Ever keen to jump on the populist bandwagon which is fuelled by Sydney's talkback radio, (the ignorant preaching to the uneducated) New South Wales state Premier, Morris Iemma, has said that daycare centres should not be used to teach children about gay and lesbian relationships.Following along the lines of the famous, "My two mums" episode of Playschool, (ABC television) that featured a little girl talking about her two lesbian mums, it has been revealed that a Sydney childcare centre uses books that feature characters from same-sex parent families.
Shock horror. The end of the world as we know it. What will be next? a book featuring Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.
The "Learn to Include" books include titles such as The Rainbow Cubby House, (a young girl and her two mothers who build a cubby house in their backyard with a little boy and his two fathers).
Mr Iemma, who needed a highly expensive advertising campaign to teach people how to pronounce his name, said children as young as two-years-old are being inappropriately drawn into a gay rights debate.
"Kids should be allowed to be kids and daycare centres should not be a battleground for gender politics. I do not personally believe it appropriate for two-year-olds to be dragged into the gay rights debate."
It's interesting that so many politicians are keen on using the phrase, "teach them while they are young," when it comes to evergreen populist favourites such as manners and behaviour - but not when it comes to teaching acceptance and tolerance.
Of course not - not enough votes in it. Especially for a Premier like Iemma, who would be a gold medal winner in any Olympic Bandwagon jumping competition.
And before anyone accuses me of being anti Labor, I was a great supporter of Iemma's Labor predecessor, Bob Carr. I base my opinions on ability not stubborn political ideology.
Perhaps he longs for the good old days, when Australia was a nation of "queer-bashers," fuelled by ignorance and prejudice. He claims that such matters are an issue for parents to discuss in the home. Just where does he think many "queer-bashers" developed their prejudices?
I remember when I was at school, we had a macho careers master who used to be in the army. One day I told him that I wanted to be a hairdresser - just to see his reaction. His response was -
"What's the matter with you boy? Not some sort of bloody poofter are you?"
Ah yes, so much better than teaching acceptance.
