Hi Mark & Friends,
Thanks for responding, Mark - and WELCOME! As it turns out, we are practically
neighbors. I
live out in the country north of Dallas, near Anna, Texas. I've driven I35 through
Temple
many times. I'm also a telecommuter, working for a large telecom company in
Richardson where
I write Java. My husband is my house-husband. He stays home to care for our 4 year
old son
and work on our unfinished house. We have completely reversed roles. He does the
cooking and
cleaning while I bring home the bacon and health insurance. Offline, I'd be very
interested
to hear what your "small startup company" does.
I appreciate your comments:
... I'm a stay-at-home dad who telecommutes. Yes, I work and I'm a
primary care giver. Her post (accidentally, I'm sure) seems "conventionally
sexist" to me. I admit there is a cultural bias against fathers as primary
care givers...I mean, I live in a very small town, I know. I can't go to
the park without someone assuming that I either took off work for the day
for a special occasion, my wife is sick, I'm a bum without a job, or some
combination of the three.
We have experienced many of the same biases, and you are right - my post was pretty
sexist!
That was lazy writing on my part. I just get tired of trying to write in him/her,
either/or,
etc. all the time. Our language is just not amenable to gender neutrality - though I
did make
it worse by talking about Mothers to the exclusion of Fathers.
I like this too - what a lovely idea:
... is there any reason why, if women are now
intellectually considered the equals of (to have the same quality as) men
"in the ways of the world," men should not be considered the equals of (to
have the same quality as) women "in the ways of the family?"
When I proposed the idea of equating child-rearing with military service it was just an
off-the-cuff idea. But now that I've thought about it for a couple of days it just
keeps
growing and growing in my mind. Giving the next generation a good start has got to be
equal
if not more important to a nation than its own defense. For some people, this will no
doubt
equate with "welfare Mothers", whom we are at this moment busily trying to eliminate
in this
country. But it's not the same thing at all. You could structure the system, give it
parameters such as time limits or limits on the number of children per woman (yes, per
woman
since it is a woman after all who actually bears the child!) In fact, you could
follow many
of the patterns already in use for military service to shape a system that gives
everyone an
equal opportunity at parenting.
Help me here folks! I like this idea so much I want to send a letter to Hillary about
it. I
think equating it with military service is the key - the way to sell it to
conservatives.
Thoughts anyone?
--
Best wishes,
Mary Wittler
~ cognite tute ~ (think for yourself)
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