Childbearing is not a right it is a privilege. We have seen often those people with multiple children who neglect them and we as a society allow this to happen. Is it justice we are doing to these poor innocent children? Some people may arguer that it is a person’s right to have children, to which I am forced to respond “then it is also a right for a woman to have an abortion.” Any person can pick up a weapon and kill someone. Does that mean it’s their right to do so? Just as any person can have children but does that mean it’s their right? First let us define right. The right or “GOD given right”, which is popular in this subject, is that any person no matter their status, gender, or ethnicity has the proper authority. This is deemed just by humans, for the mere fact that it is a human that commits the actions, is considered correct. Some people may consider my thoughts on this matter harsh. However, I am not merely talking about having children. I am talking about having children and abusing them mentally, physically and emotionally. In a recent survey, I asked a number of people if childbearing is a right or privilege. Many of the people who said it was a right gave the reason that GOD created us with a will and that it was our right to have children. When I then said it is also aright for a woman to have an abortion, these people disagreed with me. When I asked them why it was wrong for women to have abortions, they all said: “because you are killing a living thing and to do so is wrong.” I pointed out that it is wrong to kill a child of any age But, when we allow anyone to have a child, isn’t that what we are doing? When I asked these same people if it was wrong for a person to injure a child physically, they all agreed. Now then, isn’t it also wrong to abuse a child mentally and emotionally? When a parent physically injures a child, everyone gets involved and makes sure that the child will not be harmed because constant physical abuse can lead to the death of a child and we already established that killing a child is wrong. But, if a child is neglected and suffers serious mental injuries as a result, isn’t that a form of abuse? The same can be said about comments that create emotional problems. You cannot tell me that if you scar children emotionally it will not impact their life. I have seen, too often, a parent yelling at their child to shut up or say some obstinacy programming the child to believe that such actions are appropriate when they are not. If you believe that it is a person’s right to have children, then you are suggesting that an alcoholic, drug-abusing person has the right to bring a life into this world that will most likely be addicted to some sort of drug and be injured physically, emotionally or mentally. I believe such a concept is unacceptable. All the people I talk to about this topic claimed to have come from a stable home background, even the people whom I knew didn’t. This proves how programmed people are when they think that what happens in their everyday lives is appropriate. An example is needed. First, let us define neglect. According to The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “neglect is defined as to disregard, leave undone or unattended due to carelessness and to ignore.” A prime example is the story of a girl (I say girl and not woman for the lack of her responsibility) around the age of 25. This girl slept with many men with no regard for her safety or theirs in a sexual manner. Not surprisingly, this girl acquired a Sexually Transmitted Disease but that did not stop her from continuing her promiscuous behavior. She soon became pregnant and, to no one’s surprise, didn’t know who the father was. For a period of three years, she lived with her parents and her father and mother raised the child most of the time. She did not show this child affection, emotional support or mental stimulation. She did not physically abuse her child; she fed him and bought him clothes and other standards, which are to be expected. Now, three years later, the child disrespects her and shows her no compassion what so ever. The child is unruly and constantly yells at his mother like she used to yell at him. The odd thing is that he is only like this with his mother. When the child is with his grandparents or another family member, he is quite well behaved and gentlemanly. This girl still not ceasing her desired activity, moved in with a man after knowing him for 2 months and is now pregnant with his child. This girl has been told she has diabetes and if she does not take care of herself it could harm her. She was pregnant with twins but she lost one of them. The reason is still unknown. Her mother, who was also diagnosed with diabetes after she had her daughter, also became pregnant a second time and lost that child as well. The cause was due to her illness. With this information, the girl still does not take proper care of herself and does not attempt to become healthy despite the risks known. Her son, obviously displeased with his mother and her current circumstance, lives with her and her boyfriend. She still neglects him and now she is going to have another child. Can you tell me that this sort of thing will not harm the child? Or that such a thing is justified and her right?
According to a 22-year-old male, it is our “God given right to have children.” God did give us the right to have children. He also gave us the right to choose between good and evil, and the right to kill, destroy and manipulate. But does that mean it’s right? I think not. We as a people have many rights. However, not many things we do are right. If you believe that it is the right of someone to have a child, then why do we have organizations and people to take charge of others who have been mistreated or who have mistreated others? It is like sending someone to prison for shooting and killing someone, but letting another go free for stabbing someone, causing internal bleeding and saying they are not dead so there is no crime here. If you believe that it is their right to have children, then you must also believe that children are nothing more than material possessions and, as everyone knows possession is 9/10 of the law. Therefore, we have no right to meddle in someone else’s business if they are being abused in any manner.
