Soliloquy For The American Dad

Today you will probably have a nice barbecue for good ol' dad. You'll probably sit down with him, snap open a couple of beers, and talk about sports, cars, and that crazy girlfriend of yours. As you sit and talk with dad, you might find yourself thinking that this isn't my dad. This is the image of fatherhood that we Americans have interpreted it to be and the American dad has become a stereotype much like the bubbly, affectionate tone of Mother's Day. We all know who the American Dad is. He's the one that likes to come home, sit in front of the tube, and pop open a can of Budweiser. It's no wonder why American culture has hailed Homer Simpson as one of it's greatest cartoon influences.

In America, Father's Day is slowly turning into another way of convincing American culture what type of people we should admire and look up to. Mother's Day and Father's Day for the most are treated from the man's point of view. Mother's Day is all about buying your mother flowers, jewelry, perfume, and other things that will make her feel like a queen. Father's Day is all about work accessories, jokes about men being lazy and father-son bonding. Marketers are not stupid and they figured out a long time ago that companies could make a lot of money if they promoted these stereotypes to the American public and we brought it. So every time you buy that #1 Dad mug for your old man, we're falling into that trap of stereotyping dad and there is no reason for it. You should love your parents for what they are and you shouldn't be ashamed if your mom or dad doesn't exactly add up to the standards of American culture. So if you want to have a beer with your dad, then have a beer with him. If you want go for father-son manicures, then go right ahead. No one should have to tell you how you should or shouldn't spend your Father's Day with your dad. So I hope those fathers, both new and old, that spent valuable time with their sons and daughters had a wonderful Father's Day.

This has been Ian Feldman speaking words of wisdom.