© 1999
Discerning the Times Digest and NewsBytes
My grandmother was one of eleven children. My
mother-in-law was also one of eleven, nine of which survived to adulthood.
I have three children. When my husband and I were expecting number three,
people actually said, "you’re not having any more are you?" It
was always more of a declaration than a question. We were treated like we
were taking up precious resources with our "large" family.
A few years ago, I attended a high school reunion. (I’m
not telling which one.) Only one other family had more children than we
have. I kept thinking, we only have three! My husband has eight aunts and
uncles just on his mother’s side, and I can’t even count all of the
cousins. Our world has become a place where large families, truly large
families, will only be something to be read about in history books.
The motto of the day seems to be "less is
best." The U.S. House of Representatives voted in July to restore
funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), money that was
pulled from UNFPA last year over the agency’s support of population
programs in China. The measure was passed with an amendment which called
for U.S. funds to be held in a separate account, with the stipulation that
no U.S. money can go to China. The agency views the U.S. contribution as
much needed moral approval for what many consider to be controversial
programs.
During a briefing in November, 1998, at UN
headquarters, Dr. Richard Feacham, the World Bank’s Director for Health,
Nutrition and Population (HNP) disclosed that approximately 30% of the
World Bank’s annual portfolio for HNP loans or about $800 million was
devoted to population initiatives in 1996. He also stated that the World
Bank has adopted an overall mandate of reducing fertility rates, claiming
it will alleviate poverty.
At the international level, development and general
healthcare are taking an obvious back seat to population control. In the
1994 UN document on population and development only 6 out of 89 pages
dealt with development. Furthermore, since 1969, the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) has spent more money on population
control programs than its entire worldwide health-related expenditures.
Developing nations worldwide report their medical
facilities are encountering serious problems attaining basic supplies like
surgical gloves, antibiotics and other medicines. At the same time their
closets are overflowing with condoms, birth control pills, and IUDs.
Dr. Margaret Ogola, a physician from Kenya and a
representative to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing
reported, "More people die of malaria, pneumonia, and tuberculosis,"
yet "the emphasis on pelvic medicine has ignored other concerns."
She also declared, "I would lose babies in the pediatric ward due
to the lack of most simple drugs. Clinics are loaded with contraceptives
but no needed medicines."
Whether it is through agencies such as USAID, or
congressional appropriations to multinational corporations such as UNFPA,
the World Bank or others, American taxpayers are routinely funding
coercive population control measures which many nations see as cultural
and moral imperialism. Who can really blame the more traditional nations
for being disillusioned and enraged with the United States. Just imagine
how the U.S. is viewed by those who only know us by the policies we force
upon them, our media image, and, God help us, our politicians. It’s
downright sickening to think of it.
Our politicians and leaders permit the exploitation of
women, even young interns, to be used for entertainment, or as a tool for
selling everything from beer to breakfast cereal, at the same time
proclaiming that they know what is best for the women of the world. The
arrogance and duplicity is contemptible. U.S. policy destroys our
credibility and reputation in the nations that are just backwards enough
to still believe in the sanctity of human life, and which still protect
the honor and virtue of their women.
We should not be surprised that the birth of every
child is not celebrated for the miracle that it is. Those who oppose
Almighty God are inclined to call evil good and good evil. The enemy of
our souls hates children for they are near to the heart of God and
precious in His sight. God created this world and everything in it,
including resources in abundance for His creation. Those who starve do so
because of corruption and war, not lack of provision.
He gave us children as a rare treasure to be cherished,
not as a burden to bear. "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;
The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver
is full of them;" (Psalm 127:3-5a NASB)V
