On air: What's the problem with Elton becoming a parent?
|
Tuesday, 12 Dec. 2010
|18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Hi, this is Ros updating Dan's earlier post. I don;t think many of you saw this story coming. Sir Elton (along with his partner, David Furnish) have a son born to a surrogate mother in California on Christmas Day, and there are three things being talked through online. 1) Should a gay couple be allowed to have a surrogate child?
2) Is Elton too old to become a dad?
3) The merits of the name Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. (As a man wth a woman's name, I'm passing no comment...)
There's also some concern about the level of scrutiny young Zacharia will live with.
Are any or all of these issues worthy of consideration, or should we just raise a glass to Elton and his partner, and let them get on with bringing the boy up.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
18:50
113631290
We''re talking to Toure and Ba in Ivory Coast for the final part of the programme finding out the latest from their country.
Comment sent via SMS
18:49
116013795
My Dad was only 20 yrs older than I & it was stormy! I had a much better role model in a neighbor aged 70+ Rick from Prague, Czech Rep
Comment sent via SMS
18:47
116013859
AU cannot solve any problem in africa so let them forget about ivory coast
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:48
113631290
Maureen in Scotland called to say: her cousin is gay and accepts that he won't have children because you're not meant to if you're gay. He donates regularly to children's charities
Comment sent via Twitter
18:48
115977171
@主播大秀_WHYS the time has come for the world to move on and recognise that upbringing is the most important issue.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:45
115977171
@主播大秀_WHYS its for society to recognise these new dimensions to parentage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:43
113631290
Edward from Liberia emailed WHYS: Why is the emphasis on Elton? David does not seem to be sharing in this birth. Was it Elton and not David who donated the sperm? Will it be David or the surrogate mother who will be recorded as the boy's mother?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:41
113631290
Musa in Kenya: Love is the most important thing, everything else is just fluff. I just find it astounding that some humans are quick to jump on the proverbial high horse when it comes to homosexuality. Two cheers for David and Elton.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:36
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Ashley: I think its ridiculous that people are critical of two loving, financially stable people having a child later in life. Do these same people criticize all the people who continue to have children when they don't have the ability to care for them?
Comment sent via SMS
18:34
116013795
I hope Elton&partner have another kid soon so this one doesnt become spoiled & that Zach inherits Eltons talent! Rick from Prague
Comment sent via SMS
18:34
116013794
Nyakengiri in Nairobi Kenya. I think older parents may not be as diligent in disciplining their children. They are overly permisive as grand parents.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:31
113631290
Jackson in Atlanta emailed - how does age not matter? There is a good chance you will be dead by the time your kid is 20. If my parents had died when I was 20 Id be positively lost.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:29
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Sarah in London:
I think it is a problem because of Elton's age, I don't think it is fair on the child who will lose one parent at a young age. I think it is a clear example that if you are rich enough you can get want you want. There is no way they could adopt because of his age- it is purely selfish!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:27
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Duane in Virginia emails: I think it is more of an issue for young immature parents. I'd much prefer older wiser ones.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:26
113631290
Kevin in Michigan emailed WHYS: Is having a baby irresponsible at a certain age? Yes, at 15 or 16 it is. Elton John has a lifetime of experience and wisdom, not to mention significant financial resources that will allow him to give his chid a much higher quality of life than the majority of children born anywhere to anyone.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Priyam in India: I think our society should accept that even gay couples have the right to bring up children.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:22
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Joshua in Kenya emailed WHYS: At 43 years of age, I still feel my children came later than I wanted. Elton is too old and his lifestyle might not be the choice of the child.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:21
115977171
@主播大秀_WHYS its all in the upbringing of the child irrespective of the sexual affinity which shapes the life of a child.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:21
113631290
Francois emails: Why is this a big story? Would this be a story if an older straight couple had a kid? No. Just get over it.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
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Horace: What I am really concerned about is whether the child could have a normal socialization process as those who have straight parents.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
113631290
Chipulu in Zambia: age is just a number. It does not matter as long as the parents are able to care for the child...and elton is more than capable.
Comment sent via SMS
18:13
108513545
I鈥檓 60, my daughter is 8. Her mother died last year at 45, but i鈥檒l be around for a long time, and we鈥檙e both happy. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
18:15
115797920
Elton just opened a new debate on the gay rights subject, In some countries gay people r not allowed to adopt children so why not have their own or willthey also not be allowed to raise them. Bravo ELTON.... Innocent, Kampala
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Wasike in Uganda: No problem at all.In Uganda,even men at 80+ produce!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:05
113631290
Blyden emails: There should not be a problem with Elton John becoming a parent. Should a gay couple be able to parent a child? Yes. Is Elton too old to become a parent? Certainly not.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:01
113631290
Rafe: Ok, so Elton and his other half have a kid. Have they spared any thought for how that kid will be treated at school?
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:01
113631290
Mary in Atlanta tweets: Coolest Dad Ever... can you imagine raiding that (clothes)closet?
Comment sent via host
17:47
113631290
We''re on air now talking about why some of you are not happy that Elton John and his partner David Furnish, have had a baby through a surrogate. What do you think? Is it a problem?
