by Lisa Linthicum

Created on: October 25, 2008   Last Updated: December 21, 2011

If you dive beneath the surface of THE SIMPSONS, you will actually find a touching portrayal of an American family. Yes, there are crude references and potty-humor in the show. But unless you are a member of the Duggar family it is an accurate picture of most families. I love THE SIMPSONS for the following reasons:

1. The parents are a long-time married couple who truly love each other. Yes, Marge and Homer have had their ups and downs. But, that's why marriage vows include those pesky phrases of "for better, for worse" and "for richer, for poorer" and "in sickness and in health." The journey of a marriage can be a bumpy one, and Marge and Homer have stuck it out. I adore them together. It's impressive that Marge and Homer have made their marriage work through the years.

2. The kids give each other a hard time, but really care about each other. Again, if you look at the surface of the show, you might not like what you see in regard to the Simpson siblings. But if you dig deeper, you will see how they love each other and stand up for their siblings as well. There have been many times when Bart and Lisa have helped the other out of a jam.

3. The parents love their children. Homer can seem like an uncaring, uninvolved father. But he would do anything for his children. My favorite episode is the one where he gets a second job to pay for Lisa's pony. His head would hit the pillow after working the second job and the alarm clock would literally go off for him to get up to go to his job at the nuclear power plant. He was willing to work 24 hours a day to make his daughter happy.

4. The community members are a hodge-podge that demonstrate our society. The creators of the show have done a fabulous job of creating likeable and not-so-likeable characters. The way the Simpsons interact with these various sorts can teach us a lot about how we should pick our friends and how to treat others as well.

5. The show provides a humorous and sometimes insightful look at life issues. Through the relationships and storylines, THE SIMPSONS gives us a look at important life issues including: marriage, honesty, trying your best, bullying, keeping up with the Joneses, dealing with aging parents, protecting the environment, politicians, religion, and many more.

I'll admit that I sometimes cringe at some of the potty-like humor, but overall, I really enjoy THE SIMPSONS. While making me laugh out loud, it also makes me think about the world and my role in it.

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