Delinquent Fathers Irresponsibility!

June 21-2008:

Delinquent Fathers?

Senator Obama, I watched you gave a speech on Father's Day, at a church service. You spurned delinquent fathers for failing to honor the responsibilities of fatherhood. And the adverse mental-psychological-economic and social effects such neglect creates within those children.

You also referenced your fatherless childhood, and how difficult it was for you to come to terms with that reality, role model, and the feeling of love from that individual. However, this situation does not only pertain to fathers. Some delinquent mothers too are also to blame for their negligence.

So here are some points that I would like to raise in this regard, and would hope that at some point in the future you would give a speech on these issues too.

* Raising a child by choice!

This is a norm within the USA, for individuals to choose to raise their offspring alone. For whatever reason/s they so chose, children are left holding the 'Bag' as a result of this choice.

* Incarceration on a regular basis are also a factor for both males and females, in terms of who gets custody of the child or children. And when he or she is deemed responsible enough, to have custody of that or those children.

* Men of Color are especially prone to un-employment, temporary employment, or being un-employed for very long periods. Due to incarceration, lack of marketable skills, inability to hold down a regular job, and poor education.

* Drug and substance usage on a regular basis, is also a factor. This can be very difficult for most addictive men and women who are parents. Having difficulty maintaining sobriety, or appearing for Rehabilitation, are also some of the factors for absenteeism of some fathers and mothers.

* Men Of Color with felonies on their record find it very difficult to find employment. Much less employment that pays a living wage, or could pay the 'Child Support" as per legislation.

* Being unable to earn a living wage, means being unable to gain proper and affordable housing for your family. This creates mental and psychological issues, for most fathers and mothers alike. Thus causing some to relapse into drug and substance usage.

* Thousands of military fathers and mothers are in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, South Korea, and elsewhere. Most of these enlisted men and women see their families once or twice per year, for periods of six weeks to three months. Then they are called back to the fronline. These families will never be able to function like most two parent families would.

Therefore, they can be categorized as single parent families too. Because of the circumstances that these enlisted men and women face, for an indefinite period.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.