The designation “brother” is often bandied about. It has been cheapened to the point where its only qualification is another person being male, even if they’re a stranger, enemy, or have nothing in common. Some are too lazy to say brother. Instead, they say bro. Worse yet, bruh or brah.
Common usages occur among Black men calling each other brother, and Christ-believing men calling other believers brother. This pretense is worse than meaningless and worthless, unless other things back up the term. Note that among brothers of immediate blood relations, the vast majority maintain a lifetime relationship.
Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, co-inventors of the airplane, lived with one another until death. In response to showcasing brotherly closeness, the story of Cain and Abel was brought up, where great resentment culminated in one brother murdering another. But such a thing is anomalous. That is, out of the ordinary to a far degree.
In fact, blood related brothers (and sisters) are statistically the least likely family members to be murdered, even behind wives, husbands, parents, and children. Famous philosopher Confucius delineated five primary human relationships, immediate brothers being one. His formulated praxis was thus:
“Elder brothers are expected to serve as role models for their younger siblings, providing guidance and protection. Younger brothers should show respect and deference to their elder siblings, recognizing their greater experience and wisdom”. Now outside of the narrowing age gap and proper adjustments thereby, what on earth would give this relationship an expiration date?
Though many such brothers eventually drift apart in physical, mental, emotional, and geographical ways, some connection is maintained. For example, brothers who get together on holidays, or continually send birthday and Christmas cards, or phone or e-mail once a month. And they often do this even with nothing more in common than sharing the same mother, race, and gender. Without this minimum, you are essentially an only child like I am genetically.
Concerning brothers not of the same mother, I quote from Shakespeare’s Henry 5th, Act 4, Scene 3: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother.” Used as a formula, it would require you to fight and die with your fellow man to be considered a brother.
I would be willing to accept a lifetime fellowship of just getting together once a year, and/or e-mailing or phoning every couple of months. But without such a minimum requirement for brotherhood, don’t call me brother. I’m not your brother you stinking hypocrite. I’m not suggesting anyone force a connection with someone whom they have little to nothing in common with. No indeed. But with proper commonality, yes indeed.
The solution to lack of brotherhood among men? Reject the cultural attitude of devaluing lifetime friendships among men. And don’t resign yourself to it due to unwillingness of other men to reciprocate. All other men could use the same excuse, and then nothing gets done. Change must start somewhere. Let it start with you.
Please see my companion post titled Blood Thicker Than Water? https://wordpress.com/post/kcsunbeam.wordpress.com/8812
*****My posts organized according to subject=
https://wordpress.com/settings/taxonomies/category/kcsunbeam.wordpress.com
K C Sunbeam 