Last night, I came late to a discussion among young college educated professionals about the show POWER.
The conversation started as a debate of Tasha’s loyalty and Ghost’s lust. The women felt Tasha went above and beyond to be loyal to Ghost, while he took a hiatus from his real life to live a fantasy with his high school sweetheart.
While the women in the discussion found it admirable that Tasha chose to protect her kids by refusing to cosign & hive Ghost access to funds they set aside for the children; the men were appalled that she had the audacity to deny him access to funds HE worked for.
The conversation got heated.
What interest me most about reading through these opinionated exchanges were their thoughts on Ghost as a Dad.
The argument was made that Ghost is an absentee Daddy.
Rebuttal; he’s separated from his wife so distance is to be expected.
Counterargument; Ghost can’t use the separation as an excuse, because Tasha encourages him to spend time with the kids without her.
Rebuttal: Ghost works two jobs to provide for his kids therefore he CAN’T be absent.
That’s where I chimed in. It appeared to me that most of the men felt like providing was adequate parenting and the women in the group quickly pointed out the many specific scenarios in which Tasha had to say “Yo Ghost, Lil’ Man wildin’ come get him.” Because clearly Ghost is too busy to see the signs of an outburst himself.
One of the women in the discussion, took specific issue with Ghost’s methods of discipline. She was disappointed that their son raising his hand at his mother only warranted a talking to, but calling his father’s mistress out of name called for Ghost putting his paws on him.
The men felt that their son was out of line and in “grown folk’s business” and this woman felt passionate that any teenage boy would be upset with their Dad for mistreating their Mother.
One of the guys responded “Bad husband doesn’t automatically mean bad father.”
That wasn’t the first time I heard that statement, and under some circumstances, it’s true. Some men don’t allow their shortcomings as a husband/significant other to affect their relationship with their children. However, Ghost doesn’t qualify as one of these men to me.
Reasons why are as follows:
- He’s only physically present by their mother’s request
- He was uncomfortable when his son prolonged their embrace.
- He’s willing to jeopardize funds set aside for the children’s future to fix his past.
- He brought his son to learn his business, but pawned him off on someone else.
- He thinks providing financially can replace a loving interactive relationship
At the end of the day James “Ghost” St. Patrick is human, and just like real dads, this Fictional Father is Flawed.
