February 2009 Archives

I don't know about you, but each news bulletin lately seems to include at least one report that makes me wonder what the world is coming too.

As I prepared to write this blog, news came through of the case of Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, the lorry driver who ploughed and killed a family of six with his 40-ton truck last year, only to be given a three year sentence.

What?

That discussion is for another day, but what about another incredible story, that of Alfie Patten, the thirteen year old boy who last week was named the father of a baby born to his fifteen year old girlfriend.

Are we hearing correctly? To make matters worse, other young boys have come forward saying that they, not Alfie, may be the fathers of baby Maisie. With all the talk of DNA testing to prove who the real father is and the appointing of Max Clifford as media adviser to Alfie (why?), one question remains unanswered: where are these teenage parents' own families?

As I was growing up I used to long for the 'freedom' many of my friends were given. They always seemed able to stay out later and longer, go wherever and do whatever they wanted to. They never, as I did, had to account for where they were going, who they would be with and when they were getting back.

All I can say now is, thank God for strict parenting and a supportive family network. I was raised with a generous slice of good, 'yard-style' training fresh from Jamaica. As much as I wanted to mess about as a kid, there were few opportunities to get away with anything and there were serious consequences if I got caught. What boundaries have these poor little rebels been given?

Time for the parents to be called to question and punished. Do you agree?