The Miami Herald’s latest Big Story, proudly displayed on the front page of today’s Section A, is about a controversial task force that was formed by the Bal Harbour Police Department and the Glades County Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of breaking up drug and money laundering rings across the country.  The reporters did an incredibly in depth investigation and raised questions that have still not been answered.

This series, License to Launder, is an amazing journalistic coup and will earn the Herald and its two reporters scads of media awards.  I don’t doubt that for a moment.

What I do doubt is the integrity of the Miami Herald editor to run this story today of all days, the one day of the year set aside to honor fathers in America.

I also do not doubt that it was by design.

The Sunday edition is the best place to launch a series of investigative reports.  Many print edition Herald readers choose a Sunday subscription as opposed to receiving the entire week’s worth of newspapers.  It’s a given that Sunday is the most logical day to reach as many readers as possible.  There are 52 opportunities a year for the Herald to grab their readers’ attention.

Opting to break the story about a questionable police sting operation on Father’s Day was inauspicious at best.  It was malicious at the very worst.

With so many men shirking their responsibilities, fatherhood has indeed fallen out of fashion.  It should come as no surprise that the decline of the family unit, which produced entire generations of children with no positive male role models in their lives, would necessarily lead to trouble.  The so-called “experts” on societal ills refuse to recognize that this is one of  most obvious causes of criminal behavior.  The effect is especially prevalent among young males who rarely, if ever, have any meaningful contact with their own fathers, many of whom were themselves raised in a fatherless household.

Far too many women view men as nothing more than sperm donors and baby daddies who sometimes pay child support.  If they’re lucky.  But, instead of viewing absentee fathers as the problem, modern day “wisdom” has concluded that fathers are optional, and fatherhood unnecessary.

Fortunately for me, my mother didn’t feel that way.  I’d give anything for the chance to spend today with my father, who was the most most influential and important person in my life until he died five years ago last month.  As difficult as Father’s Day is for me, I was fortunate to have my dad far into my adult years.  My son, who lost his father at age 15, was not so lucky.

Equally unfortunate are the children of the 125 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty since last Father’s Day, June 15, 2015, four of them this month alone.

Sheriff Ladson O’Conner of Montgomery County, Georgia, was killed on June 16, 2015 in an accident while pursuing two armed suspects who had already fired at two officers.

Sheriff O’Conner left behind four children.

Police Officer Rick Silva of the Chehalis Police Department in Washington State died in surgery on June 18, 2015 to correct an injury he sustained after being assaulted with a knife by a shoplifter who was attempting to resist arrest.

Officer Silva left behind an adult daughter.

Police Officer Sonny Kim of the Cincinnati Police Department was killed on Friday, June 19, 2015 during a shootout after the suspect wounded and disarmed him.  He died from those wounds.

Officer Kim left behind three sons.

Police Officer Daryle Holloway of the New Orleans Police Department was killed just yesterday, June 20, 2015, when a prisoner he was transporting shot him.

Officer Holloway left behind three teenaged children.

The Miami Herald editor could have chosen any given Sunday to run with the License to Launder series.

Instead of publishing a cover story honoring fathers who take their responsibilities seriously, or even a tribute to the fathers in uniform who have lost their lives while serving and protecting, the Miami Herald chose Father’s Day to vilify an entire profession.

And in the process, whether inadvertently or not, the Miami Herald vilified the state of fatherhood.  How utterly despicable.

I want to take this opportunity to salute all the fathers who have been a positive presence and role model in the lives of their children.  All of you deserve to have a Happy Father’s Day.  I hope your children truly appreciate the men in their lives.

There are no words to adequately comfort all the children who are spending this day alone because their dads made the ultimate sacrifice.  In a perfect world, their fathers would be honored and exalted, especially on Father’s Day.

The Miami Herald editor may not, but I choose to honor these very special heroes for their courage, their bravery and their dedication not only to their communities, but especially to their own children.

God bless all of you.  May you rest in peace.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”