Everyone is talking about New Year’s resolutions with us being less than a week away from the solace of a new year that isn’t 2016, and while I could easily sit here and talk about my own take on this resolution joy or nonsense or however you may consider it, I’m not. Instead, I’m going to talk about just one example of the unsung heroes that, although it seems far and few at times, do exist in our male counterparts. Have any of you heard of the four skateboarders who stood up for what they thought was right recently and rescued a fifteen-year-old girl by stopping a sexual assault in progress? Whether you have or haven’t heard of these four superheroes, they followed their suspicions. They sprung to action when they followed the man carrying a drunk teenage girl across a parking garage, casually saying he was going to call her parents. They didn’t stand by and do nothing when they heard her screams and witnessed the crime coming to life. They didn’t let the predator get away as three of them chased after and subdued him, the fourth staying with a young girl whom he knew needed comfort after the harrowing experience.
Why am I telling you this? Why do four random skateboarders stick out to me so much as a young female in 2016? Other than the fact that they really did do something not many people would have done, I am telling you about them so that going into this new year that everyone is singing praises about already, you know that not all men are Brock Turners or the like. Not all men believe that women should be objectified and used however they please. Not all men are crybabies that have the law on their side when they hurt an innocent woman. Not all men are just looking for a hookup, whether she wants to or not. Not all men believe in minding their own business when another of their ‘brothers’ is doing something they shouldn’t be. Not all men strive to get a woman drunk just to score that night. Please believe in the goodness that is still in the world.
Not all men are looking for meaningless, casual sex to satisfy their needs. Not all men want to lure you into a false sense of security and happiness, all the while having a dozen other hookups behind your back. Not all men look for week-long relationships and nothing further. Not all men stand by and keep quiet. Not all men have the mindset of a 1920s relationship where a woman should cater to all of his needs and he needn’t do a thing in return. Believe in this.
Why is this important? Women constantly glance over their shoulders, ignore true and honest compliments from men, and walk a little faster once dusk hits, all because of the stigma and rarity of good men in this world today. Can you really blame us at this point if we nearly always jump to the conclusion of some underlying purpose?
Why, after telling you how rare good men seem, am I telling you to believe in that goodness? Take not of the word ‘seem.’ They are more prominent than we realize, and we just have to keep our eyes and hearts open, letting down our guards slowly to those truly care enough to take the time to get past the walls. We have to believe that a second man appearing behind the creep staring at us is there to help, not join in the ‘fun.’ We have to believe that friendships with those men that truly want to be a friend and comfort to us is all that they want, nothing more. We have to believe in the goodness in this world, even if we tread it carefully.
I end this with both a plea and a thank you. A thank you to those four skateboarders who have renewed and refreshed my faith in the idea that there are good men, and good people still left in this world, ones who give the benefit of the doubt but still silently look out for women they do not even know. Thank you for rescuing her that night, for in doing so, you’ve rescued all of us. Thank you for keeping your hearts of gold. And I plead with all of you that you live 2017 not in total fear and paranoia, but with carefully opened hearts, looking for that goodness that you deserve.
*Disclaimer: Chuck Bass is proof that good men exist, and I'm sure my Gossip Girl fans agree*
