Sir, - I suspect that I am of the same vintage as Frank Farrell (January 29th) and I must say how much I heartily agree with him that the world would be a better place if men were to raise our future generations.
The first miraculous side-effect would be that we would have no more wars. With the extraordinary advances in medical science it is likely that men will be able to conceive, carry and bear children. Ponder what this noble work would contribute to world peace. Men would not undergo this hard work just so that the much-prized efforts of their labour would be used as canon fodder. Would they send their hard-won Mercs or Jaguars to the front?
Another spin-off would benefit their health - army personnel please note. Hearing would immediately become more acute. No more would men miss the glorious clarion call of a hungry baby at 3 a.m. No longer would they suffer from nasal dysfunction when a dirty nappy is nearby.
Instead of having "trophy wives", men could now aspire to becoming "trophy husbands". This might entail a little hardship such as keeping the tummy trim (no more beer with the lads), having hair-roots touched up, legs and bikini line waxed, etc., but it would be well worth the effort. Rough games such as rugby would have to be abandoned - those beautiful long nails would never survive.
When a dynamic working wife is wending her weary way home on the highways she will lift the flagging spirits of the stay-at-home husband by phoning on her mobile as he juggles with the dirty nappy, takes the scorched pot off the hob and lets the peeing puppy out. This kind thought will be much appreciated - especially as she will let him know that she has only a half-an-hour to have dinner before she has to rush out to a golf-club meeting. - Yours, etc., Gwen Woods,
Clyde Lane,
Dublin 4.