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Who's
Your Pater Patriae?
Dr.
Ram Dass Editorial We
fallin into 2 categories today, those who remembered Father's Day on Sunday and
those that reading with an expression like they just stepped in some ripe warm
gobar. So
Mother's Day was a few weeks ago and in case you weren't paying attention Rammy
pass de buck to a guest writer to fill in and speak on behalf of de yummy mummies
out there. So how about those daddies? Surprisingly enough it's been seriously
taxing trying to figure out what makes a good father. Ah big movie buff like
myself and I couldn't even come up with any good examples from de Big Screen daddies!
But I am determined to share... because we are important and needed... right? Now,
it have plenty scandal everywhere... and I ent want to start with Larry Achong
again. At the same time I ent no expert on de topic by any means, despite what
de name may suggest, but Dr. Ram Dass is here to take a poke at the heart of Fatherhood.
I have to admit that being a man and a father myself doesn't make it any clearer...
but it isn't a sad realization. It's actually an enlightening revelation. Truth
is… all men aren't mature fathers... we're just boys that have grown up and
had children ourselves. As men, we respond to a sense of duty and love...
and we accept the title of Father. According to Tom Wolfe, we adopt the role so
that our children will have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector,
who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life.
Well... at least until they make children of they own :-) They
say that imitation is the highest from of a compliment... how about "like
father, like son..." or "the branch not falling far from the tree"? A
man will grow and hope that he passes on his looks, speech patterns, posture,
walk and maybe even opinions to his child, but to do this... to truly experience
the essence of fatherhood, a man must relive his life. Start the journey all
over again, side by side with his child, and this time with all of his lessons
and rewards from his own life. It's
a rewarding thought... getting to do things all over again (even if it's thru
the eyes of another) and if I wasn't a perfect enough man and I couldn't think
of any exemplary figures from the silver screen, I could think of a few real life
ones... There have been several Father's of the Fatherland/Nations (Latin translation
Pater Patriae), starting with the first ever Marcus Tullius Cicero and followed
by Julius Caesar. Amazing that 2 men could be granted the title of Father
of the Nation, but out of the 24 that held that title in Rome , they were never
Roman Emperors! What these 2 held in common and was hailed for was their great
"contribution to the preservation and integrity of the state" Today
I see that translates to paying rent (legally), food on de table, and leading
the house by setting standards, all this while maintaining a descent quality of
living... more things that good daddies do :-) Cicero defended the Consulate and
gained respect for his wisdom and unbending ethics, Caesar for his Courage and
leadership (even as a dictator)... Hail Caesar... in my house de pot spoon
is mightier than the pen. My
favorite father of all time would be Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known simply
as Gandhi. Like most post classical era Father of Nations his role is in founding
a state rather than preserving it. But like George Washington, Sun Yat-sen and
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Mahatma played fatherhood well in making his children
independent and free, giving them the opportunity to do and be who they want to
while providing the resources and guidance for them to succeed. Hopefully it won't
require any blood shed for my little country to develop? It's
not easy... for those that stand on duty I salute you. The rewards for the challenge
are certainly fulfilling. Remember, there's a very small nation that needs
you, it's probably going to want you to visit the big yard to intimidate someone
else's nation so be prepared Caesar. But according to the Irish proverb, "You've
got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was." Dr.
Ram Dass on Fathering,
Trini Jungle Juice Team ^
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