Jeff Minick is a joy to read and a blessing to learn from. So, I was surprised to see that he went a bit off his premise when he chose examples of male rites of passage [“Rediscovering a Lost Tradition: Male Rites of Passage,” published in the May 19 edition]. Jeff certainly is correct in pointing out that “throughout human history, young males underwent various tests marking their entry into manhood.” Then, the group welcomes the young man in his new status as a man/member of the group with a celebration. Jeff’s example of the young man of Maasai of Kenya having to kill a lion with a spear (and, I might add, thereby showing his tracking prowess, his conquering of fear, and adjusting quickly if the lion doesn’t behave exactly as he expected) demonstrates a great deal about that warrior candidate. [The progression] from Medieval page to squire to …