In Minneapolis, two versions of masculinity locked horns on Nicollet Avenue. One was rooted in fear, the other in compassion. The Rapture's 2011 song "It Takes Time to be a Man" resonated with me, its fuzz-drenched guitar and piano riff conjuring images of medieval knights who embodied generosity, courtesy, and honesty. Knights who saw themselves as servants of justice, rather than its arbiters.
But the far-right wing of the American Right has warped this ideal, using it to justify violence and intimidation. Elon Musk calls empathy "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization," while others label it "toxic" or "suicidal." This malevolent ideology is on full display in the actions of figures like Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's Secretary of War, who wears tattoos that scream "I'm a warrior."
Meanwhile, Alex Pretti, a protester who risked his life to shield another man from federal immigration agents, embodied the opposite vision. His courage was rooted in empathy, not aggression. He understood that true strength lies not in imposing one's will on others but in understanding and caring for them.
Pretti's actions were a testament to the power of nonviolence, which is often misconstrued as passivity. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Nonviolent resistance requires immense courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to take risks – particularly when faced with an opponent who wields power.
In his book "Éloge du risque" (In Praise of Risk), French philosopher Anne Dufourmantelle wrote that risking one's life is about recognizing its singular, precious nature. Pretti's act of selfless care was a testament to this idea – he risked everything to protect another human being, rather than seeking to harm or dominate.
The question remains: what kind of man should we strive to be? Should it be the macho, aggressive type that's been peddled by far-right ideologies? Or should it be someone like Pretti, who embodies empathy, compassion, and courage in the face of adversity?
As a society, we need to loudly shift our narrative about what it means to be a man. We need to celebrate men like Alex Pretti, who understand that true strength lies not in dominance but in understanding and caring for others.
In the words of The Rapture's song, "Well take it slow and take my hand." Let us guide young men toward a vision of masculinity rooted in care, compassion, and courage – rather than fear, aggression, and violence.
But the far-right wing of the American Right has warped this ideal, using it to justify violence and intimidation. Elon Musk calls empathy "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization," while others label it "toxic" or "suicidal." This malevolent ideology is on full display in the actions of figures like Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's Secretary of War, who wears tattoos that scream "I'm a warrior."
Meanwhile, Alex Pretti, a protester who risked his life to shield another man from federal immigration agents, embodied the opposite vision. His courage was rooted in empathy, not aggression. He understood that true strength lies not in imposing one's will on others but in understanding and caring for them.
Pretti's actions were a testament to the power of nonviolence, which is often misconstrued as passivity. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Nonviolent resistance requires immense courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to take risks – particularly when faced with an opponent who wields power.
In his book "Éloge du risque" (In Praise of Risk), French philosopher Anne Dufourmantelle wrote that risking one's life is about recognizing its singular, precious nature. Pretti's act of selfless care was a testament to this idea – he risked everything to protect another human being, rather than seeking to harm or dominate.
The question remains: what kind of man should we strive to be? Should it be the macho, aggressive type that's been peddled by far-right ideologies? Or should it be someone like Pretti, who embodies empathy, compassion, and courage in the face of adversity?
As a society, we need to loudly shift our narrative about what it means to be a man. We need to celebrate men like Alex Pretti, who understand that true strength lies not in dominance but in understanding and caring for others.
In the words of The Rapture's song, "Well take it slow and take my hand." Let us guide young men toward a vision of masculinity rooted in care, compassion, and courage – rather than fear, aggression, and violence.
, can u imagine a world where being vulnerable isn't seen as a weakness? its like we need to rewire our brains to see that taking care of others is actually the strongest thing we can do 
, its so easy to get caught up in this toxic masculinity stuff but i think its time we shift gears and celebrate guys like Alex Pretti who are literally changing the game with their nonviolent resistance 
. Like, Pete Hegseth's tattoos just scream "I'm all about bein' tough" 
, but that's not the kinda strength we need in our society. We need guys like Alex Pretti who put themselves out there to protect others 
. It's so refreshing to see someone takin' a stand for empathy and compassion 
. And yeah, let's be real, nonviolence ain't always easy or popular, but it's the only way we're gonna create real change 
. We gotta start valuing courage, selflessness, and kindness over aggression and dominance 
. Let's lift up guys like Pretti and celebrate what it means to be a man in a whole new light 
This is such an important conversation to have - we need to redefine what it means to be a man and promote empathy and kindness over aggression and dominance 
It's refreshing to see people like Alex Pretti who show us that true strength lies in understanding and caring for others 
It's not weak, it's actually super strong to put yourself in someone else's shoes and try to understand where they're coming from. 
. That's what being a real man is all about, imo.
Let's celebrate these guys and work towards creating a world where empathy and compassion are the guiding principles of our lives 
- remember when we used to think being strong meant standing up for what's right, not just flexing your muscles? It's crazy how far we've fallen with these dudes who think it's okay to be all aggressive and macho. Pete Hegseth, man... his tattoos scream "I'm a tough guy" but really he's just a product of a toxic system that says being strong means hurting others. Meanwhile, Alex Pretti's actions are like a breath of fresh air 
- he's showing us what it means to be brave and care about someone else's well-being. We need more guys like him in the world, not these wannabe warriors who think they can just intimidate their way through life.
. can't let the toxic guys like pete hegseth get away w/ their hateful vibes 
. we need more ppl like pretti, spreading love & kindness instead of hate & fear 
. I feel like we need to rewire our narrative around what it means to be a man - all this aggression and fear stuff is so not the answer 
... instead, let's celebrate guys who embody empathy and courage