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The next four years (and beyond)
Nov. 7th, 2012 04:29 pmIn the final days of the 2012 campaign, I happened across a picture of Mitt Romney embracing his grandson, Parker, which can be found at the following address: http://twitchy.com/2012/11/04/what-love-looks-like-photo-of-mitt-romney-hugging-grandson-parker/. Photographs capture moments, and in this moment, the unconditional love that Mr. Romney has for his grandson is apparent to all but the hardest of heart.
I recently read the discussion that Dr. Paul Vitz gave to Socrates in the City regarding the importance of fatherhood, and how a child's father is an incredibly important influence on how the child relates to the world, and more importantly, God. In hearing more about Mr. Romney's family, it becomes blindingly obvious that he has lived a life of value and virtues, and that his sons, now grown, have benefited tremendously from this, as he did from the example of his own father. A child that does not have this very often grows up in rebellion, raging blindly, flailing against an "unfair" system, rejecting all the traditional values that he did not have the opportunity to experience as a child. Furthermore, many of these people never truly recover from the effects of a "stunted" childhood.
Getting back to the picture of Parker Romney, though, I have to wonder if there was any time in President Obama's childhood where there was somebody who would do the same for him. I know he had a stepfather and a grandfather, but the way the younger Romney is being held, it presupposes a relationship of pure love and mutual adoration. As with Mr. Romney's own children, I have no doubt that young Parker is growing up with love and support and character, and will almost certainly be successful in whatever endeavor he chooses.
I am disappointed, to say the least, that President Barack Obama was re-elected. So much of his campaign was hinged on the politics of divisiveness and envy. He preaches to (at least) two generations now that have suffered incredibly from the absence of parents, particularly fathers. My generation was one of "latchkey kids" and this one is one of single moms and daycare. And so it is no wonder that his message resonates with a large percentage of the population. Our challenge going forward is not so much political as it is cultural: We need more men like Mitt Romney so that we have fewer children like Barack Obama.
I recently read the discussion that Dr. Paul Vitz gave to Socrates in the City regarding the importance of fatherhood, and how a child's father is an incredibly important influence on how the child relates to the world, and more importantly, God. In hearing more about Mr. Romney's family, it becomes blindingly obvious that he has lived a life of value and virtues, and that his sons, now grown, have benefited tremendously from this, as he did from the example of his own father. A child that does not have this very often grows up in rebellion, raging blindly, flailing against an "unfair" system, rejecting all the traditional values that he did not have the opportunity to experience as a child. Furthermore, many of these people never truly recover from the effects of a "stunted" childhood.
Getting back to the picture of Parker Romney, though, I have to wonder if there was any time in President Obama's childhood where there was somebody who would do the same for him. I know he had a stepfather and a grandfather, but the way the younger Romney is being held, it presupposes a relationship of pure love and mutual adoration. As with Mr. Romney's own children, I have no doubt that young Parker is growing up with love and support and character, and will almost certainly be successful in whatever endeavor he chooses.
I am disappointed, to say the least, that President Barack Obama was re-elected. So much of his campaign was hinged on the politics of divisiveness and envy. He preaches to (at least) two generations now that have suffered incredibly from the absence of parents, particularly fathers. My generation was one of "latchkey kids" and this one is one of single moms and daycare. And so it is no wonder that his message resonates with a large percentage of the population. Our challenge going forward is not so much political as it is cultural: We need more men like Mitt Romney so that we have fewer children like Barack Obama.
