Sunday, May 15, 2011

Age of Consent

One of the readers sent a rather long comment regarding the "Circumsision Party", it is a little graphic by my terms on this blog; but, I am still considering publishing it. In his comments he raised the issue of the age of consent and questioned people believing that circumsizing should be a passage to manhood. He suggested that the age of consent should be 16.

There was a time when young ladies were not allowed to get their ears piercd until they were 16 (practice not the law) and I believe it is illegal to have your child tattoed. In certain Polynesian cultures you were not accepted as a man until you had a lengthy a painful tattoo; but, the person chose when they got it, not by age.

So what should the age of consent be? How old should you be to choose to drink alcahol, smoke cigarettes, have sex, get a tattoo, get a body piercing, drive, be allowed to leave your parents, date, drive a car...

Next question is who gets to decide? There was a woman who gave her daughter botox recently and many are calling for her to be put in jail. When should the government get to decide rather than the parents. My father joined the Marines at 15 by lying and saying he was 16. There are three groups involved, parents, children and the government. What about where 2 of the 3 are in agreement? A 15 year old wants a tattoo and the parent agrees; but, it is illegal.

I always found it amusing that people could join the military at 18; but, not have a beer. That is government hypocricy, we will let you kill and die; but, not drink. I know which one has a bigger impact on people. How much of it depends on the culture you grew up in? Just some questions.

Officially a Rant

Okay, some things about the ex still anger me, silly things. She insists upon keeping my last name. I find it both offensive and obscene. You don't get to cheat on me, take men to hotels and register in MY name. She divorced me and kept my name, use your own, you are not mine and I want nothing to do with you you Adultress.

I read an article about women having to worry about whether or not they take their husbands last name, here is the article. . Heck, if I remarry I wouldn't expect the woman to take my surname, we could blend it, I don't care. I can't say I am for hyphenating it, that gets ridiculous over time, it just keeps growing.

How about we decide with coin tosses? That would be confusing to the grandchildren. The purpose behind taking the other person's name is to identify with other family members. For whatever reason, historically it has been the man's name. I don't think we can change history. I can't.

So when you divorce someone you cease being part of their family (beyond the children if there are any). That is why my ex needs to lose my family name, she chose not to be family with me and mine.