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This is obviously a well thought out and structured family. The only thing I can hope for this family is that Major League Baseball is expanding again and in fact this family is the only hope for Arkansas to actually have a MLB team
As long as they are not needing public support (beyond deductions to zero income taxes) I have no problem with this at all. We do not have a worldwide population growth problem, articles I have recently read indicate shrinkage as more of a long term issue:
"The word that pops out at me is "judgement." You might have "special knowledge" because of your family history but you are definitely judging people you haven't met and don't know very strongly. Not only are you judging them critically, but you're judging anyone in the world that has more than the 2 children. What's right for you doesn't have to be what's right for others."
As I said, "I think." That would indicate an opinion, yes? However, if someone's actions have an effect on others, it is that other's business. For instance, I don't consider, say, someone being gay to be any of my business. I don't consider someone being Republican to be any of my business (although their votes might affect my interests). Someone having more than two bio kids affects the entire planet and all of its interests, its inhabitants. The 17 Arkansas children will use up far more resources than a replacement-rate reproduction. That affects everyone. And I judge it as an action against other people's interests, yes.
I bring up my father's family only because I am fully aware that women in many societies and in the past didn't have any good choices about how many pregnancies/childbearings they would have. Women in Arkansas in today's times do have choices, and their choices affect all of us.
I have to say that I personally don't understand how someone is capable of handling that large a family. That being said.....I envy the closeness, love and joy they seem to have for and in each other.
I don't think there is anything wrong with bringing love into the world, the rest of the comments are about dressings, not the meat of the situation.
Anyone with a social conscience would baulk at the idea of having more than two children. This world is already overpopulated.
I visited their website, and while the kids all look happy and healthy, I wonder how much parental attention they really receive. There are only so many hours in a day.
It bothers me when people decide to have as many children as possible simply because of religious beliefs. The religious doctrine of "be fruitful and multiply" is from centuries ago, and surely isn't applicable in today's world!
Yes, this is indeed my opinion, and contained within that opinion is a judgment. Everyone judges everyone else on some level; that's human nature.
I'm wondering why everyone keeps saying two kids is the norm, anything more than that is not normal or frowned upon. Everyone I know and I mean almost everyone except for three people have more than two children - most of them have three or four.
When a family has the finances to support a family of this size and a home large enough (7000 sq. feet is pretty big!) then I have no problem with it. They love a big family and are taking care of their own.
But...we fostered a little girl who parents had 10 children and all were one at a time removed by fostercare and eventually placed in adoptive homes. They didn't have a pot to pee in, and lived on food stamps and welfare in a trailer with no running water, filth, pornography on the walls, and neglect. People like that should have court ordered sterilization.
My guess is that 17 out of 17 of these children will be very productive members of society and will never be a burden to any of us finacially or any other way.
They DO get way more personal attention than most people give their children because they are with them 24/7. I know parents who work 8 hours, plus add it another hour lunch and hour or two commute and basically don't see their kids too much at all.
As for the tater tot casserole, they were very clear that this was on a night when they had to make something fast....this was not a normal meal. It was a treat.
I personally would not opt for this lifestyle, but I am impressed with their children.
Anyone with a social conscience would baulk at the idea of having more than two children. This world is already overpopulated.
Oh God, not one of the overpopulation theorists. The world IS NOT overpopulated!
About this couple, 17 kids is downright madness. I mean come on, how much attention could they possibly recieve? What about the teenagers, will they even have a NORMAL life? If I was 15 or 16 and was being used as a 24 hour babysitter for my young siblings, I'd be downright mad! There is a limit to how many kids are acceptable.
Who said there is a LIMIT to how many children is acceptable???
I do not think that I could personally handle having 17 children, I have 3. But since I have more than the "norm" of 2 children, am I a bad person? I have struggled at times financially, but from what I have seen this family is paying its own way. Just because this family is not what is normal for most, does it make them irresponsible, bad, or neglient people? I do not believe so. I believe that it takes all kinds to make the world go round, and to keep things interesting. I am not going to pass judgement on anyone, because that is not my place. It is Gods'.
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