What a touching personal account from Paul Arnott regarding his family history.

I know of the exact same situation as his.

This family, when reunited many years later, ended up having two sons with the same name.

They named their second legitimate child after the first baby they left in England for adoption.

This does highlight how power can be abused and gradually grows stronger and wider to control our lives.

Some are democratically elected and some are self-appointed from within or above, which some feel they cannot question or oppose, or even worse are not allowed to oppose or say out loud what they think or feel without being castigated or frowned upon, but this 'power' sometimes leads to sad consequences such as Paul's family.

Mandates are given, promises made and added to, then forgotten or twisted to suit the 'establishment' with unashamed vigour.

A lesson learned is to always question what you're told if it doesn't quite sound right.

Always be prepared to hear the other side, then make my own mind up and carry on with life and still be friends with those who don't agree – it's called democratic freedom.

Susan Robinson
via email