Painful, ridiculous and ignorant

One of the most traumatic yet contributory TV documentaries to be screened this year, Chosen, portrayed in close-up the agonies of three adult men who had been abused when very young public school boys. Their pain was palpable years after the event and totally typical for those suffering post traumatic shock. It is so tempting after watching this to become a conspiracy theorist. The police, courts and current school owners could not have been more unhelpful. We seem to be more comfortable with sexual issues as long as they are impersonal, scientific: a fatherhood gene or the incalculable consequences of the disappearing male. With perhaps a little more discomfort our difficulties with gender become somewhat farcical. The politically correct Christmas carols which edit “king,” “son” and “virgin.” The consequences of fear and repression are serious. The official statistics show teenage pregnancies rose again last year. Perhaps we have to come down to earth this Christmas time. And educate.