Fathers should be role models as they were intended to be

I believe that on Father's Day virtually each year, I write about the importance of fatherhood and how society is currently suffering because of far too many fatherless homes.

And unfortunately, each year the numbers seem to get worse.

I was blessed with a strong father who remains to this very day my personal hero. And those who have been equally as blessed share that opinion about their father.

But just this week comes an article about Richmond, Va. - a fairly large town - where almost 80 per cent of the households are single parent.

A noted politician this past week pointed to a host of social issues such as a growing crime rate and said that education was the key to reversing this dangerous trend.

I disagree.

I believe we start reversing this social decline by putting the emphasis on fathers being the role model they were intended to be.

Ask any law enforcement official about a common thread on youth crime and they will tell you that overwhelmingly the lack of a father in the home is the most common denominator.

I have no solution but then again, many much smarter people lack a solution as well.

You can change laws but you can't change cultures. You can change laws but you can't mandate that a father remain in the home.

Whatever direction we have taken or are taking to decrease the number of single parent households has clearly not worked.

There no longer is a stigma attached to a man who abandons his home and children and ignores all responsibilities to that family.

Often young children are left to their own devices because the burdens on a mother of being both parents is simply overwhelming.

And society pays an enormous price for this abandonment of responsibilities in teaching children and providing the essential financial support.

I watched a television program last week where a young boy of 11 was in tears over the thought of losing a parent. He said he wouldn't know what to do because "they haven't taught me all I need to know."

Children need to know things. They learn much of that from parents - both parents.

When part of that equation is missing, we unfortunately know what is often the result.