Opinion

from June 9 - 2022

Classifieds

EDITORIAL The furious Mother Nature VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT

Justice Smith, Grade 3

As weeks go by I start to gain a better understanding of what the people of Merritt have gone through in the past year. Recently, there has been consistent rains in town that had even the bravest of us concerned whether or not November 2021 will happen again. Luckily there hasn’t been any indications of flooding and the recent ‘high stream flow’ advisory the town was put on has now been lifted.

Coming across some news, I have learned that Merritt has also recorded all time high temperatures last year of about 44.5 degrees celsius. The Province has made recent announcements to address the potential of another ‘heat dome’ like the one last year which claimed 619 lives throughout BC.

On top of all of these, fire season is quickly approaching and all levels of government are working on projects to help mitigate the potential of another huge series of wildfires throughout the province. I was told that last year, there was a ring of fire surrounding Merritt, leaving only one point of entry and exit.

These examples really put into perspective how powerful and destructive nature can be. It be unforgiving for those who are not prepared and as I learn more, I realize that it will take us as a community working together to be resilient against these forces.

IZAIAH REYES

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MERRITT HERALD

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LETTERS to the editor Thank you to our volunteers

Editor,

From the Herald archives: June, 2008

COUNTRY

SINGER CEMENTED

The Merritt Dance Society would like to thank all the volunteers and donors for our Bottle Drive on May 28. We are proud to be in such a wonderful and generous community. We look forward to seeing everyone at our “Dance Party in the Park” on June 12, 2022 at Smith Pioneer Park, Lower Nicola, from 12pm3pm. Just keep dancing!

Merritt Dance Society

Fathering the fathers in an expanding ‘father-less’ world

NARAYAN MITRA

You Gotta Have FAITH

No doubt the number of fathers are still aplenty in the world (and quite many of them in the growing teenage bracket), but the lack of severely responsible ones are of great sociological concern. The role of Canadian fathers in a family has seen colossal changes in the last 50 or so years. In the past, fathers were outsiders when babies were born. The man’s role was to chauffeur the expectant mother to the

hospital, wait outside the delivery room, and pass out cheers when the doctor declared that the mother and child were in the all clear. Today, when babies are born, fathers are expected to be in the delivery room, to feel the release of emotion in the birthing experience along with the mother. He has to experience the joy as well as the bawling of seeing new life come into the world. Being a parent today also means the dad playing an active role in the daily physical and emotional life of his children. This new code of behaviour means the corporate warriors are supposed to go home to be with their children. And mothers, while still keeping the home fires burning, also have to work outside the home for economic survival as well as advancing their own career. If men are competent to parent, what stops them from engaging in more family work? While many men may want to be more involved, they have not been prepared for extensive roles in parenting, either through family socialization or formal education. In our post-industrialized culture, getting back to the involved father’s role involves an act of pioneering for most men. Men must figure out how to balance breadwinner and nurturer roles and bring up the next generation with values that will serve the kids well. This requires a leap not only in conscious attitudes and behaviours but also the implicit gut-level assumptions about what is appropriate for the children. What does the church have to say to men today that will help them make the leap into fatherhood? The most important resource for helping a man become a caregiving dad is probably sitting right next to him in the pew. Some pre-parenting support at the church and community level could help both the parents to prepare. Changing behaviour by helping men realize the benefits to their own psychological health is a good first step for churches to take. Not only do men who are involved in day-to-day care of children reap real benefits but their children are helped by male nurturing as well. Benefits for the children of caregiving fathers are well documented. Fathers provide a distinct model of male behaviour for children that is different from mothers. Children who have caregiving fathers have advantages over those with traditional fathers. Adjusting our perception to how families work does not necessarily mean altering church doctrine or biblical theology. However, discovering how the community which our church serves has altered, may call for adaptation of style and behaviour. Taking the time to consider what we can do to help individual fathers meet new expectations will make our congregations a place of leadership in the community. Patterns help predict the future which includes men with their children. That is good news for husbands, wives, and children.

Being relevant to busy couples who want to put family first means helping them move beyond the traditional role models of the 1950s and move with the new needs of the family in the 21st century. Having church leaders who are aware of the importance of men in childrearing will help in the understanding of new patterns. If the church updates the caricatures of families past with the realities of families in the present, it will give the church the opportunity to continue influencing the future through the leadership of fathers active and present. Indeed, “one father is more than a hundred schoolmasters,” according to George Herbert.

Up-andcoming country star Jason Blaine found a home away from home, performing at the Walk of Stars Gala on Friday, he joined the best and the brightest in country music on stage at the Civic Centre. The next day Blaine was immortalized after he put his hands in cement to create a star. He says the recognition will be a big boost for his career. “It’s a huge honour to be considered among the rest of my peers.”

LETTERS POLICY

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