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07/18/2005: "Wherefore art though ..."
Now I'm as libertarian as the next guy, but even Mr JS Mill pulled up short of allowing consenting adults unfettered liberty to make decisions for their children. Personal autonomy is precisely that, and those parents who claim a liberty right to, say, exclude their offspring from sex education classes, or decline medical treatment on their behalf can take a hike; martyr yourselves on the alter of stupidity & superstition if you will (the evolution of the species will somehow recover!), but leave the weans to make up their own minds.
The latest example of 'parental choice' bordering on abuse was reported in today's Metro. Up until a number of years ago, Germany & France had legislation that limited the forenames parents could inflict om their children. Anyone who wanted to choose a name from outwith the prescribed list needed to have the permission of the local burgermeister, or whatever. While one can see why Germany would be keen to avoid a few thousand little Adolfs, this ruling fell foul of the European Convention on Human Rights (Art. 8, I would think), and German & French parents were freed to copy their British & Americans counterparts in unleashing generations of little PeachBlossoms & Moon-landings on the world.
We British, of course, have always enjoyed this right, and would never tolerate the State limiting our right to torture our sprogs with nomenclature. Which is why we have the like of the McClatchy family in Scotland, who have bestowed upon their daughter the glorious moniker 'Versace'.
Yes. Versace McClatchy.
For once, we may be thankful for the glorious British resistance to poncy continental pronunciation, as the letter-writer assures us that the parents pronounce 'Versace' to rhyme with 'face'.
