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In Praise Of Large Families [STEYN REVIEW]
The NY Sun ^ | January 5, 2007 | By ALICIA COLON

Posted on 01/05/2007 7:23:37 PM PST by Forgiven_Sinner

Although I've never watched the show, I was thrilled to read in my local newspaper that a Staten Island family will be starring in Sunday's episode of "Nanny 911." Why? The couple has six children, and they reminded me why I love Staten Island so much. Born and raised in Manhattan, my original plan was to raise my children there until I learned that large families are not particular common or welcome. Who can forget that infamous essay in the New York Times Magazine by Manhattanite Amy Richards, who said she aborted two of her triplets so she wouldn't have to move to Staten Island and shop at Costco?

(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; US: New York
KEYWORDS: children; demographics; families; nanny911; steyn
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A wonderful account of family life vs Manhattan nihilism. Family wins.
1 posted on 01/05/2007 7:23:37 PM PST by Forgiven_Sinner
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To: Forgiven_Sinner
Who can forget that infamous essay in the New York Times Magazine by Manhattanite Amy Richards, who said she aborted two of her triplets so she wouldn't have to move to Staten Island and shop at Costco?

Wow. I had to read that twice. The horror.

2 posted on 01/05/2007 7:28:13 PM PST by Dan Evans
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To: Forgiven_Sinner
Fortunately, he titled his book "America Alone," because so far we haven't fallen into that egocentric lifestyle that fails to recognize that strong family units are necessary for a society's survival.

I think we are already way over the edge into that lifestyle. The only thing that makes us look sensible is Europe.

3 posted on 01/05/2007 7:30:45 PM PST by ModelBreaker
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To: Forgiven_Sinner

"Mr. Steyn has been warning about the declining birth rate of European nations for some time. In a recent essay for National Review, he cites the possible apocalyptic result of Russia's enthusiastic abortion advocacy of years past

Mr. Steyn writes:

"Seven out of 10 pregnancies (according to some surveys) are aborted;

in some Muslim communities, the fertility rate is 10 babies per woman."

The Toronto Star, Mr. Steyn notes, reported that by 2015 Muslims will make up a majority of Russia's army, which, of course, controls a colossal nuclear arsenal. To ensure its financial survival, Russia sooner or later may decide to sell off its nukes to the highest bidder, regardless of their intent."

By sheer numbers Muslims will take over. Meanwhile we embrace abortion to out demise in more ways than one.


4 posted on 01/05/2007 7:31:03 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: nmh

German Population Continues to Decline
By STEPHEN GRAHAM (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
January 05, 2007 9:07 PM EST
BERLIN - Germany's population fell for a fourth consecutive year in 2006 and recorded the biggest drop since the country's reunification in 1990, the government said Friday, days after launching financial incentives designed to stall falling birth rates.

The number of births, meanwhile, was the lowest since World War II.

At the end of 2006, the number of people living in Germany was an estimated 82.3 million, 130,000 below the total at the end of 2005, the Federal Statistics Office said.

Germany's population grew in 2001 and 2002, but has fallen each year since. From 2003-2005 the population dropped by 5,000, 31,000 and 63,000, respectively.

German officials have been reluctant to ease immigration rules to bolster the work force, despite complaints from industry that there are not enough skilled workers in some areas. Demographers and economists say the problem will only grow worse, and that an aging population will put serious strains on pension funding and on the economy for lack of workers.

A recent government study forecast that the population could fall as low as 69 million by 2050.

During 2006, the agency said there were about 675,000 births, down from 686,000 recorded in 2005. The latest figure represents the fewest since World War II and far below the 922,000 births recorded in 1946, when the country lay in ruins after its defeat.

The population decline was also due to a drop in net immigration, from 79,000 in 2005 to between 20,000 and 30,000 last year, officials said.

"Immigration was nowhere near enough to make up for the births deficit," the statistics office said.

Starting Jan. 1, the parents of newborn children are entitled to share up to 14 months of leave from their jobs and receive about two-thirds of their net salaries in a bid to encourage couples to have more children.

The move, designed particularly to help working moms have more children, follows similar moves in other European countries concerned about their aging populations.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/gen?guid=20070105/459ddb50_3ca6_155262007010588398693


5 posted on 01/05/2007 7:32:20 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: ModelBreaker

I think we are already way over the edge into that lifestyle. The only thing that makes us look sensible is Europe.


I think you're right. If it weren't for shrinking pockets of resistence the US would look like Europe.


6 posted on 01/05/2007 7:49:16 PM PST by freedomfiter2 ("Modern, bureaucratic, unionized education is a form of intellectual child abuse." Newt Gingrich)
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To: Dan Evans

I remember that article. It was one of the freakiest things I have ever read. This may go through the minds of many liberals - who are essentially all about themselves - but it was remarkable that one of them would actually come out and admit what was behind their abortion. And obviously do so thinking that nobody would be bothered by it (and few were).


7 posted on 01/05/2007 7:52:20 PM PST by livius
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To: freedomfiter2
"I think we are already way over the edge into that lifestyle. The only thing that makes us look sensible is Europe.


I think you're right. If it weren't for shrinking pockets of resistance the US would look like Europe."

I am more sanguine about the US than that. There are millions of strong Christians here, living and promoting a life of hope and joy in Jesus Christ.

I am even hopeful for the re-evangelization of Europe. Once they fall down, they may look up to God.
8 posted on 01/05/2007 8:01:02 PM PST by Forgiven_Sinner (Here's an experiment for God's existence: Ask Him to contact you.)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner

When we came back east we lived in Scarsdale for a while, and I know how this lady must have felt in Manhattan. We were always walking around town with kids in strollers and backpacks. My wife said that sometimes people would drive by and give her dirty looks. Once a woman in a big, fat Cadillac rolled down the window as she drove by, and gave her the finger.

