A few more floggings for the horse:
Mostly in Japanese customs, but can be seen in others (even American) is an old saying I once heard in a movie somewhere, and have been living it, as well...When the kids are young the parents take care of them, when the parents get old, the kids take care of them. Not an exact quote, but I've been in two marriages in which the major question comes about "who's gonna take care of us when we get older?". My wife was the only one who could care for her father when he was dying of cancer, her brother never lended a hand, and her mother was incompetent. Now, my wife and I take care of her mother--because she's too incompetent to care for herself. As far as that goes, who else will take care of you--especially when your SS won't pay enough for hospital care, etc.?
An FYI...the Japanese Gov't PROMOTES married couples to have children!!
In Japan, abortion AND birth control for women is illegal, for one!
In the olden days, large families were made so they had workers for the farm...was something I heard one time. Though I wonder where the selfishness is there, when the reason for a big family was to be able to survive.
I agree with Petes comment, but as for sakasuka and Amysmom, (I'm guessing you are referring to all CF'rs) all I can add to that is if they never have any children, then who's to care for the spouse who has become a widow/widower? There is equally no guarantee that they would want to remarry, either. Having a child would perhaps be difficult, but it's also a possible reminder of their spouse, if that's what they wanted.
IF, you say "CF'rs shouldn't have children", then why stop there?? Why not just say "CF'rs shouldn't get married", or "CF'rs shouldn't find love", since the result of marriage is always been to have children, anyway, much less, as you put it, having a "selfishness" to have someone to be in matrimony with for the rest of your short life? And, then to say "Don't get married" (or even "don't have children") would also be against a person's right to the pursuit of happiness...a given right in the U.S., if I recall my history.
Rather than to step up to the plate and say "Don't have children", why not change that to "I'm not having children because....", or even phrasing it to "If having children, have you thought about..."? Each to thier own opinion, but when telling someone else how they should pursue their happiness, isn't that infringing their freedom? By rephrasing your beliefs to suggest others to consider what your saying, it certainly would open their minds more, rather than saying "Don't Do It"!
Though, like what Julie said, would pertain to anyone having children, whether the parents have CF or not, it's selfish to have children. But, if no one has children, for one thing, the population will certainly drop fast...and in the meantime, they will just find other selfish acts to indulge in.
Of course, now (especially after reading CFHockeyMom's post) I'm really starting to understand the Adam and Eve story, and why even the Roman Catholic system is against birth control and abortion.
Well, I think my horse's been flogged enough...
