Womanhood and women have been under relentless assault the past few years by Democrats, radical leftists, and militant LGBTQ+ activists. According to their absurd orthodoxy, anyone can be a woman, even a man. Beyond freakish men and boys trying to push women and girls out of female sports, liberal “woke” pop culture has tried to erase women by minimizing them with silly terms like “birthing person,” “chest-feeding person,” or “second biological parent.” Since women actually give birth, why wouldn’t they be the “first biological parent?” It’s all madness, but it’s a malicious method to muddy society and marginalize women. However, everyone has a mother, and fortunately most Americans know what it means to have a loving mother.

All of this insane nonsense to be “gender inclusive” of misfit men in heels implies there is nothing inherently special or unique about women. It’s incredibly dismissive and disrespectful of womanhood; moreover, it’s intended to eradicate the institution of motherhood. It allows Pete Buttigeige to pretend he’s a mom, but worse it says there is nothing special or vital about being a mother. Beyond being plain disgusting, this perverse notion is extremely deleterious to society.

The biology is immutable and undeniable—only women can conceive and give birth to a new life. Mothers hold a special place in humanity because without them, none of us would be here, but they are also explicitly crucial to our culture. Beyond propagating the human race, mothers are the keepers of civilization.

A world without mothers would be a violent, sordid place. Men left to their own devices without the moderating influence of women would be constantly pillaging and warring. Mothers give men families and make them fathers, giving them purpose to protect and provide for their progeny. Women, specifically mothers, civilize men.

More so in generations past, mothers rightly demand decorum and manners. It used to be that men would not curse and would refrain from generally vulgar conduct in the presence of women. In old movies, the dirtiest, roughest men would stand up straight and muster their manners when a woman was present. That may seem rigid by modern standards, but it’s foundational to maintaining a civil, orderly society. America was much better for it.

Modern American culture has become too casual and coarse. The world encourages women to emulate the worst traits of men and discourages them from fulfilling their hallowed roles in the family and society. Too many women believe they need to be like men to be of value.

Under the misguided tyranny of feminism, women are indoctrinated to compete with men by being like them, and motherhood is denigrated as some meaningless, servile duty. For decades now, stay-at-home mothers are viewed as settling for something less, or as not living up to their full potential to contribute to society.

That is the most ridiculous lie foisted on not just women but society. Seriously, what is more beautiful and vital than bringing forth a new life? What job is more important and rewarding than nurturing a child and raising a small human into a balanced, happy, productive person?

For that matter, what can any person do that is more fulfilling than being a parent? Many people enjoy their careers or hobbies, but when reflecting on your life, all that pales compared to a loving family that has produced good people. When you get to the end of life, your fondest memories and proudest accomplishments will be your children and grandchildren, not some award or job.

Americans know only women can be mothers, and we therefore cherish our mothers. Enduring tremendous pain to give birth, a mother’s sacrifice and devotion to her children areunparalleled in the world. There is nothing like a mother’s touch and voice to a child. She is a child’s entire world until they are grown—what an awesome responsibility. Nothing deserves more respect than mothers ordained by God to bring forth life.

The world still views motherhood dimly, but fortunately that trend is reversing. More women are choosing to take leave of their jobs to raise their children. Despite economic hardship, growing numbers of families are adjusting their households to allow mothers to be home and rear their young children, because they realize the formative early years are crucial to healthy development.

Everyone loves their mom, but society should extol every mom. Mothers are the lynchpin of strong families, strong families are the building blocks of healthy communities, and healthy communities make a country great. The war on women, and specifically mothers, is really a war on American culture and society.

Sidelining women and healthy femininity reduce their positive civilizing affect on society, so the result is a callous, unruly society which is more malleable because they have no moral moorings. All totalitarian schemes seek to destroy the nuclear family and replace it with allegiance to and dependence on the state. The fastest way to eradicate families is to demean and demoralize mothers. So, these crazy ideas are not so much about fostering gender fluidity, but rather primarily intended to dismantle civil society by removing the family’s lynchpin—mothers.

America and all Americans owe an unpayable debt to our mothers. Without them, we would not even have families nor even a peaceful nation. Any love and kindness we know, we learned from our mothers; and their undying sometimes ferocious devotion to their children built this country. Americans know motherhood cannot be artificially manufactured or imitated, so it’s past time to end the “gender inclusive” attack on women.

Every American should hug and thank their mother this Sunday. And America should honor and praise all mothers for their selfless contributions to making America great. Happy Mother’s Day!

“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:27-28).

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.