Sometimes I wonder in what kind of a world prejudices and intolerance toward peoples’ lifestyles is called “morals”.

While “prejudice and intolerance” are negative behaviors, and I would fault anyone who takes out their concerns on the baby, failing to endorse or support certain behaviors and lifestyles (e.g., not wanting to heartily congratulate someone on having a child out of wedlock, for one) is still ok in my area of the world. And quite common among those with religious beliefs that are based in the possibly quaint notion that certain things are determined as good or bad by a higher authority than any of us :)

aek, I can appreciate that. What I meant was just that to me, “congratulations” can imply approval/celebration of the parents and the surrounding actions/circumstances — in addition to celebrating the baby’s arrival, which presumably should always apply. I guess because I’m used to a usage where you congratulate someone “for” something they did and how it turned out.

It’s probably always safest just to comment on the baby and how cute it is :) Or “best wishes” does always seem like a good sentiment, whatever else may be running through one’s head in a possibly uncertain social situation…lol.

Thinking of an example where someone married one of my less-admired cousins (when he wasn’t in jail at the time, haha). I’m not sure I would “congratulate” the bride, but I would certainly wish her good luck ;)