FATHERS’ DAY was observed last Sunday. In New York, Guyanese children honoured their fathers at services in mandirs and churches and of course at home.  In the mandirs, the youths prepared a sumptuous lunch and distributed gifts. Fathers’ Day is set aside in the western world to honour and show respect to fathers and adult males perhaps for neglecting him for the rest of the year. It is observed just once a year.  But I feel everyday should be Fathers’ Day and Mothers’ Day.
Pampering dads and moms once a year is not enough. We should honour our parents as they are like Gods and Goddesses.  They care for us in our formative years and have made immeasurable contributions to society.  They shower us with gifts and love throughout our childhood and even during adulthood. They are forever caring for us and checking up to see how we are doing.
Children’s expressions of gratitude and affection for fathers is concentrated on this one day as it was for Mothers’ Day last month. Showing appreciation to fathers for one day is better than not showing them any appreciation. Sometimes, parents are not always appreciated for their sacrifices and burdensome responsibilities in taking care of the family. Thus, honouring them one day is a terrific concept considering that in the Caribbean community, abusing parents is becoming an increasingly common incidence. It is well known that many fathers and grandfathers are abused by their children. Parents often complain about an increasing trend of abuse among their children in NY.  Indeed, there are many Caribbean youths who don’t show much love and appreciation for fathers; they often use violence against parents. Coming to the U.S, they have become completely immersed into mainstream American culture shedding their traditional family values such as love and respect for their elders.  It is common (or the hip thing) to hear them use obscenities among the elders.  Some even curse out elders and their own parents.  Gone are the good values of the Caribbean where children respect and fear adults. As some adults complain, “they are hard of hearing” and “own way” ignoring the learned advice of elders and “going astray”. Thus, these children need proper guidance.
While it is noble to treat parents well for one day and is a lot better than ignoring them throughout the year, the greatest honour we can bestow on our parents is to respect them and provide for their wellbeing till death.  Fathers,( parents and elders in general) should really be honoured daily because they make us who and what we are.