I want the youth to turn into adults and not good for nothings. No work where you live? Move. Take life by the reigns. Is that a macho man? If yes, then I like that. FYI taking care of your sick father at age 18 constitutes as a coming of age to me. The hardest trials usually come from life itself. That doesn't mean that if life doesn't present such things that we should let the kids turn into under achievers or into men who can't take responsibility, make decisions etc.

It's not about conforming to a stereotype or turning everyone into Leonidas and his elite guard (from the "300" movie) it's about creating good role models. I'm not saying that Alexander won his victories alone. Are you guys deliberately misunderstanding me or what? I'm saying that the aspiration to become someone like Alexander can fashion a boy into a worthy man.

I also stated in the OP that I don't romanticise war. I am fully aware of the horrors and atrocities it brings. I live on the Balkans for God's sakes! I said that the ancient and medieval warrior was a man of skill and and discipline and that seeped through to the younger generations. Where is the modern day man of skill and discipline to be so put before the eyes of the young?

If we have outgrown role models like Achiles and Alexander, then let us replace them with more relevant ones. Not with "16 and pregnant", Honeyboobochild, Jersey Shore, WWF "wrestling" and so on. Ancient sagas were like hollywood films in terms of their accurate portrayal of events, but the message they bring is not "turn your daughter into a skank and buy your kid an Iphone and drink Coca Cola". I rather like the message they bring. Would you have your kid read The Once and Future King or have him watch Twilight or Transformers?

HT: I googled him because I am ignorant of who he was. First line of Wikipedia was "the philosopher of Facism" and I stopped reading from there. I apologize if I jumped the gun and misunderstood you.