[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: "You're Just Selfish!" (WAS moved from Main List: on not having children)

[Kathryn Cawte]

On 2 Sep 2003 at 10:50, pengolodh_sc wrote:
 
> I think Kari was referring to single mothers who themselves are 
> enlisted in the armed forces. And I think Rita is right - these wll 
> be cases of single mothers being left with the armed forces as the one 
> job-possibility where they get a decent outcome (and even a decent 
> insurance-plan so that there is something left for the child, should 
> something happen), and also get help to get into college afterwards. 


K -

I've snipped Shaun's remarks although I agree with them entirely because
they're not necessary to my arguement, but I wanted to mention here that I
agreed with his sentiments about a parent being a parent regardless of
gender.

I wanted to comment on the above remarks - I think in the case of a single
parent, be it a father or a mother, that their duty is to the child and to
take unnecessary risks is unfair on that child (particularly I'm thinking of
a journalist who was in the news a few years ago and ventured into a
dangerous area for a story and got killed leaving her young child an orphan)
 However I believe that in many cases it is society which is to blame for
not providing single parents with the opportunity to remain with their child
 Children are (as trite as it may sound) our future and we should provide
parents (single or otherwise) with every opportunity. Single parents should
not be forced into dangerous or demanding jobs just because governments
often believe that an adult can only contribute to society by earning a wage
and paying taxation. Personally I believe that children benefit most from a
home with two loving parents - but this is not an ideal world and 'punishing
 single parents for the fact that they are alone seems the wrong way to go
about things. Generally single parents are not single parents by choice, I'm
sure most single parents would love to have a loving partner to help them
raise their child. If the only way a parent can provide a decent living for
their child (complete with benefits/insurance) is to risk their lives and to
regularly deprive that child of their presence then there is something very
wrong with our society.

K
(btw I'm childless and, currently, believe I would like to remain that way
but that doesn't mean I don't understand/sympathise with the job that
parents single or otherwise, working or otherwise do)