Not *re-*defined, no. And I believe I already addressed this.
Well, I disagree with this. The husband and wife enter into the relationship as adults and voluntarily, contractually. If they both so choose, the wife can treat the husband as head of household. But it could also be the case that the husband could choose to treat the wife as head of household. My preference, though, is for the husband and wife to view each other as equal partners. I see no reason why we should retain patriarchy as the default arrangement.
Excuse me ? Where did I do so ? These gentlemen are explicitly advocating violence against people engaging in pacific activities.
What ‘opinions’ are you talking about ?
That chidlren have individual rights ?
That rights are to be respectd ?
That you’re proposing to murder pacific people ?
That you are a bunch of violent puritans ?
Equal in rights, yes, but likely not equal in ability, farsightedness or wisdom. This will likely lead to eventual disagreements as to the direction of the family, at which point your “two captains” system must break down and the true leader of the family must manifest. If that’s the woman, it doesn’t say much about you as a man, IMO.
By which you mean, “Peacefully having carnal relations with a child.” It might surprise you to learn that there are those among us who would regard that as an act of aggression, just as if it were perpetrated against the mentally handicapped, the senile, or the insane, and would act to repel your aggression.
On what planet can one actually speak with a straight face of “peacefully having carnal relations with a child”?
–Len.
14 years and olders have been regarded as adults for milennia.
Juan, we are not basing our opposition to child molestation on any puritan moral doctrine. Child molestation is child molestation because a child is rationally incapable of consenting. The fact is that it is nearly always the adult that instigates sexual activities with a child. A child will engage in sexual activity without what may be called “coercion” (though not often, I would think), but not without the adult using a position of influence to direct the child into an activity in which he or she would not, as a rationally capable person, be likely to engage.
Amusing.
-Jon
Sure. More precisely, people have been deemed “adult” once they reach physical maturity to the point they are able to reproduce. The kids mentioned in this thread have all been under ten, though, so that doesn’t apply to the discussion so far. (A completely separate topic of interest is what we’re to make of the decreasing age of menarche today.)
–Len.
Obviously we do not mean “14 years and older” when we speak of children. A child is a person who has not grown into his or her rational capacity, which does not describe most post-adolescents.
Yep. It’s as far-fetched as a kid spontaneously speaking Klingon; before puberty kicks in, they won’t think of such things unless they’re taught it.
–Len.
Amazing. So what world do you live in ? You’ve not yet learned that children are interested in sex ?
My six-year old told me the other day about how much he loves to rub his pee-pee, because it feels so good. He’s also obsessed with sex jokes and talks about all the “hot chicks” at his school. And he’s practicing pick-up lines in the mirror.
Just sayin’…
I don’t subscribe to this chauvinistic view of manliness. There are biological differences between men and women, yes. But I don’t need to marry a woman who is generally lesser than me to be a man, and women are not always generally lesser than men. If this isn’t your view, my apologies, but this seems to be what it is being hinted at.
I agree that even in an equal partnership-style marriage that it won’t always be the case that they can come to full agreement on everything. Some compromises will be necessary. It will also be necessary to learn what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are in order play to the strengths and shore up the weaknesses. The man might be the decided leader in some situations and the woman in others.
Every kid figures out the former by experimentation. As for the latter, you don’t think that’s learned? He made up the expression “hot chicks” himself did he? You don’t have a TV in your house? He’d be doing the same if he were home-schooled, say?
Just sayin’…
–Len.
This is all question-begging. I’ve argued that children have individual rights and it is also clear that we see child molestation as a violation of their rights. Accordingly, child molesters as not being pacific. The charge of puritanism is hyperbolic and a gross exaggeration.
Just a thought. because individuals develop at different stages, and this is so unique, would it be out of line for some sort of court to determine whether or not the act is criminal in each case regarding a child between the ages of say 9 and 13, with anything under 8 being clearly wrong and anything over 14 being legal, consent provided of course. perhaps a panal that would be established…
Interested in something they never heard of? In any case, you’re scaring me. So far, I’ve only thought you sound like you’re apologizing for child abuse. It’s getting harder and harder to be sure of that. Are you blaming your victims here?
–Len.
Len, it seems that you need to learn the facts of life
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/child_behavior/sexdev.html
Good. Case by case examination seems to be the most meaningful without prior fiat law. The consensus seems to be american age of consent laws are stupid.
The time to raise te big question has become. Shall circumcision be legal?