Media stereotypes hurt fathers
Until Kathleen Parker’s column in the May 4 edition of The Daily Sentinel, the only time the media ever took up the issue of the plight of non-custodial fathers was to report on celebrities who leave irate phone messages for their kids or the latest deadbeat-dad report.

As one who has repeatedly attempted to get the press to drop the sensationalism and print the real story on the plight of fathers, I know first-hand that it seems to take no less than someone with an existing byline (and at least a passing sense of irony) to finally get the real story out.

Parker clearly recognizes the damage the media’s “Homer Simpson” image of fathers has done to the parent-child relationship. Perhaps without realizing it, in one fell swoop, she takes some of the wind out of the deadbeat- dad myth by simply mentioning that Fox TV (which has one of the worst credibility problems of any network) has lent its support to purveyors of the myth.

Still, Parker falls a bit short of actually driving the point home. She gets close when she says that “the biggest barrier to child support is unemployment, yet this message seldom seems to penetrate the zeitgeist,” and by referring to a system that only perpetuates the child-support problem by putting parents who cannot afford to pay support in jail, causing them to lose their jobs, with the subsequent predictable results.

In fact, thanks to the media stereotypes, we not only have a legal system that punishes fathers who cannot pay child support, but also punishes fathers who, regardless of the odds, try to hang in there.

As a father who has been financially ruined for making the mistake of asking the courts for nothing more, than to spend more time with my children, I am intimately familiar with such system. This, no doubt, is what Parker is referring to when she says that we have clearly created a system in which “we feel no decency toward men and the children who love them.”

HAROLD SHEPHERD
Moab

Support Jim Doody
in commissioner race

I would like to compliment Jim Doody for his past two years as mayor of Grand Junction. Jim performed his duties in a highly professional manner, endearing himself to the people of Grand Junction and Mesa County.
I have observed officers in the military for over 32 years, and honesty, integrity and discipline are the hallmarks of leadership.
Jim is presently soliciting Republican support to be on the November ballot, to give the voters a chance to select him over incumbent Craig Meis in District 1 county-commissioner race. Jim must have 2,800 Republican signatures by May 28 to be on the August primary election ballot. Jim can be contacted at 970 250 5861, or Doody@earthlink.net.
Jim is a 50-year resident of Mesa County, founder and president of Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial in Fruita, former mayor of Grand Junction, member of the Fruita and Grand Junction chambers of commerce and a small-business owner. Jim would be an outstanding county commissioner.
Semper fi (Always faithful).
HARRY T. HAGAMAN
Grand Junction

Sensible plan created for energy crisis

I believe that Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. Mark Udall offer an astute recommendation for action to begin to deal long-term with our present energy crisis. They recommend:

1. President Bush should immediately free up more oil supply in America by suspending additions to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve for one year — and in fact, consider releasing some oil from the reserve.

2. President Bush should use every diplomatic tool at his disposal to urge oil-producing countries in the Middle East to increase production and stabilize prices.

3. Congress should develop a comprehensive energy policy that reduces America’s long-term dependence on foreign oil, once and for all — which means reducing consumption here at home, looking for responsible ways to develop domestic oil supplies and rapidly developing new sources of renewable energy.

DUANE HOGUE
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 8:39 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.