Dads have lost respect over the years for one reason - television. If you're anything like me, much of how you view the world has been shaped by TV.
It teaches us life lessons, and how to deal with important decisions. It shows us the importance of strong relationships, and of solving everyday problems within a half hour of it arising. I value the things tv has taught me far more than those that school or parents have.
I feel like i have a good outlook on foriegn relations, thanks to Balki Bartokomous from Perfect Strangers. I'm not intimidated by courtrooms or legal situations, thanks to Night Court. Punky Brewster taught me to be kind and generous to orphans, because they have rockin' sneakers. Alf showed me that we could adapt to any situation, and overcome our addiction to eating cats.
TV used to tell us to love dads. TV dads used to be awesome. Steven Keaton from Family Ties? Awesome dad. He had such a scholarly beard. Jason Seaver from Growing Pains? So wise. And he hosted game shows on the side. Mr. Belvedere's George Owens? Wise. Funny. All-American. Bill Cosby? With his hoagies and his jazz and his goofy faces? Who didn't want Bill Cosby as their father?
These are the dads that TV made us love and respect. This shaped our image of dads and our level of respect for them.
But then he came. I loved him. I really did. I just didn't realize the damage he was causing. Al Bundy ushered in a new era where the dad was comic relief. Where he was reluctant, bumbling, ineffective. We laughed along as he flushed his toilet, and as he formed No MA'AM. We felt bad for him when he peered out the window watching for the pizza man, knowing he would never show. We clamored for our VCRs as, in a very special episode, Sam Kinison visited him on Christmas Eve. But inside, our respect for dads was wilting.
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