Population Concern Just Good Sense

‘Neighbor is not a geographic term; it is a moral term.” -Ancient wisdom

Dear Jennifer: Oh come on! I’m disappointed that you would agree to such an oppressive point of view on population control.

My husband and I have contributed four children to this big planet. We love them and are doing what we can to raise these children to be caring, responsible adults who can make a difference in the world.

It is purely snobbish and whiny to suggest no more than two kids for each family. Your attitude rings of bigotry. - Angela

Dear Jennifer: I am utterly appalled at your blatant disregard to human rights and freedoms afforded us in this land of the free. What is irresponsible and self-serving about sharing your life with another human being?

I am the proud parent of six children. Who are you to say my children have less of a right to live than you do? Are you a better person than they are? We are a hard-working family. I feel the Earth is a better place because of the eight of us.

Ignorance and moral decay are to blame for the world’s ills, including poverty and starvation. The Jennifers of this world should move somewhere else and start up their own communistic, socialistic government. And by the way, my conscience is clear.

Most sincerely, Kim

Dear Angela, Kim and the others: Do I have to move to my own island again? I don’t send you to another country when I think you’re wrong.

The definition of “bigotry” is narrow-minded intolerance. I think you protest in such language because the simple reality of driving around your communities (Spokane and Newman Lake) tell you daily that eventually population pressure is going to be a problem.

Your attitude is “I’ll do what I want because I’m good, but the rest of you better shape up.” So who is snobbish here?

If you already have extra children, that’s fine. I have close friends with extra children and I’m sure they will all make positive contributions. I pointed out in the column that some abusive people should have no children and others would be good parents to many.

The issue isn’t your particular children; it’s your attitude which says, “I will do what I want in a free country and call it love because I am capable of ignoring the obvious.”

China (roughly the same size as the United States) has insisted on one child per family because even with a tightly run system, feeding and providing basic services for more than 1.3 billion people is impossible. If everyone in China felt entitled to six children, the population would double in 10 years.

America has food, land and we are free, but the Earth’s resources are not unlimited. I don’t favor communism or socialism. I’m a fan of common sense. We can either raise our awareness now and continue to work worldwide toward smaller families or we can ignore longer life-spans and multiply until denial is no longer possible. That is what happened to China.

My moral position is that the world was created with many forms of life sharing a common environment. If one species destroys almost all the others, is that love, and if so, love for whom or what? - Jennifer

Dear Dr. James: After years of service I am a casualty of a recent banking merger. My work has been exemplary. I got “the call” while I was at home just before Christmas. I want to approach this as a positive move toward something in the future, but a couple of staff members suggest that I file a lawsuit, as seemingly unqualified individuals are being kept on while my job is eliminated. Several others have filed in the past and the bank has settled out of court. Best regards, Patricia

Dear Patricia: There are experts in “career transitions,” as you know, who can help you recover and put together a fair severance package request and a productive job search. Your finance skills have prepared you for many fields.

I have been fired three times, twice without any savings to tide me over. It is painful, and one of the first reactions is that it is unfair. But in a merger or layoff, there are many considerations beyond qualifications. There are concerns about salary and responsibility levels. Usually they just don’t need as many mid- or high-level people.

I’m sure you could find an attorney to create a case, but there are many attorneys who promise what they cannot deliver. Everyone loses in most of these conflicts except the attorney. Unless you have truly been harassed or discriminated against, don’t add a lawsuit to your resume. A lawsuit will trap you in the past and eliminate the good will you need to carry into the future.

We will send you the materials we have that might help. Let us know what happens. - Jennifer

xxxx

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jennifer James The Spokesman-Review