Rant warning: Asatruar about to get on pulpit and call down the wrath of the gods on his own gender.

Last night I was tired from pulling down a 22hr day, and looking forward to my 2hr sleep. I had stripped down and snuggled my naked backside in the comforting covers when I heard the distinctive and piercing screams of a woman in both agony, and imminent fear of her life. As a man, without any thought at all, I donned some shorts and grabbed my vest (OK it had flashlight, phone, and emergency med kit, but I'm a soldier and First Aid Attendant and a certain minimum preparendness comes standard), and ran to the sounds of the screams.

Our complex holds 44 units, with 36-40 men of fighting age and adequate physical power. Everyone heard, many came to the door/window to peak through. Only myself, and a woman (round like a bowling ball and almost a foot shorter than me) actually ran to the woman in trouble. Having chased off the domestic abuser, and with my female cohort on the horn with 9-11 (she was the ONLY one to even call), I proceeded to make sure all kids were OK and got back in the house, and dealt with her injuries and reassured her she would be defended until the police arrived.

The police finally arrived half an hour later (wouldn't approach until they had two units, OK the cops are cowards too), and once the police were on scene the complex suddenly sprouted people. Once I handed her off to the amublance and ran through my second interview (one police, one ambulance), my neighbors suddenly wanted to talk. They sent their women to find out what was going on, the men stayed inside and peaked through the blinds, perhaps ashamed to answer the question of "WHERE THE F#$K WERE YOU WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR WAS SCREAMING FOR HELP".

My father is disabled and can barely walk, yet he has stopped women from being beaten and raped (granted his absolute willingness to kill the offending men does make a bit of a deterrant). I am over forty, with permanant damage from spinal injury, and well past my prime, but by Odin the day will never dawn that I  will allow a woman to be beaten or raped while I still draw breath to object. There are a dozen men who were a)nearer b) younger c)stronger d)knew her better. Not one of them stepped one foot out the door, every single one watched through the blinds.

Thank Freya that women are stepping up to the plate, because I very much fear I may be the last MAN in the this whole complex. Where are all the MEN? When did it stop being a man's duty to protect women and children from any harm, even at the cost of your life? When did "Women and children first" become "Women and children fend for themselves"? What kind of sexless thing can stand by, listening and watching a woman (and a friend) suffering abuse in the street right in front of their window, and do nothing. How can you shave the next day, look into the mirror at a coward who was willing to watch a woman's humiliation, pain and possible death, and not simply cut your own throat?

If I am an anachronistic heathen, then I will go to my gods proud to be so. I will face my ancestors a man, one who they will recognize as such. I don't know what males today think of themselves as, but whatever it is will be hard to explain and justify to their ancestors who were actual men.

I have been called a barbarian, but the truth is quite the opposite. Civilization was built by men willing to use force to defend what they though ought to be true. Modern man seems inclinded to feel civilized behaviour requires you stand back and let barbarians destroy the civilization that birthed you, and the citizens it exists to defend.

Bah.

End of rant.
Weapons free, return fire.