On air: What's the problem with Elton becoming a parent?
| Tuesday, 12 Dec. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
Hi, this is Ros updating Dan's earlier post. I don;t think many of you saw this story coming. Sir Elton (along with his partner, David Furnish) have a son born to a surrogate mother in California on Christmas Day, and there are three things being talked through online.
1) Should a gay couple be allowed to have a surrogate child?
2) Is Elton too old to become a dad?
3) The merits of the name Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. (As a man wth a woman's name, I'm passing no comment...)
There's also some concern about the level of scrutiny young Zacharia will live with.
Are any or all of these issues worthy of consideration, or should we just raise a glass to Elton and his partner, and let them get on with bringing the boy up.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
We''re talking to Toure and Ba in Ivory Coast for the final part of the programme finding out the latest from their country.
Comment sent via SMS
My Dad was only 20 yrs older than I & it was stormy! I had a much better role model in a neighbor aged 70+ Rick from Prague, Czech Rep
Comment sent via SMS
AU cannot solve any problem in africa so let them forget about ivory coast
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
Maureen in Scotland called to say: her cousin is gay and accepts that he won't have children because you're not meant to if you're gay. He donates regularly to children's charities
Comment sent via Twitter
@主播大秀_WHYS the time has come for the world to move on and recognise that upbringing is the most important issue.
Comment sent via Twitter
@主播大秀_WHYS its for society to recognise these new dimensions to parentage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Edward from Liberia emailed WHYS: Why is the emphasis on Elton? David does not seem to be sharing in this birth. Was it Elton and not David who donated the sperm? Will it be David or the surrogate mother who will be recorded as the boy's mother?
Comment sent via Facebook
Musa in Kenya: Love is the most important thing, everything else is just fluff. I just find it astounding that some humans are quick to jump on the proverbial high horse when it comes to homosexuality. Two cheers for David and Elton.
Comment sent via Facebook
Ashley: I think its ridiculous that people are critical of two loving, financially stable people having a child later in life. Do these same people criticize all the people who continue to have children when they don't have the ability to care for them?
Comment sent via SMS
I hope Elton&partner have another kid soon so this one doesnt become spoiled & that Zach inherits Eltons talent! Rick from Prague
Comment sent via SMS
Nyakengiri in Nairobi Kenya. I think older parents may not be as diligent in disciplining their children. They are overly permisive as grand parents.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jackson in Atlanta emailed - how does age not matter? There is a good chance you will be dead by the time your kid is 20. If my parents had died when I was 20 Id be positively lost.
Comment sent via Facebook
Sarah in London: I think it is a problem because of Elton's age, I don't think it is fair on the child who will lose one parent at a young age. I think it is a clear example that if you are rich enough you can get want you want. There is no way they could adopt because of his age- it is purely selfish!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Duane in Virginia emails: I think it is more of an issue for young immature parents. I'd much prefer older wiser ones.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Kevin in Michigan emailed WHYS: Is having a baby irresponsible at a certain age? Yes, at 15 or 16 it is. Elton John has a lifetime of experience and wisdom, not to mention significant financial resources that will allow him to give his chid a much higher quality of life than the majority of children born anywhere to anyone.
Comment sent via Facebook
Priyam in India: I think our society should accept that even gay couples have the right to bring up children.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Joshua in Kenya emailed WHYS: At 43 years of age, I still feel my children came later than I wanted. Elton is too old and his lifestyle might not be the choice of the child.
Comment sent via Twitter
@主播大秀_WHYS its all in the upbringing of the child irrespective of the sexual affinity which shapes the life of a child.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Francois emails: Why is this a big story? Would this be a story if an older straight couple had a kid? No. Just get over it.
Comment sent via Facebook
Horace: What I am really concerned about is whether the child could have a normal socialization process as those who have straight parents.
Comment sent via Facebook
Chipulu in Zambia: age is just a number. It does not matter as long as the parents are able to care for the child...and elton is more than capable.
Comment sent via SMS
I鈥檓 60, my daughter is 8. Her mother died last year at 45, but i鈥檒l be around for a long time, and we鈥檙e both happy. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
Elton just opened a new debate on the gay rights subject, In some countries gay people r not allowed to adopt children so why not have their own or willthey also not be allowed to raise them. Bravo ELTON.... Innocent, Kampala
Comment sent via Facebook
Wasike in Uganda: No problem at all.In Uganda,even men at 80+ produce!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Blyden emails: There should not be a problem with Elton John becoming a parent. Should a gay couple be able to parent a child? Yes. Is Elton too old to become a parent? Certainly not.
Comment sent via Facebook
Rafe: Ok, so Elton and his other half have a kid. Have they spared any thought for how that kid will be treated at school?
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
Mary in Atlanta tweets: Coolest Dad Ever... can you imagine raiding that (clothes)closet?
Comment sent via host
We''re on air now talking about why some of you are not happy that Elton John and his partner David Furnish, have had a baby through a surrogate. What do you think? Is it a problem?