"Birth Control Is Selfish" ... The Message Society Doesn't Want To Hear

No Room for Contraception ^

[nrfcmedia]

"Birth Control Is Selfish" ... The Message Society Doesn't Want To Hear

This past weekend graduates of Saint Thomas University were treated to a surprising speech by 21-year-old graduating student Ben Kessler. Some graduates walked out, many jeered, and others spewed profanities in response to his speech.

Just what did he speak of which caused such an outcry? The War in Iraq? Border control? NSA spying? None of the above.

So, what exactly did Mr. Kessler do wrong? He touched society's third rail: contraception. Mr. Kessler had the audacity to call the use of birth control "an act of selfishness."

One would have expected some encouraging applause from the audience, after all St. Thomas is a Catholic institution. The reality is that many of these Catholic students and family members are themselves using contraception, and Mr. Kessler confronted their lifestyle and the use of contraception.

Mr. Kessler dared to speak about this issue and people didn't want to hear his message. What happened to the exchange of ideas universities are famous for? Where were all of the supposed "open minds" at during this speech? Instead of listening to his speech with an open mind, it seems that they were too busy keeping themselves ignorant by jeering and ridiculing him.

Society has a lust affair with birth control to the point of not being able to think outside of the box. We live in a contraception "matrix" where it's impossible to believe that there are any harmful effects on marriage, society, and the health of women.

This "contraception deception" is the primary force behind the attacks against the contra-contraception message.

For the most part, society doesn't want to hear the message. This message is that, in our culture, contraception leads to increases in abortion, teenage sex, affairs (and subsequent divorce), health problems, and statutory rape. These facts are apparent by simply comparing statistics.

Why are people willfully preserving their ignorance? For the past century, people have lived in a society that endorses the practice of a contraceptive lifestyle of easy, commitment free, and on-demand sex without challenging them to question possible adverse effects.

Mr. Kessler could have spoke about the start of a career, the discernment of a vocation, the undertaking of new responsibilities, or many other subjects related to graduation. But hopefully his bold message will help to his classmates to question the force-fed information they have heard all their lives concerning human sexuality and contraception and arrive at a more natural, healthier view of human sexuality.

The contraception debate is long overdue, and it is people like Mr. Kessler who are breaking down the walls of ignorance, selfishness, and deception. Society may be resistant to this message, but over time the truth will prevail.

[AZLiberty]

Selfishness isn't a bad thing (see Ayn Rand, for example). Expecting individuals to live their lives for the benefit of the State is what's bad.

[sinkspur]

The fact that so many had an extreme negative reaction proves that they understood what the speaker was saying--all too well.

The reaction to a valedictory address about the virtues of eating vegetables would also have been negative, even though everybody understands the virtues of eating vegetables.

It is an inappropriate topic.

[Chena]

I care about their legal status, NOT their ethnicity. Sorry.

Personally, I try to not apologize when I'm right. You were right in what you said, and what you believe, IMHO.

[goodnesswins]

Yes....life should be about ME ME ME....and make ME FEEL good....sorry....wish someone had slapped me up the head with a speech similar to this many years ago! And, if my kid had gone to this school, I wouldn't be complaining about it.....his angle may have not been the best, but he was dealing with an IMPORTANT TOPIC. As for "arrogance," you seem to be full of it. Good Night.

[DesScorp]

"Abortion has reduced the crime rate, so say some studies, because abortion is practiced in higher percentages by those who would be dysfunctional parents."

Studies which are disputed...and are you going to seriously argue to me that the family structure is better today than in 1964?

[Scotswife]

"Yes....life should be about ME ME ME....and make ME FEEL good....sorry....wish someone had slapped me up the head with a speech similar to this many years ago! And, if my kid had gone to this school, I wouldn't be complaining about it.....his angle may have not been the best, but he was dealing with an IMPORTANT TOPIC. As for "arrogance," you seem to be full of it. Good Night."

First of all, I was responding to someone else who seems to have made judgements about me without any knowledge whatsoever of who I am.
You then interject yourself with this strange rant of yours.
Good night, I hope you feel better in the morning.

[Antoninus]

Abortion has reduced the crime rate, so say some studies, because abortion is practiced in higher percentages by those who would be dysfunctional parents Blacks, Hispanics, and White trash.

