Cord Byrd: “the Bible admonishes us to ``honor thy father and thy mother.'' Courtesy insists that ladies go first. Last month, the…”

“the Bible admonishes us to ``honor thy father and thy mother.'' Courtesy insists that ladies go first. Last month, the Nation honored mothers with Mother's Day. The ladies were treated to cards, flowers, phone calls, brunches, gifts, and sometimes precious handmade crafts from the preschool set. Retailers urged more extravagant manifestations of our love for our wives and mothers with a dazzling array of usually heart-shaped diamond jewelry, all of which is certainly deserved, even if not always affordable. This Sunday, June 17, the fathers get their due. Lumpy clay bowls, aftershave lotion and cologne, odd pieces of sports paraphernalia and, of course, neckties in remarkable fashion colors constitute the classic Father's Day gift for the man who has everything. There does not seem to be quite the same level of extravagance in the gift suggestions by merchants, however, perhaps because men do not wear as much jewelry, and golf clubs do not lend themselves to heart shapes. For that I suppose we can all be grateful. Still, I am sure that most American fathers will enjoy being the center of the family's attention on Sunday. Fathers will enjoy their brunch. Fathers will enjoy a respite from lawn care and other chores. They might even indulge in an afternoon nap, a rare luxury--a rare luxury--for most family men. Fathers deserve their day in the limelight.…”