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I see a lot of terms like "anti-family" and "adult play" (which come at the expense of "a child friendly environment") bandied about, but no definitions or argument to back any of this stuff up. This position is not self-evident.

For a lot of people, going out to dinner with kids, meeting up with neighborhood friends...and having a beer or glass of wine are all compatible. In fact, it seems weird and atavistic to talk about these things as though there was common agreement. It's mainly differing cultural traditions.

Take as an example H Street: the Argonaut is about a thousand times more "child friendly" now than when it was a desolate (and alcohol free) patch of concrete, populated by shambling ne'r-do-wells. Same with the re-invented Yards Park--there's alcohol there, and kids, and it mixes quite well, thanks very much.

In fact, I'd argue that alcohol is completely orthogonal to family friendliness, and it's basically a vestige of the Baptist tradition of demonizing alcoholic beverages for social ills that would be there in any case.

there is no doubt in my mind that class and race play a factor in devaluing policies which are more family friendly in certain neighborhoods.

Again, there may be no doubt in your mind; the challenge in a public forum is to form an argument that takes the feelings you hold in your mind and put them out there for public inspection.

by oboe on Jun 25, 2012 1:58 pm • link • report