Come on, that's what you meant to say, instead of the inelegant and inexact phrase you used.

[Nihil Obstat]

>>Mr. Kessler's message is meant mainly for Catholics, and subconsciously may be a mating call for the Catholic wife he didn't meet before graduation.<<

"Kessler was a defensive tackle on the St. Thomas football team and had a 4.0 grade-point average. He majored in philosophy and business, was an undergraduate seminarian at the university and plans to become a Roman Catholic priest."

[peyton randolph]

Tell me, what religeous beliefs do you have? I'm sure I can find something to rip on...

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I'm a deist. Fire away.

[Antoninus]

Reason and science provided us with parachutes. The same could be said about sex.

So opening a parachute is the moral equivalent of putting on a condom for you? How interesting.

Evoking "reason and science" as a rationale for planned sterility is only useful to a self-centered myopic materialist. Keep watching the situation in Europe. They're about 20-30 years farther down the road to destruction than we are.

[peyton randolph]

Kessler was talking about Minnesota and hypocrites who claim to be faithful Catholics. Why are you talking about Mexico?

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Nice try. Kessler was talking about Catholicism's anti-contraception stance. That would include Catholics in Mexico. It is easy for the Church to take the position that contraception shouldn't be used. Of course, the Church takes no responsibility for financially supporting those families who have too many kids.

[Antoninus]

It is an inappropriate topic.

Your opinion. I disagree and am happy this young man had the stones to stand up to all the self-important gas-bags who objected.

[Torie]

I think the studies are meritorious, and yes, I agree that the family has become more instable or non existent since 1964, due to a host of factors, the list of which is long, and which, yes, includes the pill. But the welfare state, changing economics, the changing role of women, prosperity, secularization, the growing social acceptance and tolerance of narcissism, have all played a factor. Stable marriages in short are not an economic necessity. The upside, is that adults are able to exit from marriages from hell, from a social and economic perspective. IN any event, the genie is out of the bottle. It isn't going to be put back in.

[Wormwood]

They're about 20-30 years farther down the road to destruction than we are.

What destructuion do you mean? Europe doesn;t share the same border we do with Latin America, so your Post #22 need not apply.

[guinnessman]

Go to Mexico. Take a look at the poor women with 6+ kids they can't feed because The Church condemns contraception. Watch the kids beg/sell gum on the streets to survive. Kessler is a fool.

My father grew up on a farm in Ireland, and was number 14 out of 15 kids. The reason why I am alive today is because his parents did not believe in contraception.

[peyton randolph]

I visited some of the poorest areas of Mexico in the late 1980s and saw lots of kids--mainly happy and smiling, none starving. Besides, the birthrate in Mexico is now below 3 kids per family and falling. And Mexico is a secular state where the Church is often persecuted.

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Nice fantasy. Go to any border town and watch the kids beg to survive. Mexico is officially a secular state. As a practical matter, the Church wields enormous influence on both public and private sectors. The only threat to the Church is not persecution...it is the exponential growth of evangelical churches. As for average birth rate, the lower the education and income, the higher the birthrate. Very common to see 6+ kids in a family.

[Pyro7480]

It is easy for the Church to take the position that contraception shouldn't be used. Of course, the Church takes no responsibility for financially supporting those families who have too many kids.

Uh, how do you know that? The Catholic education system in this country has helped many of these families.

[Antoninus]

What destructuion do you mean? Europe doesn;t share the same border we do with Latin America, so your Post #22 need not apply.

Huh? Your post is unintelligible. Besides, the Mexicans coming across our border are benign compared to what's coming into Europe...

[Wormwood]

As for average birth rate, the lower the education and income, the higher the birthrate.

This unfortunate fact does not recognize borders.

[Nihil Obstat]

>>Nice try. Kessler was talking about Catholicism's anti-contraception stance. That would include Catholics in Mexico. It is easy for the Church to take the position that contraception shouldn't be used. Of course, the Church takes no responsibility for financially supporting those families who have too many kids.<<<

The church teaches NFP. It is 100% natural, more effective than condoms, easy to learn, easy to use, and virtually cost-free.

http://ccli.org/nfp/basics/advantages.php