AUTUMN 2008 ISSUE - IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)

IS AMERICA READY FOR A NATIONAL FATHERHOOD PLATFORM?


Are America’s Married Fathers, Divorced Fathers, Teenage Fathers, Single Fathers, Custodial Fathers, Non-Custodial Fathers, “Long Distance” Fathers and “Stay-At-Home” Fathers getting what they need to create key “pieces of the puzzle” to strengthen and move their families forward, empower the communities in which they live and work, and positively shape the minds and souls of our children – our future – our bridge to the future?


Would the creation of a National Fatherhood Platform enable America’s Married Fathers, Divorced Fathers, Teenage Fathers, Single Fathers, Custodial Fathers, Non-Custodial Fathers, “Long Distance” Fathers and “Stay-At-Home” Fathers to get what they need to create key “pieces of the puzzle” to strengthening and empowering families and communities and positively shaping the minds and souls of our children –our future – our bridge to the future?


Is America ready for a National Fatherhood Platform that would effect with deliberate speed the passage of the Men’s Health Act of 2007 (House Bill H.R.1440 and Senate Bill S.640) -- which is designed to establish an Office of Men’s Health within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that would be responsive to the severe health crisis that exists for American men in the same manner that the Office of Women’s Health responds to the unique health issues of American women?


Heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, prostate cancer, hypertension, and Alzheimer's Disease are just a few of the unique health issues that confront men in the United States.


It is estimated that approximately 22.1% of men in the United States have coronary heart disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer accounts for approximately 9% of all cancer-related deaths in men. At least 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer will be reported by the end of 2008 according to the American Cancer Society. It is estimated that by the end of 2008, approximately 28,660 prostate cancer patients may die.

While colorectal cancer is believed to be the third most common form of cancer in the United States, men have a slightly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than women. It is estimated that by the end of 2008, the number of adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States will reach approximately 148,810 – 77,250of these individuals will be men and 71,560 will be women.

It is estimated that approximately 49,960 colorectal cancer patients will die by the end of 2008. And it is further estimated that 24,260 men will succumb to colorectal cancer by the end of 2008.

Approximately 5,000,000 individuals in the United States have Alzheimer’s Disease. It is estimated that 1 in every 10 men is expected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease by their 55th birthday.


In October 2007, Equal Parenting became the law of the land in Denmark. In the United States, Equal Parenting Initiatives have been launched in a number of states which include California, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio and West Virginia to amend existing legislation governing parental custodial rights in separation and divorce cases. The Equal Parenting Initiatives seek to create legislation which allows for the granting of equal legal custody and equal physical custody of children whose parents have either separated or divorced. Equal Parenting Initiatives seek to provide children of separated or divorced parents with equal access to Dad and Mom and allow Dad and Mom, although they may be separated or divorced, to equally love, nurture and mentor our children – our future – our bridge to the future.


Is America ready for a National Fatherhood Platform which would pave the way for Equal Parenting to become the law of the land? Could a National Fatherhood Platform be the first step in returning Fathers in America to the Parenting Equation and ensuring that Fatherhood remains at the center of America’s national political radar screen?

Welcome to the Autumn 2008 -- Is America Ready For A National Fatherhood Platform issue of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®.


In this issue you will meet phenomenal individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations who pay tribute to Fathers; examine the Fatherhood Crisis and the movement of Fatherhood to the center of America’s national political radar screen; explore how the gap of academic failure is being closed for our children; give us insight into what our children are thinking and feeling and how we can raise confident and compassionate children in an “age of self-importance”; and introduce us to the art of Internet book promotion.

Jazz and Blues Diva Joan Cartwright (www.divajc.com and www.wijs.com) is a dynamic force in the Global Creative Community. She is an author, composer, and lecturer who has toured five continents, eight European countries, Brazil, Mexico, Ghana, Gambia, South Africa, China and Japan. Cartwright has delighted audiences throughout our Global Village with her dynamic performances which include her most famous blues tunes – “Nobody’s Husband”, “Oh Baby!”, and “Treat Me Right And You Don’t Have To Marry Me!” Her book, In Pursuit Of A Melody (www.trafford.com), contains 40 songs and lyrics to such standards as Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night In Tunisia”, Kenny Durham’s “Blue Boss”, Miles Davis’ “Tune Up”, and John Coltrane’s “Bessie’s Blues”. In Pursuit Of A Melody also contains two lectures –“Women In Jazz” and “So You Want To Be A Singer?” -- which she has given to over 6,000 children and college students in the United States, Switzerland, Sicily, China and Japan. Joan Cartwright is also the author of Rhythm Of The Heart (www.lulu.com), the Founder of Women In Jazz South Florida, Inc.—a non-profit organization which promotes Women In Jazz locally, nationally and internationally --is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FYI Communications, Inc. (www.fyicomminc.com) which offers website design and business applications for artists, authors, musicians, and entrepreneurs. She is also the host of an Internet radio talk show entitled Music Woman Talk Radio which airs on Wednesdays at 6:00 P.M. at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman. Ms. Cartwright makes her debut as a Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® and pays tribute to her 88-year old Father in Daddy’s Girl.


