17 Kids!!!

[Sevaede]

As long as they are all happy, its cool by me. Like my mum told me: "If only we were that organized!"
Its their life, and if this is how they want to live it, more power to them!
My grandmum had 11 kids, and I always thought that was a big family..

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a big family! My grandfather had 13 kids and I was always sort of amazed (kinda) by it..

[Twisterdog]

I do not believe that comparisons to our grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents large families to modern day life is not valid.

For one thing, there were no reliable means of birth control available to them. A woman couldn't simply take a birth control pill, they didn't exist. Birth control as we know it now is a very new invention.

For another, our society was mainly an agricultural one back then. Parents owned a farm, and children worked on the farm. The more kids you had, the more work got done, the more pigs got slaughtered, eggs gathered, cows milked. Children added to your lifestyle, and were a means of support. The vast majority of people did not attend college, or get jobs away from the family farm. That is generally not the case now.

Also, the mortaility rate was higher. Vaccinations were not in existance, or not prevelant. Accidents, epidemics, poor nutrition, and common illness claimed many more young lives than they do now. It was simple math ... if a couple needed five strong young men to help run the family farm, they had better have about fifteen kids, knowing that about seven would be women who would marry and go to their husbands' farms, and at least three would die in childhood.

[Giselle]

Ever since the industrial revolution(s), our population has grown exponentially. As we all know, exponential growth means RAPID growth in a very very short amount of time. Additionally, we are incredibly close (if not overreaching) our carrying capacity, and, as history has taught us, once we overstep the boundaries of our carrying capacity, we die off to let Nature recuperate. So, yeah, I do care, and, no, I don't find anything about this family admirable.

I have to agree with Edwina's Secretary: Poor Mother Earth!!

[popcornbird]

Sara, I fail to see how this family effects you, your taxes, your life. Really. Okay, so this family has 17 kids. Fine. I'm sure we have a lot more than just 17 couples here on PT who do not have ANY kids, due to infertility, or just by choice. So...if 17 childless couples had 1 kid each, that would make 17 kids...the same number of diapers disposed in the country, the same number of 'additional' children in the country, using the same amount of resources.

My point? We hardly have ANY family with 17 kids in the country, and probably few across the world today. Why does it matter if THIS family has 17? What makes us so sure that all of the kids will have 17 kids each? Jeez...my mom never used birth control pills, and she got 2 kids in her lifetime. Just two. There's no guarantee on how many kids one is going to get. Not being on BC is not a guarantee that someone will end up with a lot of kids. Every kid that is born in this world comes because God wants that child here. So, if God chose to bless this family with 17 children, all of whom they love, what is everyone's problem? Its not like everyone out there is having 17 kids. No one is! So if this family is the only one that had 17 kids, I don't really see how it has such a great impact on the population. Again, there are thousands of couples that have NO children.

God has created a balance in this world. To some people, He gives many. To some, less. To some boys. To some girls. To some both. To some, none. Its not like everyone in the world is going to have 17 kids now. Come on...

And to compare them with gays, that just does not make any sense. You can't compare apples and oranges. The government doesn't want gays to marry, not because 'they control family life'. Its because marriage is between man and woman, and that is how God made mankind, and made the world, and the reason He made two genders, and that's just how it is, and has been, from day 1. People can argue all they want, have whatever opinion they want to have, but at the end of the day, people do that in regards to everything. And at the end of the day, not everyone arguing is right. The excuse 'who are we to judge who someone else falls in love with?'...well, people fall in love everyday, and some people cheat on their spouse because they 'couldn't help falling in love with that girl at work'. There's something called feelings, which we cannot control, and something called action, which we can control...and some actions are wrong, period. I do not disapprove of gays because of their feelings. I disapprove of their actions. And, as a member of planet earth, I guess I have the right to comment on that too.

I know this is a hot topic, but Sara, you know I've always liked you, so please don't take any of this to heart. Its just how I feel on this issue.


And before anyone thinks I'd want 17 kids, I wouldn't. I couldn't handle that many, but I would love to have 3 or 4 or 5. And I don't think having a baby every year is good for a mother's health either. All I'm saying is if they can manage it fine, and if all 19 members of the family are happy, then more power to them. I don't know how they do it, but clearly, they seem to be doing just fine at it.

