An early childhood teacher and activist has called for Father’s Day to be renamed – and people are having NONE of it!
Dr Ruby Red Scarlet wants the annual holiday to be renamed ’Special Person’s Day’, so as to be inclusive to children who don’t have a father in their lives.
Dr Scarlet pitched her controversial suggestion during an episode of Australia’s Today Tonight.
“There are children who have a dad, who also have a grandfather, and also have an auntie and other kinds of relatives,” she began.
Catch Up: The push to rename Father’s Day “Special Person’s Day”. Is it political correctness gone mad? @RosannaMangiare pic.twitter.com/zE1JmvU0rX
— TodayTonightAdelaide (@TodayTonightSA) August 23, 2017
“There is also a huge range of different family structures, so we have single-parent families, satellite families, extended families, lesbian and gay families.”
Not everyone was happy with Dr Scarlet’s suggestion, and there was one major criticism of her argument: she didn’t mention anything about renaming Mother’s Day.
Critics didn’t hold back on Twitter, with one writing: “Change Mother’s Day too? Because we all know changing Father’s Day has NOTHING to do with kids but your anti-male agenda.”
Others were simply hurt by the apparent ‘attack’ on fathers.
“Dr Red Ruby Scarlet trying to change the name of Father’s Day to Special Person Day – let’s downgrade fathers just a little more,” tweeted one disgruntled parent.
Some nutter in Australia wants to rename Father's Day to "Special Persons Day". But her name is equally ridiculous Dr Red Ruby Scarlet! #noo
— Jez Grimwood (@JezG19) August 29, 2017
Dr Red Ruby Scarlet trying to change the name of #FathersDay to #specialpersonday lets downgrade Father's just a little more. #fatherhood
— Matthew Humphrey (@mattphumphrey) August 29, 2017
@RedRubyScarlet change Mother's day too?
— Mark (@SorienAAAA) August 29, 2017
Because we all know changing father's day has NOTHING to do with kids but your anti-male agenda.
@RedRubyScarlet "special persons day"...seriously? What about children without mother's? Cripes, give your head a shake...
— Rusty Shackleford (@Crabman_Joe) August 27, 2017
Another added: “Last I heard, ALL children – except the Immaculate Conception – have fathers! Tired of all the PC crap going on!”
Dr Scarlet’s biggest detractor was New South Wales politician David Elliott, who branded her ‘offensive’.
In a Facebook post that has since been removed from his page, Elliott said: “Can’t believe that someone who professes to be ‘enlightened’ would advocate such crap.
“People still celebrate fatherhood, even after their father and grandfathers have passed away. In fact, for many people, Father’s Day is a wonderful time of reflecting and remembering.”
Well, what are your thoughts, mums? Do you think Father’s Day should be rebranded so as to be inclusive to all? And if so, should we be changing the rules for Mother’s Day, too? Let us know!
