It is Fathers Day today and I have been thinking about what it means to be a father in today’s world. Over the years the media has transformed the role of father from shows like “Father Knows Best”…To “Archie Bunker”…To “The Simpsons”. It is not unpopular for Hollywood to portray fathers as being out of touch, stupid, incompetent and insensitive. I never knew my grandfather but I assume that the tools he gave to my dad worked just fine for my father. The set of paradigms I went to the world with were outdated. The civil rights movement and women’s liberation were ideals my father never had to deal with so he could not teach them to me. The tools he taught me were hate, prejudice and intolerance. None of which work well in today’s world I, me, my generation had to relearn everything on our own. We had to retool ourselves in a changing world. The tools I learned from my father did not fit in the post civil and women’s rights world. They were destructive to say the least. I had to learn love…I have to learn tolerance…I had to learn acceptance. I am still learning these principles and sometimes it is not easy. The tools I gave to my children are more useful than the ones I received. I have a daughter who is 39, a son who is 33 and a brilliant, talented and lovely granddaughter who is 21. The civil rights and equal rights legislation had already passed by the time they were born. A father today is more sensitive, changes diapers, babysits, shares child rearing responsibility, and is a spiritual leader of the family. My son is better equipped to be a father than I was. My daughter is an excellent mother…both largely due to their mothers influence. If your father is in his 50’s or 60’s and you feel so moved wish him a Happy Father’s Day today.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:17:59 +0000
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