Giselle, I don't get your comment regarding us 'dying'. We're all going to die anyway, one day, and the next generation will replace us. That's how the cycle of life goes, and no, there's nothing we can do to prevent that. Its going to happen whether people have 0 kids, or 20.

[lady_zana]

And to compare them with gays, that just does not make any sense. You can't compare apples and oranges. The government doesn't want gays to marry, not because 'they control family life'. Its because marriage is between man and woman, and that is how God made mankind, and made the world, and the reason He made two genders, and that's just how it is, and has been, from day 1.

This is slightly off-topic and please don't think my disagreeing with your view is a slight on you because you always post in a respectful and polite manner.

That said, I have a real problem with this argument. It's one I've heard many times before. "Gays can't marry because God made marriage between a man and a woman." In America, government is not supposed to be ruled by religion. Even if one thinks marriage should only between a man and a woman because of their religion, our government should NOT take that into account when making a decision. If you take religion out of the picture, I can't think of any reasons that gays should not be allowed to marry.

If any religion disapproved of gay marriage, they should have the right to not perform the ceremony but there is no reason two men or two women should not be allowed to marry in a civil ceremony at the courthouse if they wish to do so.

[Hellow]

And to compare them with gays, that just does not make any sense. You can't compare apples and oranges. The government doesn't want gays to marry, not because 'they control family life'. Its because marriage is between man and woman, and that is how God made mankind, and made the world, and the reason He made two genders, and that's just how it is, and has been, from day 1.

Actually, God made Woman to provide Man with companionship in an more personal way lol.

[Marigold2]

This is the great country of America. Here in America you can have 17 children or 27 or 57. Not only can you have 57 but you can do it on welfare. One man can make 100 kids with 100 different woman if he wanted and the government can not stop him, here in America. Reproduction is still a personal choice. As is abortion, here in America.
This family seems to be good, kind, decent, loving. They take care of all of their children. They are not a single man impregnating hundreds of different woman for sport and fun then abandening them. Here in America a gay couple can have children. They can do so with a donor. Here in America we have millions of illigal aliens taking up space, food, water, jobs, healthcare. Perhpas we should worry about the millions of them instead of 17 well feed, loved and supported children. Here in America we can still voice our opinion and not be shot.

[mike001]

Congratulations Marygold---you said it best.

I'VE BEEN BOO'D

[caseysmom]

Its because marriage is between man and woman, and that is how God made mankind, and made the world, and the reason He made two genders, and that's just how it is, and has been, from day 1. People can argue all they want, have whatever opinion they want to have, but at the end of the day, people do that in regards to everything. And at the end of the day, not everyone arguing is right.


.

That is how many religions view the "truth", doesn't mean it is the "truth", if people find love with each other and they happen to be the same sex more power to them.

[Edwina's Secretary]

PCB...you and I respect each other. But my reproductive choices are not the issue and I am bothered that is being brought up ... as if it gives me no right to an opinion. I am concerned for the children you might have one day and other children who should be entitled to a world worth living in.

My issue is people who irresponsibly breed. Pollution is caused by people. And more people mean more pollution. And less resources.

We have oceans full of fish, trees full of fruit.

Many species of fish are becoming extinct from over fishing. And land is of no use to grow food if there isn't water. And the correct weather conditions. And the correct soil.

What resources do people need? Shelter? Food?

You are leaving out a couple of VERY important needs. Water and air. Both endangerd by overpopulation. There is a water crisis right now here in Califarnia and it will not be getting better as more people move here. Clean air? Go up on any hill around LA and tell me about the clean air! Read the air quality report in the paper.

Have you ever thought about how these children might grow up to be great contributers in this society? Its possible.

And they could grow up to be the worst mass murderers in the history of the world. It's possible. Neither you nor I know.

Sadly, I think you are correct that this family does not care what others think of the lifestyle they have chosen. In which case they should stay off television shows.

And I would like you to back up your statement that there are alot more men in the United States who abandon their children than who raise them. That is a damning statement of men and especially men in this country.

My point all along is that should not be held up as a role model or something to be admired because they are able.... and chose ...to overbreed. You are right there are many children needing a good home...good parents. Why not take care of some of those children instead of making more? THAT I would admire.

[buttercup132]

Do you have to argue and be rude in every thread.. I find you are even more so rude when the topic has to do with kids.