And she only had three kids with her at the time, God help us.


9 posted on 01/05/2007 8:04:57 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: nmh

And Germany is paying women to have babies. Go figure.


10 posted on 01/05/2007 8:05:58 PM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner

I am more sanguine about the US than that. There are millions of strong Christians here, living and promoting a life of hope and joy in Jesus Christ.


Maybe you're right, but when I see denominations splitting over the ordination of homosexuals and half of all christian marriages ending in divorce I wonder. I don't see most churches keeping their children and successfully raising them to be solid believers as adults.


11 posted on 01/05/2007 8:20:11 PM PST by freedomfiter2 ("Modern, bureaucratic, unionized education is a form of intellectual child abuse." Newt Gingrich)
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To: xzins
During 2006, the agency said there were about 675,000 births, down from 686,000 recorded in 2005. The latest figure represents the fewest since World War II and far below the 922,000 births recorded in 1946, when the country lay in ruins after its defeat.

1946 is probably not a good reference point since many of those children were the result of huge numbers of German women being raped by Red Army soldiers.

12 posted on 01/05/2007 10:21:14 PM PST by AlaskaErik (Everyone should have a subject they are ignorant about. I choose professional corporate sports.)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner
I remember reading that Amy Richards essay.

I also remember that when it was printed the Times pretended she was an ordinary woman who made the decision.

Folks at Free Republic, who checked into her background at the time, knew better.

And, after the cat was out of the bag, the Times printed this

The column identified Ms. Richards as a freelancer at the time of her pregnancy but should have also disclosed that she is an abortion rights advocate who has worked with Planned Parenthood, as well as a co-founder of a feminist organization, the Third Wave Foundation, which has financed abortions. That background, which would have shed light on her mind-set, was incorporated in an early draft, but it was omitted when an editor condensed the article.
"Omitted when an editor condensed the article"

I'll take this opportunity to send a hearty and sarcastic, "Sure!" to the NYT.

13 posted on 01/06/2007 4:05:22 AM PST by syriacus (If 3000 deaths is an indication to "cut and run" Truman, would have abandoned Korea in 5 weeks.)
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To: Cicero
My wife said that sometimes people would drive by and give her dirty looks. Once a woman in a big, fat Cadillac rolled down the window as she drove by, and gave her the finger.

I live on Long Island. In the 70's People used to "kindly" ask me why I was having so many kids. That commentary began when I was carrying my one year-old in a backpack carrier and about 6 months pregnant. Most of my friends on Long Island had exactly two children. My friends in the Midwest had 3 to 7.

I see a lot of mothers with many children in more recent years.

14 posted on 01/06/2007 4:16:05 AM PST by syriacus (If 3000 deaths is an indication to "cut and run" Truman, would have abandoned Korea in 5 weeks.)
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To: Cicero

I am the mother of 4 adult children. Three of them were born within 3 1/2 years.

People would ask me at the supermarket if I was running a day care business. Others would say, "Are they ALL yours?!"


15 posted on 01/06/2007 4:20:28 AM PST by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid)
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To: Cicero
As a father of six children, I had a very effective response to people who looked down their noses at my wife and myself when we went out in public with all six children

We would normally be asked "Are these ALL your children ?" in the most condescending ugly way possible.

I would respond with a huge smile, "Yes, they are, all six, but I see you disapprove with your snarky attitude and assume we are on welfare and taking a nickel out of your pocket, so you are granted the gift of telling me which how many and which ones doesn't deserve to live anymore since you think my wife and myself can't afford or manage so many many kids"

"Go ahead pick them out. It's your lucky day to help the population explosion"

I once had a person call the police becasue she thought I was nuts

16 posted on 01/06/2007 4:34:05 AM PST by Popman ("What I was doing wasn't living, it was dying. I really think God had better plans for me.")
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To: Marysecretary
And Germany is paying women to have babies. Go figure.

AFAIK, Germany has been paying kindergeld since the late 1970s.

Guess they haven't been paying enough.

17 posted on 01/06/2007 6:44:47 AM PST by Night Hides Not
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To: Popman

Women in our church are having big families now. One year we had a baby a month and now they're repeating. And they're good kids, being brought up well by Christian parents. One woman has five and has had them all at home with a midwife.

How about the Pentecostal family who now has 18? They are a great family, well brought up, not on welfare. It's such a treat to see them on television. They are both well organized and built their own home. All the kids took part. They are truly amazing.


18 posted on 01/06/2007 7:29:26 AM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
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To: Popman

I have a friend with 13 kids. When she gets the "are these all yours?" comments, she snidely tells them that she called up all the moms in the neighborhood and told them that she wants to take all their kids to the grocery store.

An loose aquaintance of their, who happens to be a relative of mine is always ripping on them because "with that many kids, they have to be on welfare." He doesn't believe me when I tell him that they have never taken a penny of government aid.


19 posted on 01/06/2007 7:31:15 AM PST by cyclotic (Support Cub Scouting-Raising boys to be men, and politically incorrect at the same time.)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner

"Although I've never watched the show, I was thrilled to read in my local newspaper that a Staten Island family will be starring in Sunday's episode of "Nanny 911." "

Since she's never watched the show, would she be as thrilled to know that "Nanny 911" is a show about families who are in chaos and have no idea how to discipline or control their children? :-\


20 posted on 01/06/2007 7:32:09 AM PST by linda_22003
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