On Tim Russert and Fathers
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Tim Russert’s untimely death certainly gave me pause. I am 58 years old, and don’t live what can be called a healthy life style. I love my pizza and red meat, and eschew veggies, especially the good kind like broccoli.
Russert seemed to be a good and decent man. He was the epitome of the American dream, pulling himself by his bootstraps from humble beginnings. He was well liked among his colleagues from all sides of the political spectrum. His two bestselling books Big Russ and Me and Wisdom of Our Fathers, gave gravitas to the role of fathers in the American family when men are routinely trivialized as compared to the “single” mother. Bill Cosby has echoed Russert’s theme of the importance of “Dad” in the very difficult endeavor of child raising.
I have written several times over the past few years about the marginalization of males in our society. Yet study after study shows again and again that the traditional nuclear family of Mom, Dad and the little ones, as a rule, produce well adjusted children and subsequently well adjusted adults. Yes, I know that circumstances don’t always allow for a traditional nuclear family. Robin Williams’ admonition at the end of Mrs. Doubtfire comes to mind when he tells the little girl from Youngstown, Ohio, that there are all sorts of families, and she will survive her parent’s divorce.
But I have seen too much in my lifetime. As Americans, I think we are sometimes fooled by the show biz view of life. Single parents raising children is difficult on the parent and the children. Usually money is tight, and the single parent is unable to provide proper supervision because she, and sometimes he, has to work. It is not a good situation, leading to latch key kids, and children becoming grown up way too early as they learn to shift for themselves.
Even more disturbing is the casual attitude toward sex which results in children having children or drug addicts having children…and grandma being left with the responsibility of raising those unfortunates unlucky enough to be born into those circumstances.
The nuclear family is invisible in today’s pop culture. I can’t think of one, not one, television show airing today that features a nuclear family. This is a recent phenomenon. And those that are even somewhat normal are canceled because they appeal to the wrong demographic. Reba, for example, dealt with divorced parents who live several houses apart…no nuclear family there…and it was canceled although it was the highest rated sitcom on cable television.
It wasn’t too long ago that shows like Family Ties, Family Matters, Step by Step, Roseanne, Home Improvement, and The Cosby Show, dominated the airwaves. Then in 2000, they all seemed to disappear at one time. Shows like Seinfeld, Sex and the City, Two and ½ Men, Friends, and Will and Grace came to the forefront, all filled with narcissistic, self centered people, who view children like chattel. What counts now is urban chic. Who cares who is raising little Johnny or Suzie?
I didn’t care for Tim Russert as a journalist, and that will be the topic of another blog. On the other hand, and especially on Father’s Day, I give him a standing O for raising the awareness of fathers, and men in general, as relates to our children. For that, he gets a strongly deserved “job well done.” THAT will be his most important legacy. Happy Father's Day!!
Russert seemed to be a good and decent man. He was the epitome of the American dream, pulling himself by his bootstraps from humble beginnings. He was well liked among his colleagues from all sides of the political spectrum. His two bestselling books Big Russ and Me and Wisdom of Our Fathers, gave gravitas to the role of fathers in the American family when men are routinely trivialized as compared to the “single” mother. Bill Cosby has echoed Russert’s theme of the importance of “Dad” in the very difficult endeavor of child raising.
I have written several times over the past few years about the marginalization of males in our society. Yet study after study shows again and again that the traditional nuclear family of Mom, Dad and the little ones, as a rule, produce well adjusted children and subsequently well adjusted adults. Yes, I know that circumstances don’t always allow for a traditional nuclear family. Robin Williams’ admonition at the end of Mrs. Doubtfire comes to mind when he tells the little girl from Youngstown, Ohio, that there are all sorts of families, and she will survive her parent’s divorce.
But I have seen too much in my lifetime. As Americans, I think we are sometimes fooled by the show biz view of life. Single parents raising children is difficult on the parent and the children. Usually money is tight, and the single parent is unable to provide proper supervision because she, and sometimes he, has to work. It is not a good situation, leading to latch key kids, and children becoming grown up way too early as they learn to shift for themselves.
Even more disturbing is the casual attitude toward sex which results in children having children or drug addicts having children…and grandma being left with the responsibility of raising those unfortunates unlucky enough to be born into those circumstances.
The nuclear family is invisible in today’s pop culture. I can’t think of one, not one, television show airing today that features a nuclear family. This is a recent phenomenon. And those that are even somewhat normal are canceled because they appeal to the wrong demographic. Reba, for example, dealt with divorced parents who live several houses apart…no nuclear family there…and it was canceled although it was the highest rated sitcom on cable television.
It wasn’t too long ago that shows like Family Ties, Family Matters, Step by Step, Roseanne, Home Improvement, and The Cosby Show, dominated the airwaves. Then in 2000, they all seemed to disappear at one time. Shows like Seinfeld, Sex and the City, Two and ½ Men, Friends, and Will and Grace came to the forefront, all filled with narcissistic, self centered people, who view children like chattel. What counts now is urban chic. Who cares who is raising little Johnny or Suzie?
I didn’t care for Tim Russert as a journalist, and that will be the topic of another blog. On the other hand, and especially on Father’s Day, I give him a standing O for raising the awareness of fathers, and men in general, as relates to our children. For that, he gets a strongly deserved “job well done.” THAT will be his most important legacy. Happy Father's Day!!
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