Being a father is important, but Father’s Day is not.

That appears to be the message from the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. The survey found that 76% of Americans believe that “being a father is the most important role a man can fulfill in today’s world.” That’s even higher than the 67% who say that being a mother is the most important role for a woman.

But, despite the importance people attach to fatherhood, the holiday celebrating Dad’s hasn’t generated much enthusiasm. Just 17% say that Father’s Day is one of the nation’s most important holidays. A slightly larger number, 18% say it is one of the least important. That’s far less enthusiasm than our earlier survey found about Mother’s Day. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all Americans consider Mothers' Day one of the nation's most important holidays. Just 8% say the Day celebrating Mom is one of our least important holidays.

Still, 89% of Americans whose fathers are still alive say they will call or visit Dad today. Additionally, despite all the challenges about figuring out what Dad wants or needs, 57% say they will have some kind of gift for him.

Seventeen percent (17%) of both men and women rate Father’s Day as one of the nation’s top holidays. However, 26% of men say it is one of the least important. Just 10% of women share that view. There is virtually no difference of opinion between those who are married and those who are not.