[LordKathen]

Originally posted by The Hierophant: quote: Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: I would say that at least half of America's "family units" do not meet the "traditional definition" (and I'm probably being overly generous in that esitmate).

Well, I'd argue that 'nuclear' families arn't all that traditional anyway. The almost neurotic Protestant obsession with them is very new, only a few centuries old really. I think that the nuclear family movement has done more damage to 'Western' society than good. Where once families were a predominantly 'loose' shared social phenomena, the nuclear family compartmentalised and segregated a child's upbringing. The nuclear system insists a doctrine of 'these are my kids' and 'those are your kids', as opposed to 'these are the kids of our caste/class/community'. If the pervasive belief of 'nuclear families as natural' (and they arn't natural, indeed so-called 'natural' social systems are little more than artifical moral inventions)is removed, the stigma and pressure to maintain nuclear units is lessened, and in turn alot of the 'negative' effects of not fitting the imposed ideal are negated. A biological mother and father are not as important as father and mother figures, which every person in society can participate in being for a child, whether hetero or homo sexual.

Now here comes my social engineering rant...
It's a question of manipulating the 'sheep' of society (ie: those of 'servant' mentality that look to 'master' figures for direction and guidance. -As an example, there wouldn't be no presidential elections if Americans truly wanted to be their own masters... instead social authority and the responsibility thereof is bestowed upon chosen 'rulership specialists'-) into a re-aligned perception of nature... this re-alignment will of course be just as artifical as such any other 'natural' worldview that had gone before, but it will be one that fits more neatly with contemporary trends (in technology, changing demography, changing rhythms of work and industry etc). Instead of furiously clinging on to dying traditions in the face of changing circumstances, adapt the tradition, and the mentality behind that tradition, to waltz more gracefully with the changing world. This takes decades, even centuries of inter-generational direction. It's a gradual process, but a necessary one. [/QUOTE]I absolutely agree. Very good post Hierophant! [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img] I would make some eloquent comment, or attempt to, but you said it about as eloquent as can be done. Once again: [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img]