Mark of Manhood

The fine line that demarcates boy from man – at which point in life did I actually cross over without looking back? Was it the moment when I changed from shorts to trousers during early schooling days or my virgin facial shave? Could it have been the celebration of turning legal by purchasing liquor or the immense satisfaction at my immunity to viewer discretion regulations? Maybe the wait is on till my first official pay check or the keys to my own house? Endless theories which are bound to strike a familiar chord with most. Or so I thought.

Recently, I chanced upon a rather unsettling documentary about the bullet ant ritual. Bullet ants, also known as ‘paraponera’, originate from the dense jungles of South America and are not your average everyday ants. Their sting is alleged to be similar to a bullet wound and is rated number one by many official pain indexes. A tribe called Satere-Mawe in Brazil captures and drugs these ants before placing them stinger first into gloves. The young men of the tribe must then don these gloves and endure the pain for 10 minutes. Not once but 20 times and without screaming. This traditionally momentous event marks the rite of passage to manhood.

Upon viewing, I was swept over by a plethora of emotions; spellbinding intrigue initially transformed into aversion and disgust towards the ritual procedures before an overwhelming sense of pity mixed with admiration for the young men prevailed. I was astounded at the primitive nature of declaring manhood. In Singapore, National Service (NS) is generally regarded by local culture as the making of a man. However any agony felt in Tekong must surely pale in comparison to that experienced in Amazon by the young guns of the Satere-Mawe. It set me thinking though. Judging one’s maturity indisputably has to go far beyond a physical test of character and endurance. Economic maturity to hold an adult job and handle money, ethical maturity to make responsible decisions and emotional maturity to understand and relate to others are other determinants as well.

There’s also the issue of discrimination leveled at the few boys who are deemed not ‘man’ enough to undertake this ritual. Outcasted from the society at such a tender age, they grow older, losing their self respect and dignity in the process. In extreme cases, death from brutal pain results which leaves one to ponder - is it really worth for the parents’ ordeal in raising the kid for years to be reduced to such a cataclysmic loss by a mere ritual?     

Gazing from a cross cultural lens, the tribe would most likely be amazed at the non-existence of such traditions and a comparatively seamless transition to adulthood in our modern society. They might argue we are far from ‘real’ men and the extravagant, brash lives of many teens nowadays do seem to support their case. ‘No pain, no gain’ , they say which makes one reflect if as indeed we take for granted the many luxuries afforded to us.

As such, I dream of visiting this tribe in a not too distant future. Inter-cultural experiences are best encountered firsthand and I’ll reserve any further judgment till after. After all, the ensuing wave of uncontrollable tears from the bullet ants’ bites may just be that fine line I was  desperately seeking for. 

P.S. I've attached the video for a more complete picture and a better visual experience. Viewer discretion is advised :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGIZ-zUvotM