Bits and Bobs

Good evening!

I have a few things that are of interest to me to comment on this evening... I have not got the capacity to write a single organised post today, being so tired!

1) I came across this interesting article on the potential harmfulness of Tory policies in The Independent by Johann Hari:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-harsh-truth-about-tory-policies-1815642.html

It's an interesting read, and I think Hari is an interesting bloke. I agree with many of his principles: he's a strong believer in democracy, in secularity, in gay rights, in nuclear disarmament and in stronger action on climate change.I don't agree with everything he says -- he's a bit too much of a fan of the EU and the single currency for my liking -- but I think this article is a good one and I am inclined to agree with him.

2) I heard a new word this week: 'Flexitarian.'

What on Earth? See this BBC article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8341002.stm

This is ridiculous! As a committed vegetarian of ten years, I really can't see why flexitarians bother. Obviously, I am a big advocate for people reducing their meat consumption to try and help the planet in these times of strife, but I wouldn't expect such people to call themselves 'semi-vegetarians' or 'flexitarians.' I really hope I do not hear this term again. You are either a vegetarian or you are not. And, just for the record, vegetarians do not eat fish.

3) I am very pleased that the government have chosen to increase the amount of sex education in schools and make it more difficult for people to opt-out on religious grounds. Sex education is so important, and I really don't think it's right to pull your child out of a lesson on condoms because you as a parent oppose contraception on religious grounds.

I was having a conversation with my friend the other day, about how I think that a parent should not allow their personal principles to hold a child back. In that context we were discussing private education and the importance of giving your child the best education that you can, regardless of socialist principles or otherwise. When it comes to sex education, it is so important that religion does not interfere with the basic facts of life. Pulling your child out of a lesson, because you as a parent do not agree with homosexuality, is not going to make homosexuality go away.

This is not to say that I am opposed to children being brought up in a specific religion. On the contrary, I think religious values -- if not too extreme -- can be extremely beneficial to a child. Growing up in a Christian family, I have witnessed my parents' amazing hospitality to guests and the kindness, patience and tolerance that comes from their religious values. Yet I am not here to debate the pros and cons of organised religion, though I would certainly argue that telling a child categorically what to believe is morally wrong.

So, I believe that a child can learn about religion and sex and that children should not be patronised by being expected to believe that their parents' attitude to sex is the right one. A child must have freedom of choice. I simply cannot see why a child cannot be taught by their Christian parent that sex before marriage is wrong, at the same time as being told how to have safe sex. I do not see a contradiction, and the child is free to make up his or her own mind.

And, after all, which parent, however religious, would not be horrified if they discovered their child had caught a disease due to ignorance over contraception?

xxx