justice

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Building a Moat

July 15, 2010 in Communication, Stress by jackstewart | No comments

What has this to do with parenting you ask? An appalling case, two people dead, one blinded, opinion split nationally. ‘He deserved it.’

By all accounts Moat was a violent thug. But he was a parent. He was a human being and someone’s son. His crimes were unspeakable, but 12 months ago he asked for help. It didn’t happen. If you want macho, watch ‘The Bill.’ In a recent episode, one copper sees another parent hang himself, helps cut him down and he survives. But he had already killed his son. The copper goes to revive him. Later he has a breakdown.  His sergeant brushes off his own father’s death as if it were a fly.

These last two cases were fiction. And maybe the macho posturing will be shot down in future episodes.

Macho, insensitive, alpha male, sexist programming is garbage. It doesn’t work. It makes the macho man even worse in later life. It closes him down and can make him ill. Or in extreme cases, far worse.

Is your son learning to bury his feelings and build a wall around him? Are you digging a moat?  Show him a better way.

Jack Stewart

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Ministers halt child abuse vetting scheme

June 15, 2010 in Sanity by jackstewart | No comments

Sanity seems to be prevailing. To quote the minster: “You were assumed to be guilty until you were proven innocent, and told you were able to work with children.” More here -http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10314055.stm

The implications of this go far beyond the obvious. Kids are being subtly told [and blatantly in some cases] that adults can’t be trusted. And kids who decide they want to pursue a career working with kids, that they too are under suspicion.

The world is full of fear-laden policies and tactics which undermine parenting. However, let us celebrate when the government gets it right. 

Jack Stewart

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[That's Just] The Way It Is

February 9, 2010 in Authors, Family, Spirituality, Stress by jackstewart | No comments

Is the title of a brilliant 1986 song by US group Bruce Hornsby & The Range. It is about race discrimination, about black people being denied jobs and rights.

That’s Just the Way It Is

Some things will never change

That’s Just the Way It Is

But don’t you believe them….

 When I was young, long before 1986, my parents let me have a lot of freedom compared to today’s kids. Like every other kid, I made mistakes, got into scrapes, broke the odd bone, and acquired the odd trauma and beliefs I would need in later life to release.

 Did you know that the number of passengers using UK airport terminals rose to 241 million in 2007. This compares to 7 million in 1957.

 Have you ever had an X-Ray? Doesn’t the radiologist stand behind a screen to protect themselves from the rays? What does that suggest to you?

My local airport has introduced ’scanners’. They use X-rays. The operator stands behind a screen. To protect your privacy? To protect themselves from the X-rays perhaps? Not everyone has to go through them. But if you are spotted travelling whilst Asian, look a bit shifty, or are anxious at airports, you might have to be ’screened.’ It’s your choice of course, but if you refuse, you won’t be able to fly.

Our generation, and our children’s generation, are on the brink of leaving an irreversible legacy for the next generation. We are a nation of suspects.

Does your child, or grandchild, need a tag or chip to protect them from the invisible army of ‘bogey men’? Why bother with a cumbersome tag, why not have your baby ‘chipped’ from birth. S/he won’t need the X-rays, can avoid the long queues and be continuously monitored by ‘the authorities’ if they fit the profile.

 Remember Tony Blair? Whether you agree with him or not, he told lies. Don’t all governments tell lies?

 Some things will never change. That’s Just the Way It Is.

Will you let your child believe them?

Jack Stewart

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