DEADBEAT DADS? Not always....

I admit I do not do enough public interest stories. I spend so much time trying to get to the bottom of the problems throughout this City that I sometimes do not get to some issues that need getting to.

Take the following for example.

I came across this story from a comment by a poster on another story on this blog months ago. I meant to followup on it and quite honestly was consumed with so many other stories I just flat out did not have time and forgot about it for awhile. Today as I was perusing the net and checking out www.pageonekentucky.com as I usually do, Jake does some great stories remember the Felner mess?, I found this small story today about this problem. And You Thought You Had It Bad?

You see we spend so much time trying to blame single parent families, or more specifically lack of father's in their children's lives more often than not, that we sometimes forget that there are fathers out there who want to be part of their kids lives but the children are used as pawns for some personal self gratification play by a parent. Whether from vengeance for being wronged to just flat out anger really does not matter. NO CHILD should be used as a pawn in the vengeance of either parent.

The story begins with an affair by Julia Ricketts, wife of noted attorney Jon Ricketts, resulting in a pregnancy by someone other than her husband. Ms. Ricketts originally allowed the boyfriend to have some time with his son then decided to stop all contact thus denying the true father of any parental rights to visitation with his son. On top of all that after at least 3 DNA tests, accompanying pictures and video of the boyfriend and Ms. Ricketts together where she openly calls him the father of her baby, miraculously the Supreme Court has refused him any parental rights.

Of course the father of Jon Ricketts is none other than Charles Ricketts a very noted attorney.

What gives?

I cannot do justice to the story here. Honestly it is one of the most bizarre politically driven cases I have seen when it comes to the rights of the parent. In this case the courts are also essentially denying the rights of the paternal Grandparents as well.

Isn't there a movement across the Country where courts have upheld even Grandparent rights as well?

Are the continuing court challenges designed to delay any chance of the natural father to have contact until the child is old enough where the courts can use the excuse:

"Based on no contact with the natural father we feel at this time contact would be harmful to the child."

Justice delayed is justice denied. There will come an age of a child where the above excuse could actually be valid in some cases. Not in this case though. This particular case is one that proves the only things that matter where our kids are concerned is who can make a mockery of the system to benefit themselves. Not our kids.

I urge you to read this link for the story complete with evidence, www.letmeseemyson.blogspot.com, and ask yourself one question:

If this was your child what would you do?

If your answer is the same as mine contact your legislator and ask them to help unite this father and son.

Demand that the rights of fathers are just as inherent as the rights of mothers. No parental rights should outweigh the other based on some personal scheme or shame. I was raised by my stepfather when my mom abandoned my brothers and I. I know firsthand that there are deadbeat PARENTS. My mom proved that. It works both ways.

It is puzzling to me that in today's world we still want to believe that a woman is always the best parent versus the man. There are many fathers out there that want to be part of their kids lives emotionally, financially, and every way that matters, yet are not given the opportunity to do so because of idiocy like this case shows. I know from experience.

Let's demand equality in the most basic area of all.

For our families including our Dad's.

Our kids are our future do they not deserve to know the past they came from?