Barack Obama on Fatherhood

For the last month, the media has been covering Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's comments about responsible fatherhood. On Father's Day at the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side, Obama said, "Any fool can have a child — that doesn't make you a father. Too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes. They've abandoned their responsibilities. They're acting like boys instead of men.

"And the foundations of our families have suffered because of it. ... There's a reason why our families are in disrepair, and some of it has to do with a tragic history, but we can't keep on using that as an excuse."

Obama also spoke first hand about growing up in a single parent home. "I know the toll it took on me not having a father in the house — the hole in your heart when you don't have a male figure that can guide you. ... So I resolved many years ago that ... if I could do anything in life, I would be a good father to my children."

While Obama's message was primarily directed at African-American fathers, there is an important message for all fathers. Take personal responsibility and be a real and present father.