Author Archives: caygin

About caygin

My name is Caygin. I ask you to join me to debate an unusual question: Do we subconsciously train our sons to be psychologically ready to be used as pawns in war? Are we innocent fools who unintentionally prepare our sons to be fed as fodder into the politicians’ war-machines? For the past seven years I’ve been doing research into what we teach boys – our sons. This is just one of the questions that fascinate and worry me.

Watch and Listen to this.

Posted on 17/04/2017 by caygin

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Ann Jones: The link between foreign tyranny and domestic violence

Posted on 27/03/2013 by caygin

Picture this. A man, armoured in tattoos, bursts into a living room not his own. He confronts an enemy. He barks orders. He throws that enemy into a chair. Then against a wall. He plants himself in the middle of … Continue reading →

A rape a minute, a thousand corpses a year – Rebecca Solnit

Posted on 12/02/2013 by caygin

I have included here an article written by Rebecca Solnit because of its link to the subject matter of my blog. It demonstrates once again how destructive some of our messages to boys, then men, are. My sincere gratitude to … Continue reading →

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Understanding Common Military Health Risks by Emily Walsh

Posted on 06/10/2012 by caygin

Understanding Common Military Health Risks Military veterans and their families serve a valuable role in protecting freedom around the world. While military veterans play an essential role in the modern world, they often face living conditions and environments that expose … Continue reading →

Posted in Contributions from other Writers | Tagged exposure to toxins, health risks, post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, sub-standard conditions, substance abuse, suicide | Leave a comment

The Disciplined Man

Posted on 01/09/2012 by caygin

A soldier who thinks too much – who thinks independently – is not much use to the military. A soldier who questions is worse than useless to the military. The useful soldier is one who obeys the rules that are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged boy scouts, bullying, military training, obey without question, ritual, segregate boys, soldier, thinks independently | Leave a comment

The ‘Patriot’ who Must Win No Matter What.

Posted on 30/05/2012 by caygin

Competitiveness has both positive and negative qualities. Competitiveness is not negative in essence. It is an important natural part of human behaviour and is necessary for progress. But on the negative side, it can be warped into aggression and repugnant … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged affirmation of masculinity, aggression, better than the enemy, brutality, Bush, Competitiveness, dehumanises, fallacy of patriotism., fear, ignore ethical rules, instability of masculinity, masculine dominance, patriotism, shame, sons, sport, torture, Vietnam, water-boarding | Leave a comment

Tough Enough

Posted on 24/03/2012 by caygin

Soldiers, of course, are required to be tough. Strong and tough like Rambo. No-one must be able to get the better of them physically. As if we were still fighting hand-to-hand combat, and did not rely nowadays on sophisticated weapons. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged acting-out, bullying, fear, guilty, not born tough, pretence, rational solutions, shame, sissy, soldiers, tough, vulnerability, war-machine, weak men, weapons | Leave a comment

Stoicism – the Endurance of Pain

Posted on 17/03/2012 by caygin

The military values stoicism – the silent endurance of pain (both physical and emotional). Soldiers are asked to be stoical and resilient in the face of all hardship. They must be mentally strong. They must be controlled enough to endure … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged badge of honour, communication, competitive sport, endure pain, military prevent emasculation of nation and men, non-masculine, prefects assert power, primitive initiation rites, psychologically crippled, relationships, sexual abuse, soldiers, stoical, suffer stoically and silently, unhealthy, weak | Leave a comment

The Hero

Posted on 10/03/2012 by caygin

One of the ways that society seduces men into becoming soldiers (for the benefit of the military) is by linking ‘real’ masculinity, patriotism and heroism together. From early childhood, boys are indoctrinated into thinking that the highest proof of masculinity … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged bullied, conscientious objectors, corrupted by violence, defend, different, different heroes, heroism, heroism romanticised, make society moral, masculinity, patriotism, peace activists, proof of masculinity, safe and free., war, weaker | Leave a comment

Socialized into Aggression

Posted on 03/03/2012 by caygin

Parents, and especially fathers, hold back from hugging and physically showing love to their sons. Underlining this behaviour is a fear of making a sissy of him, and a desire to make him ‘tough’. Boys are also physically punished more … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Masculinity, Parents, War | Tagged acceptance of violence, adult violence as entertainment, aggression, bullying, encourage boys to kill, Fathers, fighting, games, manliness, show love, sissy, sport aggression, toughen boys, tribal, uncivilised, videos | Leave a comment