Bed head is terrible regardless of the time of day.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Well it appears that the Irish government has a solution for their side of the border in the event of a no deal Brexit.

[Link]

As many of us have previously stated this was a manufactured issue, of course there will be difficulties but they are not insurmountable.

So now both the Irish and the EU have conceded that checks can be done away from the border so what are we arguing about. Drop the backstop.

One more point

It's a well written post but sure essentially we are repeating the same arguments from before and that's fine. I'm sorry to hear about the bullying your brother received, however bullying in schools is a developmental issue and children will seize on any differences.

I have my own views on how schools deal with bullying.

As we know it's not my view that it's the job of the state to teach young children how they should regard homosexuality or race or indeed any of the other differences between people......which is essentially what this boils down to. I view this as over extension and you don't.

Instead my view is that we don't focus on different identities with young minds. All these aspects are better focused upon as teenagers when critical thinking can hopefully be applied, encouraged and discussed.

Rather than singling out specific identity groups my view remains that I think good teachers promote treating people fairly and promote respect and non bullying as a standard way to treat all.

That is quite sufficient in my view and avoids the issues I mentioned above.

I've gone into multiple reasons why focusing on an identity group as a specific focus is a bad idea. From the fact that we could make these same points about many different groups....those who are perceived as less good looking or have poor social skills or have a low IQ. Those who are autistic....We could go on, the disabled, gingers, skin colours and so on...We could argue that these groups and more all deserve lessons. I differ with the idea that these topics are appropriate at pre teen ages other than the standard message of treating others how you'd like to be treated.

Also I've previously raised the fact that teaching that same sex families are to be seen in the same way as opposite sex families brings up areas of conflict....as we are seeing in the country right now.

We have a situation where the state is directly teaching social policies against the wishes of religious or socially conservative families.

What are teachers going to say to little Johnny when if he pipes up that he thinks same sex families are not equal in worth to the traditional family model?....that every child deserves a mother or father rather than to deliberately say it makes no difference?.....Are they going to tell little Johnny they are wrong?

I'd feel the same way about the idea that schools would teach anything about mixed race relationships. That to me would be bizarre. These are choices made by individuals, it isn't for schools to have an opinion.

I'm of the view that all these social subjects should not be bothering the minds of young children.

As for immigration....does this mean you voted leave?

Edited by Stirlingsays (12 Jul 2019 2.46am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

They wouldn't need to even intend to teach it though. As part of a traditional male-female relationship discussion or depiction, the couples discussed wouldn't necessarily both be of the same race. And if they aren't of the same race is that a problem? Do you see that as 'promotion' of that type of relationship to children?

Views concerning mixed race relationships have massively changed over time, down to a societal view of how acceptable they are and this would be a demonstration of that. It wouldn't even have to be an intentional one. Just, again, a reflection of society. I pointed out Viktor Orbáns view, race mixing, he's certainly not in favour of it for his country. And you yourself have been very clear about how adamant you are about the European genes continuing on, in your family and the country as a whole, about the potential of being 'mixed out of existence' or mixes that don't particularly herald from or have an obvious connection to any one place. So are you against this type of relationship being depicted too? And if not, is that because you think it's absolutely fine to, or because unlike Hungary there is not the numbers or public opinion to push against it?

Look at stats from the US and elsewhere going back decades. People almost universally used to believe that mixed race relationships were wrong. Can you really say in all sincerity that depictions of mixed race couples in school, or on TV or anywhere is any less of a legitimisation of that when we can very much see with our own eyes and from public view that is the case? That's perfectly okay with me, but is it not, with the changes it brings, diametrically opposite to your vision for the country?

Edited by dollardays (12 Jul 2019 3.59am)

Statistically mixed race relationships aren't even close to same race relationships. So as a depiction of reality it would be on the minor scale.

However, as race relationships seems quite a bizarre topic to specifically teach children it isn't something I have much of a view on.....other than, why are you teaching that when the darlings can't even spell properly.

There has been a change but I think it can be over emphasized.

The statistics of who people ultimately mate with shows that all groups have a strong in built group preference independent of the community we are talking about....Asian, Black, White.

If that weren't the case the country would be far more mixed at this stage than it is.

It's the birth rates and immigration my man....the big picture...not about Lucy and Lennox getting it on.

I'm not against it being depicted as it's a reality. Again, in my view, the age matters but also why it's being done.

On the contrary I think the racial divide in the US is as large as it ever was. The US is a collection of states and obviously attitudes will vary depending upon the demographics of those states.

I'm not against someone who falls in love with someone of another race. An individual acts in accordance with their circumstance.

There is the individual level and there is the national level.....the drilled down view and the big picture.

Vision for the country? I think that battle was lost back in the sixties due to social liberalisation (some of which was good) and globalisation (most of which hasn't been good).

I don't know that I have a 'vision for the country'.....rather I have an understanding of what's happening on replacement and my objection to it.....just as the Japanese would have....just as many many nations would have.

Edited by Stirlingsays (12 Jul 2019 4.43am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

While being a social conservative I quite liked the clause 28 or whatever it was back in the eighties...(because I believe in the traditional family model as the ideal).

However, saying that I don't like the idea that it caused the closure of help groups......something should have been done about that.

I like the idea of help or social groups because if you are in a minority they are a way of connecting you and avoiding isolation......Obviously what I don't like is the tendency for them to become centres of activism....though I suppose that's the nature of minorities.

Edited by Stirlingsays (12 Jul 2019 5.01am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

That at least is a positive point of agreement.

Edited by dollardays (12 Jul 2019 5.04am)

Not according to TV adverts and programs where mixed race marriages seem to be the norm

I've picked up on this, it's like a must do for adverts now.