Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 July 2007 22:17:22
This is the official summary of the full report on Family Breakdown and what the Conservative Party intend to do to stop it.
Here is the creative response given by Stuart which Maggie and Andy have both picked up on.
As for my own response I have plucked this paragraph out of Single Mums in God's Household (my dissertation) which I think is of relevance when as Christians we are looking at this issue. "In relation to our understanding of lone parenthood we have a problem. The difference referred in relation to the imago dei relates to the diversity of characteristics (such as sex, sexuality and disability) which may be on one level socially constructed but on another relate to biological realities. Lone parenthood is not a characteristic we are born with, rather it is something we gain, as a result of life experience. Yet the lone parent is also a person who has these other characteristics which mean that even they have the imago dei within them. If we are to fully appreciate lone parents and their worth as people we need to remember this."
As far as the whole tax thing goes, it means valuing monogomy and commitment certainly, (this is something I think is vitally important) but not demonising lone parents (many of whom are people who have been left by their partners). You do not empower somebody by putting them at a disadvantage or forcing them into a McJob. You empower people by showing them their worth and encouraging them to see child rearing as a worthwhile and important voccation. You empower people by investing in further education opportunities for adult returners, you empower people by seeing them as more than just lone parents, you empower people by seeing them as individuals who are of worth.
Similarly you don't change a culture by using tax incentives or taking a shot at one type of music (rap) rather you change the culture by teaching people to value themselves, whatever their background. You change the culture by investing time and money in community projects. You change the culture by putting the focus back on relationships and the responsibilities relating to those and through individuals showing how they can make a positive difference. You change the culture by ensuring that women feel valued rather than demonised in society. You change the culture by making it possible for men to have worth while full time careers but ones where they are not forced into spending every waking hour at work. You change the culture by stopping us wanting more and more and so enabling people not to have to work so hard and to be able to spend more time with their families.