Ms. Nicole Dantzler, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dantzler, is one of the Millennium’s great young literary talents. Ms. Dantzler made her debut as a Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® in our Summer 2008 issue. She introduced our readers to Nikki’s Place. A Publishing/Journalism Intern for IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®’s International Fatherhood and Men’s Issues Internship Program, .Ms. Dantzler, -- through Nikki’s Place -- enlivened our CHILDRENS CORNER section with her colorful and rhythmic prose. Ms. Dantzler and Nikki’s World returns to CHILDREN’S CORNER where she dazzles us with a thought-provoking poem – Alone In The Darkness. Incidentally, the concept for CHILDREN’S CORNER was created by one of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®’s staunchest supporter – a very hip, vibrant and wise 94-year old gentleman -- who has empowered and strengthened his family and the community in which he lives and has worked. He continues to be the center of his family’s universe. So, who is this gentleman? Well, I’d love to tell you, but he prefers to remain anonymous!


In June 2008, one of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®’s Senior Contributing Editors Paul M. Clements shared with me his concept for a forum which would explore the Fatherhood crisis. The concept has spawned a collaboration between yours truly and Mr. Clements who is the Founder and President of Dads Against Divorce Discrimination (www.daddnh.org) and a Fathers’ Rights Advocate for over approximately 20 years. The Global Forum On The Fatherhood Crisis which made its debut in our Summer 2008 issue, not only examines the causes of the breakdown of the family and why Men who are Fathers feel they are not getting any R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but also identifies key “pieces of the puzzle” to helping Married Dads, Single Dads, Teen Dads, Custodial Dads, “Long Distance” Dads, “Stay-At-Home” Dads, Non-Custodial Dads, Divorced Dads, and Custodial Dads empower and strengthen our families, our communities, and our world. At my invitation, Carry Greaves, a poet, self-empowerment guru, and Senior Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® adds his voice to the Global Forum On The Fatherhood Crisis through an article entitled, A Fatherhood Crisis Or A Misconception? Mr. Greaves, through A Fatherhood Crisis Or A Misconception, hones in on some of the misconceptions that many in our society have heard and read concerning Fathers and implores us to “peel away the negative labels that have been held in front of our eyes” about Fathers.


At the end of August 2008, I received an invitation from Anna Balasi, an Associate Web Publicist for Online Marketing at Hachette Book Group USA (www.hachettebookgroup.com) and Kelly Leonard, Executive Director for Online Marketing at Hachette Book Group USA to participate in a 30-minute live Blogger Conference Call scheduled for Monday, 22 September 2008 at 11:30 A.M. with Polly Young-Eisdendrath, Ph.D., the author of The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident And Compassionate Kids In An Age Of Self-Importance. While I had to opt out of participating in the conference call due to a scheduling conflict, thanks to Anna Balasi, I was able to review Dr. Young-Eisendrath’s book. Polly Young-Eisendrath, Ph.D. is a psychologist, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Vermont and Consultant in Leadership Development at Norwich University who through her powerful book -- The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident And Compassionate Kids In An Age Of Self-Importance – is giving American parents a serious wake-up call. You’ll find out why I take this position when you read my review of Dr. Young-Eisdendrath’s groundbreaking literary work in our Books for Dad section.


And while we are on the subject of books, I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Ms. Ella D. Curry, an Internet radio talk show host (http://www.edc-creations.com/banradio.html) and the principal of EDC Creations and The Sankofa Literary Society which is located in Prince George County, Maryland. Through EDC Creations (http://www.edc-creations.com) and The Sankofa Literary Society (http://www.sankofaliterarysociety.org), Ms. Curry successfully meshes the worlds of book promotions and information technology which has created state-of the-art marketing campaigns that not only enhances the visual identity of new authors but assists them in carving out a unique niche in a highly competitive global marketplace. As a result, Ms. Curry is viewed by many in the publishing world as the Empress Of Internet Book Promotions. She discusses her role models, who and what inspires her, why she decided to become an entrepreneur, and what the future holds for her in The Literary Chat Room.


