Because everyone I know was affected by a nearby father, whether their own or someone else's. And every man I know has multiple opportunities to make a difference in the life of someone who could use the influence, especially if their father is absent, for whatever reason.
And in a lot of communities and demographic segments, lots of Dads are missing, physically, emotionally, psychologically and/or otherwise. So you and those around you that you care about, whether male or not, have lots of opportunities to help fill in some pretty important gaps in some pretty important lives.
My Dad was there. My parents stayed together until they each died, less than two years apart. (The only idiot who even suggested they consider divorce was me, in a fit of youthful pique about which I am still privately embarrassed. At least, it was "privately" until now.) And I know for a fact -- as a mentor to middle school children, and someone who lives near two or three high schools AND a junior college -- that you, I and society can tell the difference between kids whose parents were present and engaged and kids who lacked this fundamental support. And those differences are not always pretty, to put it mildly.
Love your Dad, whether or not he's around, and especially if he is. And if you know someone who's missing a Dad, try to help out in whatever way you can. Everyone wins.
