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Human life is service； and is not combat。 There you have the nature of
the change now upon us。
What has the male mind made of Christianity？
Desireto save one's own soul。 Combatwith the Devil。
Self…expressionthe whole gorgeous outpouring of pageant and display；
from the jewels of the high priest's breastplate to the choir of
mutilated men to praise a male Deity no woman may so serve。
What kind of mind can imagine a kind of god who would like a eunuch
better than a woman？
For woman they made at last a placethe usual placeof renunciation；
sacrifice and service； the Sisters of Mercy and their kind； and in that
loving service the woman soul has been content； not yearning for
cardinal's cape or bishop's mitre。
All this is changingchanging fast。 Everywhere the churches are
broadening out into more service； and the service broadening out beyond
a little group of widows and fatherless； of sick and in prison； to
embrace its true fieldall human life。 In this new attitude； how shall
we face the problems of crime？
Thus： 〃It is painfully apparent that a certain percentage of our people
do not function properly。 They perform antisocial acts。 Why？ What is
the matter with them？〃
Then the heart and mind of society is applied to the question； and
certain results are soon reached； others slowly worked toward。
First result。 Some persons are so morally diseased that they must have
hospital treatment。 The world's last prison will be simply a hospital
for moral incurables。 They must by no means reproduce their kind；that
can be attended to at once。 Some are morally diseased； but may be
cured； and the best powers of society will be used to cure them。 Some
are only morally diseased because of the conditions in which they are
born and reared； and here society can save millions at once。
An intelligent society will no more neglect its children than an
intelligent mother will neglect her children； and will see as clearly
that ill…fed； ill…dressed； ill…taught and vilely associated little ones
must grow up gravely injured。
As a matter of fact we make our crop of criminals； just as we make our
idiots； blind； crippled； and generally defective。 Everyone is a baby
first； and a baby is not a criminal； unless we make it so。 It never
would be；in right conditions。 Sometimes a pervert is born； as
sometimes a two…headed calf is born； but they are not common。
The older； simpler forms of crime we may prevent with case and despatch；
but how of the new ones？big； terrible； far…reaching； wide…spread
crimes； for which we have as yet no names； and before which our old
system of anti…personal punishment falls helpless？ What of the crimes
of poisoning a community with bad food； of defiling the water； of
blackening the air； of stealing whole forests？ What of the crimes of
working little children； of building and renting tenements that produce
crime and physical disease as well？ What of the crime of living on the
wages of fallen womenof hiring men to ruin innocent young girls； of
holding them enslaved and selling them for profit？ （These things are
only 〃misdemeanors〃 in a man…made world！）
And what about a crime like this； to use the public press to lie to the
public for private ends？ No name yet for this crime； much less a
penalty。
And this： To bring worse than leprosy to an innocent clean wife who
loves and trusts you？
Or this： To knowingly plant poison in an unborn child？
No names； for these； no 〃penalties〃； no conceivable penalty that could
touch them。
The whole punishment system falls to the ground before the huge mass of
evil that confronts us。 If we saw a procession of air ships flying over
a city and dropping bombs； should we rush madly off after each one
crying； 〃Catch him！ Punish him！〃 or should we try to stop the
procession？
The time is coming when the very word 〃crime〃 will be disused； except in
poems and orations； and 〃punishment；〃 the word and deed； be obliterated。
We are beginning to learn a little of the nature of humanity its
goodness； its beauty； its lovingness； and to see that even its stupidity
is only due to our foolish old methods of education。
It is not new power； new light； new hope that we need； but _to
understand what ails us。_
We know enough now； we care enough now； we are strong enough now； to
make the whole world a thousand fold better in a generation； but we are
shackled； chained； blinded； by old false notions。 The ideas of the
past； the sentiments of the past； the attitude and prejudices of the
past； are in our way； and among them none more universally mischievous
than this great body of ideas and sentiments； prejudices and habits；
which make up the offensive network of the androcentric culture。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
XII。
POLITICS AND WARFARE。
I go to my old dictionary； and find； 〃Politics； I。 The science of
government； that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and
government of a nation or state； the preservation of its safety； peace
and prosperity； the defence of its existence and rights against foreign
control or conquest； the augmentation of its strength and resources； and
the protection of its citizens in their rights； with the preservation
and improvement of their morals。 2。 The management of political
parties； the advancement of candidates to office； in a bad sense； artful
or dishonest management to secure the success of political measures or
party schemes； political trickery。〃
From present day experience we might add； 3。 Politics； practical； The
art of organizing and handling men in large numbers； manipulating votes；
and； in especial； appropriating public wealth。
We can easily see that the 〃science of government〃 may be divided into
〃pure〃 and 〃applied〃 like other sciences； but that it is 〃a part of
ethics〃 will be news to many minds。
Yet why not？ Ethics is the science of conduct； and politics is merely
one field of conduct； a very common one。 Its connection with Warfare in
this chapter is perfectly legitimate in view of the history of politics
on the one hand； and the imperative modern issues which are to…day
opposed to this established combination。
There are many to…day who hold that politics need not be at all
connected with warfare； and others who hold that politics is warfare
front start to finish。
In order to dissociate the two ideas completely let us give a paraphrase
of the above definition； applying it to domestic management；that part
of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a
family； the preservation of its safety； peace and prosperity； the
defense of its existence and rights against any strangers' interference
or control； the augmentation of its strength and resources； and the
protection of its members in their rights； with the preservation and
improvement of their morals。
All this is simple enough； and in no way masculine； neither is it
feminine； save in this； that the tendency to care for； defend and manage
a group； is in its origin maternal。
In every human sense； however； politics has left its maternal base far
in the background； and as a field of study and of action is as well
adapted to men as to women。 There is no reason whatever why men should
not develop great ability in this department of ethics； and gradually
learn how to preserve the safety； peace and prosperity of their nation；
together with those other services as to resources； protection of
citizens； and improvement of morals。
Men； as human beings； are capable of the noblest devotion and efficiency
in these matters； and have often shown them； but their devotion and
efficiency have been marred in this； as in so many other fields； by the
constant obtrusion of an ultra…masculine tendency。
In warfare； _per se_； we find maleness in its absurdest extremes。 Here
is to be studied the whole gamut of basic masculinity； from the initial
instinct of combat； through every form of glorious ostentation； with the
loudest possible accompaniment of noise。
Primitive warfare had for its climax the possession of the primitive
prize； the female。 Without dogmatising on so remote a period； it may be
suggested as a fair hypothesis that this was the very origin of our
organized raids。 We certainly find war before there was property in
land； or any other property to tempt aggressors。 Women； however； there
were always； and when a specially androcentric tribe had reduced its
supply of women by cruel treatment； or they were not born in sufficient
numbers； owing to hard conditions； men must needs go farther afield
after other women。 Then； since the men of the other tribes naturally
objected to losing their main labor supply and comfort； there was war。
Thus based on the sex impulse； it gave full range to the combative
instinct； and further to that thirst for vocal exultation so exquisitely
male。 The proud bellowings of the conquering stag； as he trampled on
his prostrate rival； found higher expression in the 〃triumphs〃 of old
days； when the conquering warrior returned to his home； with victims
chained to his chariot wheels； and braying trumpets。
When property became an appreciable factor in