Is the US a fatherless nation?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Few would object to my suggesting the US is at a turning point – in a period of crisis, clearly reflected by a stark and well-defined difference in political and ideological interests. But wait, the backbone of Western society has, for more than a quarter-millennia, been the nuclear family itself.

Few would object, then, to my suggesting that the nuclear family structure may be at a turning point – in a period of crisis clearly mirrored by a stark and well-defined difference in political and ideological interests. But wait, the structure of the nuclear family has historically been male-dominant pairs, dedicated to raising, to maturity and independence, similar-minded offspring, who do the same in future generations. There’s no politics or ideology involved.

Further, few would object to my suggesting that the problems within the nuclear family’s current structure may be mirrored by the ideological and political conflicts that are taking place nation-wide.

If that’s true, then what we see in the coming election may be nothing more than a dad who realises his little girl has been misbehaving and needs to be set back on the right track, versus a spoiled, not-the-brightest kid in the family. The little girl, who thinks she’s smart and old enough to stay up past her bedtime, tells him off, and stays up anyway. The next day, she falls asleep at school and the principal calls her home, wanting to know if he’s an abusive parent.

ED MCCOY

Bokeelia, Florida