There’s a saying that any man who has never faced challenges should not boast of being a man. This is so true about the nature of humanity. You may think you have your life figured out until it happens to you. You may think you are above insecurity, marginalization, or oppression until you witness a crisis firsthand.
No one ever prays for a crisis, but life is full of uncertainties. That is why we should not mock or laugh at someone’s calamity when they are faced with different struggles or attacks. Rather, we should sympathize and empathize with them, giving them the assurance that we are together in difficult times.
No one can really tell the kind of death that will claim their life. No human being is powerful enough to figure that out or know when they are likely to die. So why do some people feel so superior when they see others who could not help themselves after finding themselves in unpleasant situations? Some people think they are immune to catastrophe until they are plagued by a crisis.
Power is powerful and exercises a lot of influence. There is a saying that if a crisis or plague has been troubling a village and nothing much has been done about it, but the same crisis happens to the king’s child, the whole community will certainly feel the impact. That is the typical situation we find ourselves in in this country.
Just a couple of days ago, there was a kidnapping case involving the wife and twin children of an ex-minister’s brother. It was surprising to see how quickly the police swung into action, apprehended the kidnappers, and rescued the victims unharmed. That is power and influence for you.
There is something I have noticed about this crime that is being perpetrated repeatedly: it is often men who are involved. The number of males being apprehended and jailed for crimes is increasing day by day, and I begin to wonder why this keeps happening.
Society has placed a lot of responsibility on men, making it difficult for them to earn respect if they fail to make the necessary provisions. In the religious context, they are expected to fulfill certain obligations. Within the family, they have responsibilities to their immediate and extended families, not to mention their in-laws and the many other duties they face daily.
Society should try to help men and support them without pointing fingers when they are struggling. We should stop measuring men solely by the amount of money they have or what they can provide.
Men are certainly going through a lot, and the boy child should be supported just as much as the safety and well-being of the girl child are prioritized.
