Playshool Shows Two Mothers - What's the F-ing Big Deal?

Two Mothers - What's the F-ing Big Deal?

Background: For those who don't know, on the Australian National Broadcaster (ABC), a state run TV station, there is a show called Playschool. Essentially for pre-school age kids. recently, Playschool ran an episode in which two mothers took their child to a park. With an election looming, no divisive issue to rally the masses, and an unpopular War in Iraq losing the incumbent's the Heartland's vote, a law on Gay marriages is seen as the Christian right's saviour. this event was exactly what the Christian right needed to divide and conquer, and they have expressed outrage. This is my response.

OK, so what's the big deal here? I have so many issues with this that it is hard for me to focus on which one pisses me off the most. As such, I'll just start spraying and let the spray fall where it may.

Firstly, the logic of this "outrage" is ridiculous. Two "mother's" take there kid out. Now, how many children in out society have two mum's? None, therefore they must be Lesbians. Lets be very clear here: this is the logical pattern of thinking that leads to this statement by Communications Minister Daryl Williams:

"In particular, Australian parents should be able to choose when to explain concepts such as same-sex couples to their young children.

Um, OK. What about children of divorced parents? If both mum and dad remarry, that is, by my humble count, two dads, two mums, none of which are Lesbians (unless... but that's a whole nuther Blog entry...).

The raw figures are hard to find, but in this SMH article it is stated:

As for the often-quoted 50 per cent failure rate, de Vaus, who is also professor of sociology at La Trobe University, says the real figure is one-third of present marriages. "That 50 per cent figure is for the US."

So, that makes it possible that one in every three people in Australia will have two "mothers" (Assuming that all divorced people remarry). And still not a Lesbian in view.

OK, so the "two mums therefore Lesbians" is not absolute, so really, why are parents them forced to explain same sex anything?

Next rant.

Who cares if gays marry? As long as they aren't doing anything to me, what do i care what two consenting, mature adults do? Do I get upset that John Howard has disgusting eyebrows and a worse comb over? It offends me no end to look at his constant fashion faux paus. Can I legislate against that? Hell no!!

This is stupid party politicking, and the sort of vile crap that got pulled with the children overboard controversy. That the majority of Australians, in an era of wars, reducing freedoms and Free Trade agreements can worry about what two other people consent to is out of whack.

Next rant.

So, lets assume that the two women HAVE TO BE Lesbians: So what? Is the ABC now only allowed to show white, protestant heterosexual couples? Where is the boundary between what is, could be, and isn't? Who decides? I hope it isn't the multitude of malcontents and Moral right that litter the Liberal party.

Next rant.

Quote:

The segment was condemned by Children's Minister Larry Anthony and Health Minister Tony Abbott who called the episode "shocking".

Oh my, goody goody. The excitement of attacking this (calm down, take a deep breath)... Shocking in what way? By what standard? To Whom?

Some facts:
By age 18, a U.S. youth will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence. ( American Psychiatric Association: Here)
Huston and colleagues have estimated that the average 18-year-old will have viewed 200,000 acts of violence on television (Huston, A.C., Donnerstein, E., Fairchild, H. et al. Big World, Small Screen: The Role of Television in American Society. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1992. here)

So, kids see 16,00 deaths, 200,000 acts of violence, innumerable wars and horrors, starving children their own age and untold evil, but two mums is "shocking"?

Seriously Mr Abbot, grow the heck up!!!

Rant over.

I feel better now, and I think my rant cleared up a few things. Now maybe we can all start living by those words Martin Luther King uttered all those years ago:

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

The content of their character. If only everyone was judged by such a practical criteria.