh environments. Evolutionary speaking, I am a outdated tool.

Fortunately, evolution doesn’t dictate my value. Or, speak for me. I know that because of two things discovered earlier that human beings inherently require: We need to be valued for ourselves. And we require appreciation for what we contribute. We thrive in environments that communicate reciprocity.

We are not just cogs in a machine that discards us when we are no longer useful to its agenda. That cannot be the ultimate reality. That is cruel, we all sort must know it. Right?

If evolution was the determining force of our value, and serving humanity like “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein is our ultimate end, it’s not worth serving. Is it?

Evolution cannot solve the single and foremost need of human beings- to know we possess inherent worth and dignity. Neither can it resolve human’s need of knowing our contribution matters. If anything, this shadowy idea of our origins dictates the opposite: You have no inherent value. And what you do is not necessarily appreciated. So, no reciprocity.

Evolution then, is like a machine that devours people or spits them out when they no longer serve its purposes. It says: “This one is too bony, too old. This one makes too much noise, complicating matters, she’s gotta go! These men are too stubborn and willful. Don’t need those either!”

I believe its best to view ourselves as human beings first. Then, see our characteristics as individuals second. Personal traits are happy complements to our nature. But, they certainly don’t define us. Evolution says we have no inherent worth, doesn’t mean we have to believe it.

I can be useful. In fact, now that I recognize my own innate gifts and skills as unique and valuable I no longer subject myself to modern prejudices that utility equals value. I may be the most productive person ever just being myself- not a gender, not an employee, not a spouse, etc. Nobody particular!

Perhaps Thomas Jefferson didn’t mention freedom in these terms because liberty to a biological male person then meant freedom from rigid, oppressive social structures, plus cultural and religious biases. But, any form of social organization, worldview or philosophy, employer, or relationship can be oppressive.

Perhaps our world is changing rapidly so that the truer kind of freedom we may experience is emerging? The evolutionists may believe that is true, attributing change to an impersonal force.

Perhaps Jefferson didn’t include nuances of liberty in His Declaration of Independence because men tend to think in broad terms. Big heads, big backs, big ideas! Maybe it took a woman to tell Jefferson that freedom as you’ve defined it requires more nuance. Its need to be a bit more relatable to future readers.

Thanks to men for their big ideas. And thanks to women for making them even better! How nice! Reciprocity.

Good thing I didn’t accept Evolution’s version of my worth a few paragraphs back. Neither nurture nor nature can saves me from its cold, impersonal fate. Knowing that I matter- and that every part of my being may contribute to some greater good I cannot yet see- proves that human beings possess inherent worth and purpose.

Men may have sturdy skeletal structures, and impressive muscle mass. But, I have dignity and I have agency. We all do. That is how we are equal.

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