THE “gold standards’’ for a child’s development are surely love and respect.
Your book, senator, does not fight the tyranny of political correctness as you hope - it is simply ignorant and offensive.
Not so, according to the latest drivel released by Senator Cory Bernardi.
Bernardi’s view, in his recently released book The Conservative Revolution, is that the “gold standard’’ for children’s development comes from having a biological mother and father, who are married.
He believes the traditional family model should be restored to prime position over other family types such as step-families, same-sex and single-parent families.
"Given the increasing number of 'non-traditional' families, there is a temptation to equate all family structures as being equal or relative," he writes.
"Why then the levels of criminality among boys and promiscuity among girls who are brought up in single-parent families, more often than not headed by a single mother?’’
Senator Bernardi, what rubbish. Your "enduring views'' are indeed far right.
Many, many children are raised to become fine adults in families that are in your view, “non-traditional’’. And yes, many by single mothers, but also by single fathers.
Not every boy will grow up to be a criminal, and not every girl will grow up thinking her body is the only way to get attention. Most won’t.
But how disheartening for those children in “non-traditional” families to think that is the expectation of them by someone in our government; in a position of leadership.
Thank goodness most of the children I know who are being raised in “non-traditional’’ families are taught not to judge, and therefore will grow up to be understanding and compassionate.
They will not lay blame on those who were raised differently; nor will they condemn people for their choices.
They will be respectful of difference.
They are the future leaders we want for our country.
The future leaders who know there is a place for breakfast clubs in schools, rather than making ignorant claims such as Senator Bernardi that valuable breakfast programs undermine parental responsibility by fostering a mentality the state would provide.
The future leaders who would never accuse women of using abortion as birth control or label those who are pro-choice as pro-death.
The future leaders who know a woman's body is not property and that what happens to it should not be a decision made by any level of government.
Your book, senator, does not fight the tyranny of political correctness as you hope - it is simply ignorant and offensive.
May it long gather dust on shelves, with few pages turned - our children deserve better than to be judged by people in your position.
And so do all "non-traditional'' families across the country. Most of them are just like most ''traditional'' families - trying to do the best they can.
The "gold standards'' of love and respect do not discriminate.
And that, senator, is an "enduring view''.