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By David Magallanes / Guest contributor
David Magallanes
We almost had to cheer when we read or saw the report* this past month about the Kentucky man, William Merideth, who shot down the intrusive drone hovering not only over his back yard, but also over his sunbathing daughter. As much as we might want to support his right to protect his daughter, he was arrested, of course, for “criminal mischief” and endangerment of the lives of his neighbors.
It’s very tempting for owners of firearms to use them for defense against perceived threats. And it’s understandable in this case: a father of a daughter instinctively feels obligated to “protect” her from all of life’s threats to her honor, respect, chastity, dignity and her very life. This inclination may very well dwell within the male genes of fathers. It is also likely a carryover from medieval times, when the role of knights was to protect the kingdom and its women. There are chivalrous web sites today that promote the “art of manliness,” which includes protecting the hearts and esteem of the ladies in our lives.
However, we must also be aware that modern psychology warns against a father’s impulse to protect and rescue his daughter from every danger that falls from the sky, so to speak. In her book How To Father a Successful Daughter, author Nicky Marone explains** that such fathers send an “insidious and debilitating message.” That is, “…he creates in her the belief that she is vulnerable and in need of male protection.” Ms. Marone goes on to explain that this daughter will grow up thinking that a knight in shining armor will be there whenever she feels a need to be “saved.”
This is not unlike the fantasy that many of us have of some form of a “Superman,” or a “Superwoman,” or a “messiah,” who we learn to expect will appear and “save the day” for us.
*The Washington Times, July 30, 2015, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/30/william-merideth-arrested-after-shooting-down-1800/
** How To Father a Successful Daughter, Nicky Marone, Ballantine Books, 1988, p. 22, http://www.amazon.com/How-Father-Successful-Daughter-Ingredients/dp/0449002608
— David Magallanes is a writer, speaker and professor of mathematics. You may visit his web site, dedicated to honoring daughters and keeping them healthy, at www.roses4daughters.com. You may contact him through e-mail at dmagallanes@roses4daughters.com.
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Padres Protegiendo a Sus Hijas
Por David Magallanes / Columnista invitado
Casi sentimos la necesidad de echar porras cuando leímos o vimos el reportaje* este mes pasado sobre un hombre del estado de Kentucky quien había derribado un avión no tripulado (un “dron”) que quedaba volando colgado, no solo sobre su patio trasero, sino también sobre su hija quien se encontraba asoleando. Por mucho que quisiéramos sostener su derecho de proteger a su hija, fue arrestado, claro, por “daño doloso” y por poner en peligro las vidas de sus vecinos.
Es muy tentador para los dueños de armas de fuego usarlas en defensa de amenazas percibidas. Y es comprensible en este caso: el padre de una hija instintivamente se siente obligado a “protegerla” de todas las amenazas en la vida en contra de su honor, respeto, dignidad, pudor y su misma vida. Puede que esta inclinación habite los genes masculinos de los padres de familia. Además, puede que sea también un residuo de los tiempos medievales, cuando el papel de los caballeros era proteger el reino y a sus mujeres. Existen sitios cibernéticos caballerosos hoy en día que promueven “el arte de la hombría”, lo cual incluye la protección de los corazones y la estima de las damas en nuestras vidas.
Sin embargo, hemos de reconocer que la psicología moderna nos advierte tocante al impulso de los padres de proteger y rescatar a sus hijas contra todo peligro que caiga del cielo, por decirlo así. En su libro, How To Father a Successful Daughter [Como Ser Padre Para Una Hija Exitosa (mi traducción)], la autora Nicky Marone explica** que estos padres enviamos un mensaje “insidioso y debilitante”. O sea, “…él hace que ella se crea vulnerable y necesitada de la protección masculina” [mi traducción]. La señora Marone sigue explicando que esta hija va a crecer pensando que un caballero de radiante armadura estará allí cuando ella sienta la necesidad de ser “salvada”.
Esto es similar a la fantasía entre muchos de alguna forma de “super-hombre”, o “super-mujer”, o un “mesías”, a quien llegamos a creer que aparecerá y milagrosamente sacarnos de algún apuro.
*The Washington Times, 30 de Julio de 2015, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/30/william-merideth-arrested-after-shooting-down-1800/
** How To Father a Successful Daughter, Nicky Marone, Ballantine Books, 1988, p. 22, http://www.amazon.com/How-Father-Successful-Daughter-Ingredients/dp/0449002608
-– David Magallanes es un escritor, orador y profesor de matemáticas. Usted puede visitar su sitio cibernético, dedicado a la honra y la salud de nuestras hijas, en www.roses4daughters.com. Se puede comunicar con él por e-mail a: dmagallanes@roses4daughters.com.
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