The word "chivalry" is thus defined, as I'm sure everyone knows, as the "medieval knightly system with its religious, moral and social code; the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, like courage, honor, courtesy, justice and readiness to help the weak; a man's courteous behavior, especially toward women."


Any woman can hope for it. But it would be a most foolish hope. However, to expect it would even be more foolish. Things like gender feminism, the sexual revolution, moral relativism, the coarsening of language, the disappearance of manners and courtesy and heightening incivility, especially with regard to just about everything in our society and culture, has done far more than simply destroy things like chivalry.


Who would expect boys to grow into men, good men, when they are exposed to so much garbage (found abundantly, of course, inpopular TV shows,movies and other assorted mass media) from a very early age, an impressionable age, when they are notinculcatedregardingthe cardinal virtues,manners, civility, decency, respect, courtesy and so many other things absolutely required to make them not only men (and not just older boys or adolescents) but fundamentally good men, ones who may very well be chivalrous.


Alas, one cannotexpect this kind of culture and societyto produce chivalrous men, let alone gentlemen (and ladies). Sometimes in lifeone just has toaccept the next best thing because that's all there is and that's all there's ever going to be.


The truth may hurt butit may also setone free (unlessone prefers to be enslaved, like a beast in a guilded cage, because that's all some people ever want to be).


If any woman wants to be put on a pedestal, she'll likely have to do it herself. The problem with pedestals, however, is that often times things fall or get knocked off them.