The Editor, Sir:

Thank you for the article on Wendy Fitzwilliam and the searching questions asked by the interviewer (Flair, October 5). Instead of pure fluff, the article was a genuine learning opportunity that I think every Jamaican should give some attention.

Beauty contestants and politicians hold themselves out as role models and leaders of society. Therefore, it is a real shame when they portray attitudes and values that are hurtful to society. Our society is being torn apart by the looseness of our family arrangements. Young people are not committing to monogamous relationships and lifelong partners, and it is the children who are feeling it. Then society as a whole suffers as fathers and mothers aren't able to invest in the upkeep of their children, and proper child rearing is thrown upon burdened teachers in school.

Special 'baby-momma'

Ms Fitzwilliam is a special 'baby-momma' because she is obviously beautiful and well known, and her 'baby-daddy' is well known too. However, her explanation of how and why she became a single mother is alarming and we must be careful that this is not held up for others as any adequate way to organise their personal affairs.

In response to the question: "Do you think your decision to become a single mother was a wise one?", Ms Fitzwilliam's answer was, "It was an exceptionally wise decision for me at the time. I was admitted to the Bar, I had a stable job, I had done well professionally and, personally, I was comfortable with Wendy."

Here this young lady is referring to herself in the third person but it seems to be 'all about her'. There is no mention in her response about what is good for a child.

'Man-influence'

Your follow-up question about 'man-influence' was excellent. Again, Ms Fitzwilliam's answer was about relying on her father and her 'Uncle Bob'. She was unable to connect to the issue that a deliberate choice to be a single mother robs a child of a caring father!

The cherry-on-top moment, though, was when she said: "I don't see why I have to wait for a man to propose to me before I can be a mother."

Well, hello! I have an answer for that. Ms Fitzwilliam, we are trying to have a civilisation here.

What is more important than the family structure? That is why there are social rules meant to ensure that children have two caring and available parents and that the burden of parenting is transferred to grandparents and grand-uncles and society at large.

The basis of a decision to start a family cannot just be "what is good at this point for me", regardless of moral concern for others and social convention.

Set a better example

As I see it, Dr Panton is no different than any other 'baby-faada', and Ms Fitzwilliam is no different than another 'baby-madda'. They are very privileged people who should be setting a much better example. If they'd make mistakes, they shouldn't be showing it off shamelessly to cash in on the celebrity.

Many people in our society have imperfect family lives. That is not, and should not be, an invitation for people to flout social convention and good taste at will. Again, we're trying to have a civilisation here.

I am, etc.,

WATCHMAN

starfishfl@lycos.com

Bronx, New York