Illinois Review contributor John Ruskin (not the dead English guy) joins fellow Illinois Review contributor Bruno Behrend (who posted about it at his own blog, Extreme “Wisdom”) in promoting Mark Steyn, jackass.

Why is Steyn a jackass? He feels a need to turn a 32-person massacre into a debate over whose balls have more brass — instead of a soapbox to promote his partisan conservative agenda, he climbs on their dead bodies (some of whose families have yet to bury their loved ones).

The truly funny thing? They’re all grown men whining about what they think is some sort of a “loss of manhood” in this country. To be honest, they sound just like my pre-schooler when she can’t find her dolly. Seriously. (Though, in all fairness, my girl has yet to quote Shakespeare, let alone esoteric pundit Kathy Shaidle, while searching for Cinderella).

Guys, it’s ok. You don’t need to worry about the rest of us — we are fine. But really, this continuing questioning of others’ manhood … well, it’s starting to look like maybe the problem is with the guy staring back at you in the mirror. Steyn, and his parrots Behrend and Ruskin (among others), seem to want to join the league of those like Petey LaBarbera who is so uncomfortable with his own manliness he had to keep his son home from school lest he get ideas about “the gays”.

If you’re not comfortable with the status of your own manhood, fine. Figure out a way to deal with it on your own. Leave us out of it because, as for all us regular guys over here in the real world, we’re jim-dandy with the level of testosterone flowing in our own red-blooded, flag-waving manly man selves.

You want evidence of America’s manliness (ie, bravery)? Don’t look to the partisan conservatives in the 101st Fighting Keyboardists. Look to these guys and gals instead:

  • Heroes in uniform
  • NY City hero, saved a man’s life by protecting him from oncoming subway train … then dusted himself off and went to work
  • And, of course, the hero professor who sacrificed himself to protect his students and the heroes in Room 207 who at first protected themselves and then blockaded the door to prevent the gunner’s return (including the guy who had already been shot)

And there are plenty more right here in these United States, so quit whining like girly-men.