Fight enemies to the end. That’s the 3rd Khan rule (read about the 1st and 2nd rules). Sounds easier than it really is. In today’s world, often we are encouraged to compromise, appease, or just give in. Well, I’m tired of it. When I’m right, I’m right…and it’s manly to stand up for what’s right and fight to the end.

Sometimes my kids are my enemy. They whine, they cry, and the beg for stuff. Junk food, stay up late, watch cartoons, not go to church…those are a few of our daily battles. I admit I have lost a few battles (damn kids), but I have some very important ones. A few months ago we took our 4 year old to Target. We were there to buy a few shirts. He found a Spider-Man shirt he wanted. No problem: we wanted to buy him a shirt, he found one we all liked – - win/win all around. Then it went downhill…he found some Spider-Man toys he wanted, too. The battle was on. We firmly told him no. The whining started. We warned him of the consequences of whining. He got worse and the tantrum set in. I wasn’t going to lose this battle. I took the Spider-Man shirt and put it back. I reminded him that was the consequence for not listening to Mom and Dad. His tantrum intensified and we just left the store without making the intended purchases.

I won the battle. Now, we remind him often of that experience. He knows Dad means business when we say “no” at the store.

Rule 2: Don’t Forget Your Debts

Debt: the necessary evil of modern life. We take out loans for education, for cars, and homes. Some people even have tons of unsecured debt. Some people can handle the debt and some can’t. A manly man knows how to manage his debt. A manly man honors his debt.

I have a few acquaintances that failed to manage or honor their debt. One family racked up tons of credit card debt. At the height of the housing bubble, they sold their house to cash out. They took the money and blew it on new cars and frivolous spending. Then a few years later there were broke and bankrupt. Now they can barely qualify to lease a home. They didn’t know how to manage their debt.

Another friend of mine bought a house at the peak of the housing bubble. He had no problem making the payments. However, after the bubble burst he was upside down on his mortgage (house was worth much less than he owed). His solution? A strategic default. He walked away from his house even though he could make the payments. He did not honor his debt.

I strive to manage and honor my debts. It’s the manly way. Last week we made our last car payment, and now our mortgage is the only debt we have. We bought a home near the peak of the bubble in 2006. I’m upside down on my mortgage (not by as much as some of our friends). It’s not a great feeling knowing our house isn’t worth what we owe, but my wife and I love our home and neighborhood. We know that if we stick with it, we’ll be back on top in a few years.

This is part two (of four) of my thoughts about Genghis Khan’s four laws. Part one can be read here.

This is part one (of four) in my attempt to explain why I think Genghis Khan’s four laws are manly and should be followed. These are lessons I want my sons to learn.

Rule 1: Don’t kill women or children

That’s a pretty simple law, and I’m sure Genghis meant that literally.  His men were warriors; so, he had to establish his army’s code of conduct. (Let’s just overlook that fact that he wiped several civilizations off the face of earth…that was just how he rolled.)  But how does this law apply to us, the modern man? Of course, there’s the “don’t kill” part of the law. If you don’t follow that one, you go to prison. Everyone gets that.

I believe a real man takes it one step farther. A real man loves his wife and children. A real man respects and listens to his wife and makes decisions with her. A real man teaches and disciplines (with love) his children. A real man protects his family from harm or danger.

Those aren’t novel ideas. It boggles my mind how many guys don’t live up to those simple standards. Hell, just look at the slimeballs we elect to office: Sanford, Spitzer, Ensign, Edwards, Clinton…and those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head. I could probably come up with similar lists of sports stars, celebrities, preachers, and businessmen if I really wanted to.

Please, be a man. Don’t kill women and children.