[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking the keyword or topic Israel.

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[tbird5]

People always ask me why I have 5 children and I tell them I'm lucky!!

[yodi VA]

I agree with most of the writer's conclusions. What he describes makes it even easier for people to rationalize abortion. For a society that says "for the children" it sure is a bunch a hooey!

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Interesting article, especially so coming from a Jewish perspective. I've heard that Israelis aren't reproducing to their replacement value and that Jewish immigration is slowing. It would appear that this might be Israel's greatest longterm security threat. The previously-Christian Europeans seems destined to a similar fate.

[wouldntbprudent]

I've had this tagline for a while!

[mcar]

very nice article

[Aliska]

Well, I'm kind of licking some wounds (not from here), fools rush in where angels fear to tread sort of thing, actually got told the most horrible thing and name yet on the net, that'll fix me - not) so won't write at length about this subject. Suffice it to say our local talk radio had a 1/2 hour guest from a talk show in Oregon who said our country is getting overpopulated and we need to have none or one child, talked about China, India.

So I just *had* to call. I held my tongue about his being from liberal la la land on the left coast, but said my theme was two words, immigration and incongruous. We are supposed to tell our grandchildren not to have more than one child while our doors are wide open to the world. I don't think so. I got a little more in, told the host to let me go where I wanted to go with it, then he could go where he wanted to (he always does anyway). Basically he says people have those huge luxury homes I happened to mention because they could afford them. And he went on to elaborate that they are going to zip up the border with Mexico blah blah. Uh huh.

One lady called in after me and agreed with me and got even more vocal than I wanted to because I didn't want to come across as rascist. I just want a better future and shot for people who were already here.

Then a third lady called with her talking points written down. I couldn't understand her tiny voice very well, but one of the points was a moratorium on immigration, *all* of it.

So that's that. I hope they talk about it some more tomorrow.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If it hadn't been for my three kids I might very well have ended up a bum. Having to live for someone else does wonders for your own life.

[Old Professer]

Mankind has always been its worst enemy.

[Hardastarboard]

But if you dare bring a crying baby on board you will be given malicious looks, as if the little thing is a package that ticks.

Um, I paid a lot of money to be on that plane, I'm usually exhausted after working hard all week, and I am absolutely trapped in that sardine can with the elbows of the person next to me right in my ribs. Under those circumstances, I can get no relief from the crying baby, arguably one of the most annoying sounds on God's green earth (I'm sure by his design so that you can't ignore the helpless little things). You have NO complaint here sir.

I blame everything bad in our modern world on socialism (and I'm mostly right). Want to know why no one thinks babies are really a blessing any more? Because socialist policies in our country have made it so expensive to have children.

[ziggygrey]

There appears to be more than babies of concern in this article. The fact that there are 50 live births/1000 African people, but only 14 live births/1000 WHITE people is alarming to him.

So... some babies are more valuable than others?

But the dominant culture in this country doesn't really accomodate babies, children, old people, ugly people, poor people, sick people, disabled people... the ideal couple is 20-30-something, tall, beautiful, 6-figure salary, and free... (no kids, no ailing or elderly parents). It's a very material, consumer-oriented economy. We were even told to go shopping, go to Disneyland in response to the attacks on this country.. sacrifice? That's unAmerican! more credit cards! more debt! Live within your means... hell that's letting the terrorist win...

Oh...my mistake... live within your means..pay your bills..well by god, you ARE a terrorist...

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RAISEALARM-02-28-06

So, no surprise that many children are an affront to this culture.

However, I probably am one of those people who wince when a bably is screaming in a confined space. Their screaming is designed by nature to be hard to ignore.

[pandoraou812]

I had a baby at 41 and I had so many people telling me how crazy I was. My older children are now 26, 23,and 19. I had not planned this child and I think she is a gift from God. Now at 6 she is the joy of our lives. As far as apologizing for having your children I wouldnt. If you can afford them and give each the care he/she needs then I dont think its anyones business. I do resent the people who just have children to collect more welfare and really have no time or love for these children but you seem to have a it all together. I can relate to peoples stares and comments as years ago when I was pregnant with my 2rd son , had my other 2 children, my friend's twin babies in a double stroller in a store and the comments and rude stares were unreal. I just smiled and laughed but inside I was thinking people really are RUDE.

[imskylark]

I was belittled at a wedding. Not only did this lady ridicule me she had her group of friends laughing at me. I was pregnant with a baby on my hip. She thought I only had two. I was so hurt and embarrassed.

I had a friend who was at the store with her 5 children and some man yelled at her, 'how dare you have all those children to take up MY oxygen!' I'm serious. He said that to her.

[HHFi]

When I was in college, several decades (!) ago, I remember an economics professor saying that with the migration from farms to cities, children went from being assets to liabilities. He said people used to have lots of children because they needed lots of help running farms, and feeding them wasn't an issue because they grew their own food, so each child eased the burden on the parents. But in the city, dad (or later, dad and mom) had to work to buy food, clothing, and all other needs for the kids, so each new kid added to the burden, at least until he was old enough to get a job and contribute financially.

This doesn't touch on the subject of blessings or spirituality, it just helps to explain the shift in attitudes to a general feeling that very large families are not as desirable from a purely economic standpoint. Unless you give birth to the Osmond family, of course.

[Sybeck1]

I love baby threads!! Here's my 5 month old boy, Jake!!

[JCEccles]

My first grandchildren, identical twin girls, are due in July. Am I pleased? You better believe it!

[Sun Descending]

I do think this author has a point, but even here in California, a lot of people still love babies. Mine
isn't born yet, and everyone at my workplace is
excited. Customers smile and asks questions about it
every day. What will it be named, is it a boy or
a girl? Am I excited? When babies come to visit,
all eyes are on them. People instantly smile.
I hope it stays that way.

[Dan(9698)]

We had to stop at 7.

My wife's health.

I am glad my parents didn't stop with 12, since I am # 13 of 16.

[Alberta's Child]

Many of my friends didn’t seem all that happy for me.

I wouldn't have been all that happy for him, either. When you consider how far overboard this guy has gone to defend Michael Jackson, I think of his kids as potential victims.

[joesnuffy]

I work hard to support a large family and I give up no pleasures in doing so because my children are my foremost pleasure.

This used to be what a typical American would believe...

This here...is whatcha call a good guy..a real good guy..

imo