Henry Porter has identified a grave problem in our society and he's blaming me. I shouldn't take this personally, I know, since he's got me in a lot of company, but what the hell, I feel I should stick up for myself anyway. The problem is that as a society we're failing our children. Porter details some of the ways in which we are, and then identifies where responsibility lies:
The main culprit stares us in the face: it is us.You might think I'm being deliberately obtuse here: that Porter must evidently mean to refer to bad government policies by which our society is failing its children, and for which we then all share some responsibility. But he disavows that interpretation of his meaning. There are, he says, some political failings; but it isn't all the government's fault and ministers can only do so much. No, it's the values of our society: we don't listen to our children, don't spend enough time with them, and more such.
I object! This is a calumny upon me. It was when my children were young, and it is now. I don't wish to appear smug. I have many faults. Well, I have some, anyway. But these aren't among them. Have I nonetheless eroded earlier and better British child-caring values? I'm not aware of having done so. Gimme a break. Despite The Brothers Karamazov, we aren't all guilty for everything.