Women and Children First: Heroic Virtue

Re “Is a Man’s Life Worth Less?” (May 5): To extrapolate such a conclusion from heroism is juvenile. Men staying behind for the sake of “the women and children” is and has always been a tragedy surrounded by all the beautiful, heroic virtues that men used to take upon themselves as their duty.

The sacred natural roles of man and woman--man as protector, woman as caretaker and both as the protectors of their children--have been so impugned in recent years that it is no surprise to see the social chaos and confusion all around us.

It’s not an issue of women’s roles; it’s an issue of humanity, human nature. Many a mother has laid down her life without a moment’s hesitation to save a child in danger. Is a parent’s willingness to die for her child also going to be seen as some sort of social oppression? Men who sacrifice themselves for their families are true, brave heroes whose lives are never seen as worth less than those left behind.

MAUREEN HOWARD

Arleta