“The revolution will not be televised but you will see it on YouTube”. This adaptation of Gil Scott-Heron’s famous saying from the seventies might be the best way of explaining the recent November 19 celebration of International Men’s Day around the world.

The colloquialism, “You can’t keep a good man down”, is coming to life as the grass roots celebration of good men comes to life in the hearts and minds of women, men and children around the world.

I say women, first, because International Men’s Day wouldn’t be where it is today except for women. I first heard about International Men’s Day in 2007 from Uma Challa, a female men’s advocate in India with the ‘Save Indian Family Foundation’.

Uma encouraged me to celebrate International Men’s Day in Australia. For me, this Indian mother-of-two is the real hero behind International Men’s Day, because without her practical and positive encouragement, the team at Dads4Kids, would not have taken International Men’s Day to the world.

At that time, celebration of International Men’s Day occurred on several different days and was barely celebrated at all anywhere.  The team at Dads4Kids played a strategic role, along with others, in bringing all those divergent manhood celebrations on to 19 November every year and creating a central promotional website.

Dads4Kids put up the first comedy promo video for IMD in 2009, IMD for Real Men, which now has 16,614 views. In those days you would have been hard pressed to find any videos promoting International Men’s Day on YouTube. Ten years ago, this comment on our video was painfully true:

“Wow I didn’t know men had a day. I knew that women have a whole month but at least men get a day… I don’t know of any agencies or funding for men’s health but maybe one day.. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THINKING ABOUT MEN!”

Thankfully things are changing for the better. The International Men’s Day hashtag was right up there on Twitter and Facebook this year.

In Jamaica, a female minister in the Jamaican government made a speech in parliament promoting International Men’s Day. Please find a short excerpt below. Positive words about men and boys like this are part of the ‘Untelevised Revolution’ that is being instigated by the worldwide celebration of International Men’s Day.

“Mr Speaker, yesterday Jamaica joined several countries around the world in celebrating International Men’s Day…

 Sometimes men’s issues do not get the requisite focus on the gender agenda, but we are working to change that. And the celebration of International Men’s Day is an opportunity to place men’s issue on the gender agenda while we reflect on the state of the Jamaican man — his health and wellbeing, his challenges and successes.

 Mr Speaker, we can be proud of the positive value that our men bring to their families, communities and to our country each day. Mr Speaker, I’m sure the whole House will join me in commending our men, young and old, who continue to give of themselves in the building of our nation — they are the role models who we are happy to celebrate on International Men’s Day and every day…

 We recognise that we need men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man; and to help their daughters to become fine, empowered young women.”

Truer words were never spoken.

On top of this, there have been hundreds of TV, radio and print stories around the world. Most of them very positive.

Having said all that, it is on YouTube that the men’s revolution is actually taking place and being recorded in all its glorious variety and often with the aid of female eloquence. (Thank God for women!)

Daisy Cousins, a Spectator journalist and an advocate for men said,  “International Men’s Day is  a day to celebrate and appreciate men and boys.  However, unlike International Women’s Day, almost nobody knows about it, because of the distinct lack of attention it gets in the mainstream media. Feminists, funnily enough, are particularly freaked out by IMD.” 

Her eloquence is invigorating, over 20,000 views and rising. As Simon Tuner said in the comment section, “This woman is just too smart, organised, reasonable and articulate to debate these topics with feminists. I’m sure she could explain as well as Jordan Peterson the privilege question”…

Daisy Cousins – Australia

This year’s theme “Positive Male Role Models” featured in a lot of media and YouTube stories. In this YouTube, nine young men from Cheshire College USA, share their favourite role model for International Men’s Day. The last young man’s story below will make you cry:

Cheshire College – USA

In Dudley UK, several brave men from young to old share their journey of restoration, healing and being part of a proactive men’s group.  Very moving to say the least.

Dudley Men’s Group – UK

Many business and corporations got involved in International Men’s Day. Collen Constructions in the UK are a great example:

Collen Constructions – UK

Our Better World in Singapore, with almost 200,000 views, is a classic example of high-profile charities ‘Celebrating Men Making a Difference’ across India & South East Asia:

Our Better World – Singapore

Lovework

Keep on being who you are – ‘A Positive Male Role Model’.” When you turn on the light the darkness has to leave. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it well, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Yours for a Global Love Revolution

Warwick Marsh

PS: Dads4Kids has played a pivotal role in the Australia-wide and global- wide ‘Positive Male Role Models’ campaign for International Men’s Day. Thanks for your support!

About the Author: Warwick Marsh

Warwick Marsh has been married to Alison Marsh since 1975; they have five children and nine grandchildren, and he and his wife live in Wollongong in NSW, Australia. He is a family and faith advocate, social reformer, musician, TV producer, writer and public speaker. Warwick is a leader in the Men’s and Family Movement, and he is well-known in Australia for his advocacy for children, marriage, manhood, family, fatherhood and faith. Warwick is passionate to encourage men to be great fathers and to know the greatest Father of all. The Father in Whom “there is no shadow of turning.”

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