"Comment Left Elsewhere" of the Day
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Few topics instigate as lively a discussion here as my contempt for Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of — obviously — Arkansas.
To review: They have, as of yesterday, 17 children (with another on the way and an overtly expressed amenability to having more). Which, somehow, is considered a "warm, happy pre-Mothers-Day story on a morning show" rather than grounds for a child neglect investigation.
For whatever reason (ka-ching!), the Duggars felt a need to whore their kids out on national television yet again. So I felt a need — obviously — to comment on them yet again:
There is a point at which "delightful parental love" metastasizes into "decrepit parental narcissism." I certainly don't want to be the one trying to identify that point. I'm reluctant in the extreme to let anyone in the government determine that point as a matter of policy to be imposed on all families in all circumstances.
But I'll be damned if I'm going to pretend that such a point doesn't exist. "I know it when I see it" may be the worst kind of hopelessly sloppy jurisprudence. But it's better than wearing a blindfold.
And did I mention that the Duggars, qua Evangelical Christians, are — obviously — associated with and supportive of rabidly anti-gay bigots?
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For Discussion: The next Stitch in Haste Podcast will be on "The Fourth Amendment in the Non-Criminal Context." I intend to cover two topics: (1) laptop searches at the border, and (2) the FLDS incident in Texas. I would love to know people's thoughts on the latter. Comment away...
To review: They have, as of yesterday, 17 children (with another on the way and an overtly expressed amenability to having more). Which, somehow, is considered a "warm, happy pre-Mothers-Day story on a morning show" rather than grounds for a child neglect investigation.
For whatever reason (ka-ching!), the Duggars felt a need to whore their kids out on national television yet again. So I felt a need — obviously — to comment on them yet again:
I find it fascinating that the same people who screech from the rooftops that "kids do best with a mother and a father" have no problem with kids being raised with 1/18 of a mother and a father. They'd get more personalized attention at the DMV.The fluff piece shows toddlers packing away groceries and notes that the children must, literally, make appointments in advance to have one-on-one time with Mom. Charming.
I also wonder how much is in each kid's college fund. Oh wait, they're Evangelical-homeschooled, so college will not be an option. Never mind.
Note also that the older children are conscripted into "chores" that essentially make them full-time surrogate parents. Mowing the lawn and setting the table is one thing; having to serve as a dawn-til-dusk au pair for 10 or more of your younger siblings is child abuse, pure and simple.
There is a point at which "delightful parental love" metastasizes into "decrepit parental narcissism." I certainly don't want to be the one trying to identify that point. I'm reluctant in the extreme to let anyone in the government determine that point as a matter of policy to be imposed on all families in all circumstances.
But I'll be damned if I'm going to pretend that such a point doesn't exist. "I know it when I see it" may be the worst kind of hopelessly sloppy jurisprudence. But it's better than wearing a blindfold.
And did I mention that the Duggars, qua Evangelical Christians, are — obviously — associated with and supportive of rabidly anti-gay bigots?
---
For Discussion: The next Stitch in Haste Podcast will be on "The Fourth Amendment in the Non-Criminal Context." I intend to cover two topics: (1) laptop searches at the border, and (2) the FLDS incident in Texas. I would love to know people's thoughts on the latter. Comment away...
Related Posts (on one page):
- "Comment Left Elsewhere" of the Day
- Talk About "Focus on the Family"
Posted by Kip on
10 May 2008
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