Excellent poem and any reference to Tolkien always warms the heart for sound Catholic doctrine. But it seems to me that, noble and high minded as the old man of the poem is, there might be too much done for the youth. This is the mind-set of helicopter parents. A friend of mine, with 4 sons panicked when she saw one of them climbing a tree. "He might fall down. He might scrape or scratch himself etc." Finally I was able to make her understand that the boy needed the experience
of doing something slightly "dangerous;" that it was part of his being able to face danger as a man.
This is an important part of a boy's growth, I believe. I notice that there are many men who want their sons to be "real men" now and not the effeminate creatures Leftest Feminists want. A man can and should be kind and gentle, but strength and courage are so important. We need to encourage the very best in boys so that they can be the very best men.
Excellent poem and any reference to Tolkien always warms the heart for sound Catholic doctrine. But it seems to me that, noble and high minded as the old man of the poem is, there might be too much done for the youth. This is the mind-set of helicopter parents. A friend of mine, with 4 sons panicked when she saw one of them climbing a tree. "He might fall down. He might scrape or scratch himself etc." Finally I was able to make her understand that the boy needed the experience
of doing something slightly "dangerous;" that it was part of his being able to face danger as a man.
This is an important part of a boy's growth, I believe. I notice that there are many men who want their sons to be "real men" now and not the effeminate creatures Leftest Feminists want. A man can and should be kind and gentle, but strength and courage are so important. We need to encourage the very best in boys so that they can be the very best men.