We have lesbian families, gay families, dad-only and mum-only families, test-tube families, old-enough-to-be-your granny families, dead-dad families and multi-stepparent families. We have families where the parents behave like the kids, families where the kids behave like the parents, families where love rules and families where egoism is king.Not all of these phenomena are good. Some of them, indeed, could turn out to be disastrous, not least for the children who have to endure them The truth is that we simply don't know. However, just because the moralistic right has made us fed up with its rushes to biblical judgement, that doesn't mean that we can forgo making our own judgements. Many of these will not be legally enforceable, simply because we will not assume the right to control the fertility of others (no matter how we are tempted), but will rely instead upon discussion and example. However we will certainly want the child agencies that operate on our behalf to make hard decisions about what is and what isn't good for children.Or, to put it another way: if we thought for one minute that our being married would confer any real benefit on our children, we would hire the church, synagogue or Zoroastrian temple tomorrow.
And be glad to.David.Aaronovitch btinternet . We all went off to the Lords to pursue the Adoption Bill, almost like journalists. We went to our red benches to soak up the atmosphere: the gold tracery round the throne; the ancient bishops in their white robes; the long, lugubrious face of the Lord Chancellor depending from his period costume wig This is more like it, this is how we like to be treated The whole scene redolent of mystery and majesty. The whole scene redolent of mystery and majesty. And what were the first words we heard? Genital mutilation. You don't go to the Lords to hear about genital mutilation, it's where you go to get away from genital mutilation. Especially yesterday.Oh Lord, yesterday, when Mr Thing dismembered himself on television.
Auto castration is very much an acquired taste, and small amounts go a very long way.Let's return to genital mutilation in the Lords. Estimates are that 74,000 women in England have had large parts of their deepest physical selves removed on their mother's instructions Seven thousand girls under 16 "may be at risk". Two doctors in the past 10 years have been struck off for performing these operations, but they were not prosecuted. Why not? Because it is not illegal.What are our legislators doing, you ask? Passing regulations to prevent householders repairing their own windows unless they belong to a trade body, that's what.The ritual mutilation of children is not encouraged; indeed, it is frowned upon, but it is not yet a matter for the courts.But back, with relief, to the most successful farce in the West End.
Mr Thing had a fantastic press conference lined up to reach out to his constituency, broaden his appeal and assert his authority Unfortunately, he cancelled it. His party's single successful vote-winning policy – the return of right to buy – will have to wait. Probably for another leader to present.Mr Thing called quite a different press conference to make a personal announcement – Westminster code for resignation. He delivered his message pretty well, and seemed to believe what he was saying.With characteristic stupidity he accused those who voted for gay adoption as using the vote to attack his authority. And Lord, how he must have wished the money hadn't run out half way through his course of How To Smile Effectively lessons "Unite or die!" he declared. Was it an anagram? How many words can you make?One of the rebels, Anthony Steen, has criticised his leader's literacy skills He's called him "murally dyslexic" That is, he's unable to read the writing on the wall.