I have always found it interesting how native and indigenous people are so involved in a community, their daily lives are built through close-knit connections. There has been a drastic change from then until now. When the elder came to speak to us in class, he mentioned that our idea of a man today is someone who can bench press 300 pounds, has a nice truck, nice clothes, and just acts like a hunk. There is a disconnect of emotion. Men today tend to suppress their actual emotions because in our society being emotional as a man is not going to get you anywhere. Who came up with the idea that men aren't allowed to cry? If men weren't supposed to cry then they wouldn't have been given tear ducts just like everyone else. Our whole idea of being a man has become so screwed. I witness this disconnect on a daily basis. For instance, last night, a guy goes up to a girl and says hi and just starts to talk to her, he wasn't even flirting. Then Mr. Man has to go up and say "hey you're talkin' to my girl, back off." Then the next thing you know its a battle of who is the bigger man, punches start flying, people get hurt, police get called, its absolutely ridiculous. It accomplishes nothing. Being a man entails so much more than muscle, it entails humility, compassion, loyalty, affection, determination, honesty and so many more things. If only our society could accept that the way we were made, is the way we should be allowed to live and that only real men cry.