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This is Moonshell here, reporting on a holiday that passed by a few weeks ago:
Father's Day. I hope you all had a good one!
Father's Day, as well as Mother's Day, has often been accused of being a
"Hallmark Holiday" -- a holiday created by the card industry to increase the
sales of flowers, cards and candy. On these holidays, a few questions always pop
into my head. So to answer my first question, "Is Father's Day really a
commercial, superficial,'Hallmark Holiday'?", we have to take a brief look at
the history of Father's Day, which suggests otherwise.
Sonora Dodd first had the idea of a "Father's Day" while listening to a
Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora thought the idea of a special day to
honor her father, William Smart, was fabulous. Her father had had a very hard
life. He was a Civil War veteran and was widowed when his wife died while giving
birth to their sixth child.
When Sonora became an adult, she realized just how selfless her father had been
as he raised his children as a single parent. He had made many parental
sacrifices without having a wife to help raise them.
The first Father's Day was held on the June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington.
Sonora specifically chose the month of June because it was her father's
birth-month. The holiday was unofficial until 1966, when President Lyndon
Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June to
be Father's Day.
So there we have it: Father's Day wasn't created by the card industry, but
instead by a dedicated daughter.
Now, in the back of my mind, I had to wonder, "Is Father's Day really a good
idea for a holiday?" I sometimes think Father's Day, as well as Mother's Day,
ostracizes or excludes children whose mother or father are not alive or are
somehow unable to spend the day with them.
Don't those children feel awful, not having a father to spend Father's Day with?
Is it really fair to those who are unable to spend the day with their parents
for whatever reason, but instead spend the day mourning? Or should those
children simply get over it?
Baffled, I went to the people of Whyville for answers, and here is what they had
to say:
Bracelet: Personally, I think that Mother's day and Father's Day
are excellent holidays because often mothers and fathers do not receive enough
respect and attention that they surely deserve simply because of their constant
hard efforts for their family. I find that these occasions definitely give them
a day to be honoured. These holidays could very well "ostracize or exclude
children," but surely, the children are used to having no mother or father? This
day is extremely important.. not only for the parents, but for the entire family
as well and I think that although it may offend a few orphans, it is worth it to
have numerous content parents in the end!
Lmtdred: I think that they are both good holidays because it is a
way to give thanks to parents. Even though some kids' parents are dead, it
doesn't mean that they still can't celebrate it. If kids don't have parents and
were adopted then they can give thanks to the people who raised them, kids whose
parents are dead can just go to their parents graveyards and celebrate the
holidays there. They are both days to spend with your family.
CrucifyMe: I don't think so at all. It's a day to appreciate what
your parents do for you, but if they aren't there to do anything for you, then
why celebrate it? For instance, I never see my dad and on Father's Day I didn't
even say "Hi" to him, LoL. He just isn't around, and I don't think a kid should
feel bad that they don't have a parent to celebrate a day that doesn't apply to
them, seeing as they haven't got a parent. As far as ostracizing goes, sure it
excludes them because a lot of other kids are saying, "Happy Mother's/Father's
Day!" But really, if you take a look around I don't think they're missing out on
much. The day is for the moms' or dads' enjoyment, not theirs.
Pyxe2680: Hey, I don't even know my dad. All I know is that he is
in jail somewhere and won't get out for another year. On Father's Day, my mom
begins to act all funny and locks herself in her room, and sleeps... she doesn't
like talking about my dad and I'm not bothered by the fact that he isn't here...
I think :( .... =D
Walrusy: I think Mother's Day and Father's Day are a great way to
say thanks to your Mum and Dad for putting up with you for another year before
they go crazy. If you are unable to spend Mother's or Father's Day with your
parents, for whatever reason, I think they must be pretty hard days to get
through.
bamsk8r13: No, I don't even think that excludes those kind of
children.
xpixix: I think parentless children should go to the grave and
spend time with them, or just give a present to a Grandma or Grandpa.
The responses seem to be unanimous. The general response was "If you have
parents to spend Mother's and Father's Day with, this is a great holiday.
However if you don't, go visit their graves if you can, or go to grandparents."
Thanks to all who where kind enough to lend their opinions and wonderful
suggestions as to how to cope if you are parentless on these holidays.
This is Moonshell, signing off, looking forward to another great Father's Day.
:)
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