Do You Deserve a Kid?

We almost never watch Shark, a TV show about a hard-nosed attorney, but tonight we did. The episode was about an escaped killer who kidnaps Shark's daughter. The killer/kidnapper holds a mock trial in which he requires Shark to prove that Shark deserves his daughter; whether Shark is a good enough father to have his daughter returned to him.

I imagine there are viewers who asked themselves, "Do I deserve to have my child?"

In the show Shark argued that he was flawed, but that he loved his daughter and was trying to be a better father and would do anything to get her back. Is that what you would argue? I think the show missed a chance to present a different perspective. If I was Shark, I would have argued differently.

Some people, presumably the killer among them, consider children to be their property, a gift to them, a blessing to them, someone to help with chores or on the farm or to take care of you in your old age. They would hopefully argue forcefully to get their daughter back. Not me.

I would argue that I was there for the child. It's not a question of returning my child to me, it's a question of returning me to my child. The show was parent-centric, but I'm child-centric. Children are the future. If you want to change the future, then change the children. The next generation is always more important than the current one. Parents are of most importance in the grand scheme of things for making the world a better place for their children, and for making their children better citizens for the world.

If I was Shark, I would have argued that even if I was a poor father, I did my best for my child, she turned out great, and what I did was done to improve the life of the child. The kidnapper should release the daughter not to benefit the father, but so she could have her father back to guide and support her.

Maybe that's why I don't watch Shark.


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Opinion