A top-notch educational system has been one of the key “pieces of the puzzle” that helped America catapult to the position of one of the world’s leading industrial powers during the 20th Century.. In the 21st Century, many feel that the wheels are continuing to fall off the wagon of America’s educational system. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development administers examinations to fifteen year olds every three years as a means of evaluating their mathematics, science, reading and problem-solving skills (Program for International Student Assessment or “PISA”). In 2003, the tests were administered to fifteen years old in 32 countries. The United States ranked 26th in mathematics out of a field of 32 countries. In science, the United States ranked 20th out of a field of 32 countries. The top-tier of fifteen year old American students who were administered the mathematics test ranked 25th out of a field of 30 countries. In 2006, tests administered to American students resulted in these students receiving a ranking of 29th in science literacy out of a field of 57 countries and a ranking of 35th in mathematics literacy out of a field of 57 countries. America’s academic woes don’t end there. America’s schools are losing teachers at an alarming rate. Throughout the United States, an increasing number of educators are leaving the profession. Why? A small number of educators cite “family obligations” or low salaries as the determining factor for their exodus. An overwhelming majority of educators point to children with behavioral and disciplinary problems, “difficult parents”-- parents who are not supportive of the teachers’ efforts to discipline and educate their children--, and the fact that they are not receiving the support they need from school administrators as reasons they opted out of a career in education. So, whose responsibility is it to create key “pieces of the puzzle” to ebbing the flow of teachers exiting America’s public education system, making the classroom more manageable for teachers who opt to continue their teaching careers, and rekindling our children’s desire to learn? Author, educator, educational consultant, motivational speaker and father Mr. Habibullah Saleem, whom I was introduced to by Mr. Frank Crump, the Founder of UPI Education (www.upieducation.org) -- an alternative educational vehicle which offers and implements a Life Skills SolutionsTM curriculum --, is an individual who has taken responsibility for rekindling our children’s desire to learn. Mr. Saleem discusses, among other things, how he is working to close “the gaps of academic failure with a brand new map for educational excellence” in our Fatherhood Roundtable.


In many ways and for many reasons, the 2008 United States Presidential Election has captured the attention and imagination of everyone throughout our global village. It is estimated that an aggregate of between 37,000,000 to 40,000,000 individuals watched the televised proceedings of the Democratic National Convention which occurred during 25-28 August 2008 and the Republican National Convention which was held during 1-4 September 2008. I was one of those millions of viewers who observed the proceedings of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. For decades, I have observed televised proceedings of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. But there was something very different about the 2008 United States Presidential Election. And what was “very different” about the 2008 United States Presidential Election? I can sum it up for you in one word. And that one word is “Fatherhood”! “Fatherhood” and the “importance of Fathers” was discussed unabashedly in keynote speeches given at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions! And, what does this mean? Well, I shed some light on what I think it means in my article, Transcending Boundaries: Fatherhood And The 2008 United States Presidential Election.


Paul M. Clements, one of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®’s Senior Contributing Editors brought Canadian journalist Mrs. Barbara Kay to my attention during this past summer. Through her columns which are published in Canada’s National Post (www.nationalpost.com), a Canadian English newspaper based in Don Mills, Ontario in Toronto, Canada, Mrs. Kay has become a strong advocate for equal parenting and drives home repeatedly the important role that Fathers play in families and in society. Mrs. Kay makes her debut as a Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® and urges us to Give Dad A Chance.


In Any Man, Paul M. Clements pays tribute to his father-in-law, the late Ernest Landry. Mr. Landry was a World War II veteran and a member of a group of Americans described by Tom Brokaw, former NBC Nightly News Anchor and current host of Meet The Press which airs on Sundays on NBC, as “The Greatest Generation” – which is the title of his (Brokaw’s) book which was published in 1998. Members of “The Greatest Generation” were born between 1901 and 1924. Men from “The Greatest Generation” fought valiantly in World War II, returned home, raised families, worked at back-breaking and spirit-numbing jobs without complaint, strengthened and empowered the communities in which they lived and worked, and quietly and unceremoniously prepared their children – their future – their bridge to the future – to partake of educational and economic opportunities which they themselves could only dream about.


No matter where you are in the world, I think you will find the health and parenting resources and support services you will need in our Global Fatherhood Resources Directory.


I would like to extend a warm “Thank You!” to Ms. Joan Cartwright, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dantzler, Ms. Nicole Dantzler, Ms. Barbara Kay, Mrs. Zarinah Awad Saleem, and Messrs. Paul M. Clements, Frank Crump, Carry Greaves, Albert “Albie” Rutledge, and Habibullah Saleem for their invaluable contributions to the Autumn 2008 -- Is America Ready For A National Fatherhood Platform issue of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®. And, as always, many thanks to our subscribers and to fatherhood organizations and Fatherhood Practitioners throughout our global village who continue to support IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®.

Calendar Year been a year that has provided us all with real-time life lessons about hope and stepping out on faith. It has been a year that has energized and inspired us and captured our imagination. It has been a year that has taught us that all things are possible. And the real-time life lessons, inspiration and positive energy that this year has bestowed upon us are just a few of the key “pieces of the puzzle” that we should utilize to strengthen and empower Fathers, our families, our communities and our world. It is time to “check our egos at the door” and work together to bring all of our key “pieces of the puzzle” to the Table of Humanity. Our future and that of our children and our children’s children depend on it.

The Autumn 2008 -- IS AMERICA READY FOR A NATIONAL FATHERHOOD PLATFORM issue IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R) will be released for distribution beginning on Wednesday, 19 November 2008.

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D.A. Sears
Managing Editor - IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD(R)