This should be the view that irresponsible people bringing life into this world that they cannot hope to support.
Over the past few weeks, a woman on welfare with six children (some disabled) conceived by in-vitro insemination decided it was very wise to have an additional eight from the same process. At the same time, I get petitioned to “help the poor children” (in America of all places).
We shouldn’t exclude ourselves from natural processes
Humans, because of our ability to create a relatively stable environment somehow think we are completely immune from natural processes. They range from evolution (which is still happening by the way) and natural selection (survival of the fittest). There are a host of other ones but these are the two I wish to focus upon.
Evolution and Natural Selection
Evolution is a process by which our genes, like a combination lock, are recalibrated by random chance and environmental influences to be different each time we procreate. Think of the “optimal human” as a key to get into a door, each generation procuded will either be closer to being able to open the door or not, those who are closest, through natural selection, will eventually develop the genetic profile that allows their “key” to open the door. This may happen in one or two generations or thousands, but changes (progress or otherwise) is constant. Just look around you and you will see both the positive and detrimental results of these recombinations.
Disgraceful woman
Although I deeply respect women, I cannot find anything positive in a woman who is screwing both the social welfare system and seeking fame at the same time by having children that she had no hope of both conceiving naturally and taking care of once reality hit. On one side, you have deeply religious people who say it’s a blessing from God that she had so many kids (I guess God, not the doctor, gave her a prescription for clomid and artificially inseminated her too). On the other side, realists who sacrificed themselves to have kids that they could afford, limiting their family size out of common sense. So, the question must be asked, what should have happened?
My opinion
Let’s recap, a woman who is unable to support one child much less 14, coming from a disfunctional home with no hope in hell of ever becoming anything unless her ovaries were artificially stimulated and uterus impregnated. What I think should happen is two fold. First, she should be given a tent and a hundred dollars along with a bus fare to anywhere she wants in the United States to live-out her life in misery, obscurity and regret. People who cheat the public, social systems and media deserve no less. Second, her children should be separated (though kept in contact) in loving families and her grand parents not allowed any visitation rights. I fail to see how anybody from that family can be a positive role model for these children. If she was in nature, she would be dead along with all her children, there is no way a single mother could ever gather enough fruits and vegetables to provide for such a large family without relying heavily on others. The doctor that inseminated her should have his license revoked and forced to sell everything he has, which is put into a trust fund to take care of the 14 children and provide them with a college education when they get older so this cycle isn’t repeated. I would give the doctor the same as the mother, a hundred bucks and a free bus ticket. The worst thing that can happen is the life lessons of both the mother and grand parents are taught to young children.
Pointing to larger problems
I think this whole situation points to a larger problem, that of education, lack of forethought and reproductive sciences in general. Just because you can have children, does that mean you should? Contraceptive education is a must for all children starting in day care in my opinion but it needs to go further into the area of responsibility. Sex is fun and easy but if you are unable to handle the consequences, not an activity you should partake in. Governments so far have been shy to this except in Europe, which is suffering it’s own problems as well. A young 12 year old boy recently became a father with a 14 year old girl in England… huh? The fact that this happens around the world indicates there is a deep dysfunction in far too many parents out there who are not teaching responsibility but “hey, if you can get others to pay for your mistakes, it’s alright”. This is happening everyday, around the world, people having children they cannot hope to take care of, it’s a multi-generational crisis even larger than the financial one as it affects people lives in an even more tangible way.
I sense an overall sense of depression no matter where I go in the world, I am not depressed but no matter where I go, I see people who have lost all hope of having the life of their dreams and hate what they have become, but that’s a subject for another day.
Reproduction a right or privilege?
So, is having a child a right or privilege? I believe it’s a privilege and absolutely not a right. If you are unable to take care, nurture and live-up to the responsibilities of being a parent, if you have a child, it should be given away to a family that can, with or without your concent. The only right you have is to allow your child to have the optimal living environment, if that isn’t you, the kid is gone. I believe this would solve many problems in our society because it would act as a lesson to others and more importantly, offer a positive living environment for the child to break the cycle of poverty and negative thought that comes from people who shouldn’t be having children in the first place.
The Bottom Line
If you can’t take care of it, don’t have or take it.
Mannatech is barking-up the wrong tree, their threats are as empty as their distributor’s promises.
