No Surprise

The only thing surprising about Barbara Boxer's comments to Condoleeza Rice at senate hearings this past week referencing Rice's "childlessness" is that people are surprised.

For those of us who do not have children, these types of comments are a regular occurence.   We often find ourselves on the receiving end of these thoughtless comments, and assumptions by those who feel that having children gives them a more acute moral compass. 

I hate to see the press wasted on this ignorance when the real topic should be Rice's dangerous Iraq position. 

But with this current, albeit momentary focus, perhaps there will be some lessons learned here, increased understanding and some sensitivity raised. 

Comments

[birdie]

As usual, I couldn't agree with you more. We've talked about it before and yes, I'm so tired of being defined by my capacity to have children and consequently, whether I did or not. I guess I "understand" it (or maybe I'm just used to it) but when I take the time to really think about it, I find it all kind of weird. It just seems like it's really nobody's business...and making the assumptions you are talking about are basically just rudeness couched in a false sense of intimacy and connection.