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wide dissemination of those diseases which invariably accompany the
wife…lessness of the segregated males who are told off to perform our
military functions。
The external horrors and wastes of warfare we are all familiar with； A。
It arrests industry and all progress。 B。 It destroys the fruits of
industry and progress。 C。 It weakens； hurts and kills the combatants。
D。 It lowers the standard of the non…combatants。 Even the conquering
nation is heavily injured； the conquered sometimes exterminated； or at
least absorbed by the victor。
This masculine selective process； when applied to nations； does not
produce the same result as when applied to single opposing animals。
When little Greece was overcome it did not prove that the victors were
superior； nor promote human interests in any way； it injured them。
The 〃stern arbitrament of war〃 may prove which of two peoples is the
better fighter； but ft does not prove it therefor the fittest to
survive。
Beyond all these more or less obvious evils； comes a further result； not
enough recognized； the psychic effects of military standard of thought
and feeling。
Remember that an androcentric culture has always exempted its own
essential activities from the restraints of ethics；〃All's fair in love
and war！〃 Deceit； trickery； lying； every kind of skulking underhand
effort to get information； ceaseless endeavor to outwit and overcome
〃the enemy〃； besides as cruelty and destruction； are characteristic of
the military process； as well as the much praised virtues of courage；
endurance and loyalty； personal and public。
Also classed as a virtue； and unquestionably such from the military
point of view； is that prime factor in making and keeping an army；
obedience。
See how the effect of this artificial maintenance of early mental
attitudes acts on our later development。 True human progress requires
elements quite other than these。 If successful warfare made one nation
unquestioned master of the earth its social progress would not be
promoted by that event。 The rude hordes of Genghis Khan swarmed over
Asia and into Europe； but remained rude hordes； conquest is not
civilization； nor any part of it。
When the northern tribes…men overwhelmed the Roman culture they
paralysed progress for a thousand years or so； set back the clock by
that much。 So long as all Europe was at war； so long the arts and
sciences sat still； or struggled in hid corners to keep their light
alive。
When warfare itself ceases； the physical； social and psychic results do
not cease。 Our whole culture is still hag…ridden by military ideals。
Peace congresses have begun to meet； peace societies write and talk； but
the monuments to soldiers and sailors （naval sailors of course）； still
go up； and the tin soldier remains a popular toy。 We do not see boxes
of tin carpenters by any chance； tin farmers； weavers； shoemakers； we do
not write our 〃boys books〃 about the real benefactors and servers of
society； the adventurer and destroyer remains the idol of an
Androcentric Culture。
In politics the military ideal； the military processes； are so
predominant as to almost monopolise 〃that part of ethics。〃 The science
of government； the plain wholesome business of managing a community for
its own good； doing its work； advancing its prosperity； improving its
moralsthis is frankly understood and accepted as A Fight from start to
finish。 Marshall your forces and try to get in； this is the political
campaign。 When you are in； fight to stay in； and to keep the other
fellow out。 Fight for your own hand； like an animal； fight for your
master like any hired bravo； fight always for some desired
〃victory〃and 〃to the victors belong the spoils。〃
This is not by any means the true nature of politics。 It is not even a
fair picture of politics to…day； in which man； the human being； is doing
noble work for humanity； but it is the effect of man； the male； on
politics。
Life； to the 〃male mind〃 （we have heard enough of the 〃female mind〃 to
use the analogue！） _is_ a fight； and his ancient military institutions
and processes keep up the delusion。
As a matter of fact life is growth。 Growth comes naturally； by
multiplication of cells； and requires three factors to promote it；
nourishment； use； rest。 Combat is a minor incident of life； belonging
to low levels； and not of a developing influence socially。
The science of politics； in a civilized community； should have by this
time a fine accumulation of simplified knowledge for diffusion in public
schools； a store of practical experience in how to promote social
advancement most rapidly； a progressive economy and ease of
administration； a simplicity in theory and visible benefit in practice；
such as should make every child an eager and serviceable citizen。
What do we find； here in America； in the field of 〃politics？〃
We find first a party system which is the technical arrangement to carry
on a fight。 It is perfectly conceivable that a flourishing democratic
government be carried on _without any parties at all；_ public
functionaries being elected on their merits； and each proposed measure
judged on its merits； though this sounds impossible to the androcentric
mind。
〃There has never been a democracy without factions and parties！〃 is
protested。
There has never been a democracy； so faronly an androcracy。
A group composed of males alone； naturally divides； opposes； fights；
even a male church； under the most rigid rule； has its secret
undercurrents of antagonism。
〃It is the human heart！〃 is again protested。 No； not essentially the
human heart； but the male heart。 This is so well recognized by men in
general； that； to their minds； in this mingled field of politics and
warfare； women have no place。
In 〃civilized warfare〃 they are； it is true； allowed to trail along and
practice their feminine function of nursing； but this is no part of war
proper； it is rather the beginning of the end of war。 Some time it will
strike our 〃funny spot；〃 these strenuous efforts to hurt and destroy；
and these accompanying efforts to heal and save。
But in our politics there is not even provision for a nursing corps；
women are absolutely excluded。
〃They cannot play the game！〃 cries the practical politician。 There is
loud talk of the defilement； the 〃dirty pool〃 and its resultant
darkening of fair reputations； the total unfitness of lovely woman to
take part in 〃the rough and tumble of politics。〃
In other words men have made a human institution into an ultra…masculine
performance； and； quite rightly； feel that women could not take part in
politics _as men do。_ That it is not necessary to fulfill this human
custom in so masculine a way does not occur to them。 Few men can
overlook the limitations of their sex and see the truth； that this
business of taking care of our common affairs is not only equally open
to women and men； but that women are distinctly needed in it。
Anyone will admit that a government wholly in the hands of women would
be helped by the assistance of men； that a gynaecocracy must； of its own
nature； be one sided。 Yet it is hard to win reluctant admission of the
opp