A BNOB shoutout to Katie Morgan, who responded brilliantly to Betsy Hart's meanspirited, anti-childfree column:
Ms. Hart is speaking from a biased view when she states that not having children is a "pretty good way to stunt the soul."
In past generations, people weren't really allowed to choose not to have children. In fact, even after birth control was invented, people still felt forced and pressured by society to have families.
I think it is wonderful that now people do have the choice.
Hopefully, fewer children born will be unwanted or resented because of our changing views.
[LINK]
3 Comments:
Oh boy, what a comment. I suppose I have a stunted soul.
The thing is, many childless/childfree people througout history have done great things, probably because they were able to focus on these things rather than raising kids. It's almost a cliche now, I think, but Mother Theresa is a fine example. How could anyone call that woman selfish, or say she has a stunted soul?
I'm sure the rabid breeders will tell me that she's one of many, but there are many people without kids who volunteer as mentors and do other things to help society. Some people don't help kids directly, but they help clean up trails, save historic buildings and battlefields, volunteer at their local museum, etc. It's all to preserve the past and the present for the future, which is where the children will be living.
Sorry so long, but this whole "stunted soul" crap is really ridiculous.
Nice letter Katie. I have had 2 experiences in the last week one positive,one negative. The negative experience occurred yesterday at the local ice skating rink during adults only skating time no less, a baby crazy busy body colleague of my Dad's kept trying to tell me I would change my mind one day and would my want to have my vasectomy reversed. After listening to 5 minutes of this nonsense, I asked her how she would like it if my girlfriend and I were to comment about her and her husband's birth control choices. This woman replied that was a personal matter and I emphatically told her with a couple "f" words the same was true for my girlfriend and me!
Last Friday (the positive experience), I shared a chairlift ride at the local ski area with a high school classmate who is the proud parent of 2 young boys. We hadn't seen each other in 4 years. She was happy to hear that I am now in a long term committed relationship. Furthermore, she was very respectful about our childfree choice. I congratulated her and her husband on the birth of their second son last fall.
Mike Engelhardt
Los Alamos,NM
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