Did you see the joint Guardian / London School of Economics study on last summer's riots? It is the most extensive and in depth look at motivations that has been done so far. Remember what our media told us? Robbers and apolitical thieves carried out their version of the 'me, me' society in their own grab at the consumer society. At the time of the riots, Prime Minister David Cameron told the Commons:
“This was not political protest, or a riot about politics, it was common or garden thieving, robbing and looting.”
What did the study find? 270 ex rioters were interviewed across 6 cities. 59% were unemployed. 73% said they were stopped and searched at least once in the previous year. 88% considered that policing practices were a major cause for the violence. The police force welcomed the findings as 'an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the riots.' A case of the police being ahead of some of our friends on the left? I'm only asking.
An even more important piece of scientific enquiry has been reported on today. Part of the sustaining myths of the anti-abortionists is the psychological damage done by termination. Because termination is almost never a casual option for women, that state of serious concern is parleyed, by the anti's, into damage to mental health caused by the choices that women make. Wouldn't it be nicer, they argue (sometimes in the US with brick in hand) to leave these difficult things to Mummy church or charity?
Data from 44 separate studies on this issue has been gathered by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (who do the mental health reviews for NICE) and this review came to two conclusions: Abortion does not raise the risk of a woman suffering mental health problems. Second: After a project which involved a three-month consultation, the researchers believe it would not "be fruitful" to carry out further studies into how pregnancies are resolved. They say future work should concentrate on the mental health needs associated with an unwanted pregnancy.
In other words, however a women decides to deal with being pregnant is not the issue and does not itself cause mental health problems. This miss-belief is effectively resolved. The argument is settled. It is however true that the general mental health needs of pregnant women who do not want to be pregnant, whatever they decide to do about it, does need more attention. Bang on.
The researchers hope that their findings will put paid to the argument that the act of a termination = mental scarring. But what need is there for research and reason when you have God on your side?
No comments:
Post a Comment