Sure having 7 children seems like a miracle. Of course this was thanks to fertility drugs, the ICU and cesarean section . What is miraculous about the McCaughey family is the generosity of this country to support such a fiasco.
The McCaughey's chose to have seven children. Chose not to selectively reduce. Chose to take fertility drugs. Chose not to adopt. Chose not to be satisfied with a daughter. Do we as a society have an obligation to support such socially selfish people? Not only no, but hell no. Lets see some of what they get: life time supply of diapers, 15 seat van, new house, college education, cash, discounted (if not free) medical bills. Yup, the total cost of this show is tens of millions of dollars.
There was about as much magic in this process as making 7 toasters. Fertility drugs with an assembly line birth. Yes that sort of magic is what I want. How precious of a thing. Does that negate the fact that there are seven new people in the world? No, life is precious and often too cheap. However by encouraging this sort of societal abuse we encourage this self centric behavior rather than properly discourage it.
Fertility drugs are something I have a problem with. While I doubt many people have no want for children. It is just something burned into our genetic code. But also not being fertile is sort of nature's way of telling you that "perhaps you should not have kids." There is nothing wrong with that. Nor is there anything particularly wrong about using technology to have a couple of kids. The problem lies when this is taken advantage of.
In a world with a serious population problem and boom, seven kids is ridiculous. Especially in America. Its not as if they are farmers and need bodies to keep the farm running, but even a semi educated hick is smart enough to spread the kids out. No, while they live in Iowa, she is a seamstress and he is a book keeper. Lets face it that is not exactly career paths that can support 7 newborn children, plus a slightly older daughter. There would be a difference if a billionaire decided to do the same thing: HE COULD PAY FOR IT.
The option for selective reduction, while a diffucult decision is a fair one. For every reason I have mentioned. But while the McCaughey's willingly rape technology and abuse a system for thier own needs, they will not use the system fairness to their family structure and society. Typical Christian hypocrites.
Now for the children's welfare.
Only with sacrifice from everyone else can they even have this many kids. But really what sort of life will these kids get? It is hard enough for a family to raise two kids, three if they are lucky. Finding the time, energy and having the skill to raise a couple of kids is a big (and admirable) task. But economics aside is their REALLY enough love for 7 kids? It is hard to tell. But for their previous daughter, that is a cruel gift from parents. You can be certain she will get lumped into helping raise 7 brothers and sisters. She will most certainly get less love and affection from her parents. She will most likely live in the shadow of her siblings. That is, perhaps, the real tragedy here.
Funny how a single mom who is trying to raise a kid just gets welfare. Some big sacrifice from the community? How about all the children who do not have any parents? Only short sighted people can not see if they want kids, this is an option. There are too many people in this world, bringing more in without taking care of the ones we got is somehow cruel and inhumane.
It's a basic premise in life that you should not do more than you can afford to. It just leads to trouble (or ruin). So lets say I get 10 million dollars in debt by being selfish and short sighted. What do you think the odds are that I would be rewarded in the same way the McCoys were? I seriously doubt President Clinton would be calling me. Unless, of course, I had pledged to the DNC.
I could understand if they had 7 children by some freak of nature and people chipping in to help. That would be nothing less than humanitarian. However people who abuse this sort of thing and get the pity of a nation seems ridiculous. The McCaugheys made their bed, so to speak, and they should lie in it.
Copyright 1997 Wes Johnson