What does it mean to "Be A Man?"

I was watching a movie the other day.  It featured two high school teams playing rugby.  I was struck by the difference between the attitudes of the two teams, and how they seemed to parallel the different perceptions of what it means to be a man.  Take a look at the clip for yourself.



As I watched the clip I thought about the difference between machisimo and masculine.  Here are some of the questions that went through my head.

In one scene, Rick from Flagstaff tries to manipulate the game.  His efforts to control were centered in an attempt to get the other team to fight.  He possibly wanted to throw the odds into the favor of his own team by having the huge guy from Highland sit out for part or all of the game.  Was he successful in controlling his opponents?

Did Highland's refusal to be drawn into a fight diminuish their masculinity?  The two players assaulted by Rick responded to his manipulation in creative ways that not only denied his attempts at control, but bolstered their own position.  The one who stuffed grass up his nose illustrated a man's passion to accomplish his objective even under significant personal sacrifice.  In doing so, he was able to control the referee (at least in part), convincing him to not make a call that would make it harder for them to achieve their objective.

Being Gorean is about control.  Control of one's self and one's environment; choosing one's own path and destiny.  In this rugby match, who is in control?  Who is out of control?  Which team had control of the game?  Which team had a better understanding of what type of control is effective, and what control is not?

In this clip, Rick is the captain of the Flagstaff team.  What are his methods of control over his team?  Over the bench?  Over his father, the coach?  Do his methods of control obtain the objective of the team: a win?  Do they obtain any of the objectives he has?

Each team was molded and formed under its coach.  How do the attitudes, perceptions, and choices of these two coaches compare?  Which coach was in control over his team?  Over his life?  Over his family?

In the end, the Highland team one the match because they were stronger, they were the superior team.  Rick, at least, from the Flagstaff team, was all talk and little walk.  The Highland team was not afraid to talk the talk, but they also walked the walk.  Rick had machisimo.  The Highland team was strong, was masculine.  They were becoming men.

That said, Rick wasn't all bad.  At least he was in the fray.  Many men sit on the sidelines.

The movie is Forever Strong.  It has quite a few insights into what strength really is.