tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post8673064201695743616..comments2024-03-28T14:14:11.551-06:00Comments on Unabashedly American: Melinda Gates and Her Misplaced PhilanthropyDarrell Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05474956372325309461noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-54556241695549278442012-08-27T11:41:17.990-06:002012-08-27T11:41:17.990-06:00Mr. Paine,
Mr. Myste, you are not entirely corr...Mr. Paine, <br /><br /><i> Mr. Myste, you are not entirely correct. You had converted me to liberalism; not pro-abortionism. I am so new to this morally ambiguous faith and am uncertain accordingly.</i> <br /><br />Firstly, liberalism is a reasoned political philosophy, not a faith. Often new converts from the conservative camp mistake faith for politics and have to be un-programmed. <br /><br /><br /><i>In my new liberal faith, I took that to mean that I can change my position or moderate it as necessary depending on the crowd I was addressing. </i> <br /><br />No, in liberalism, you are expected to be even more consistent than Romney on what you believe (assuming that is even possible).John Mystehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263634313238599515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-36508869452239706882012-08-27T11:21:12.409-06:002012-08-27T11:21:12.409-06:00Mr. Myste, you are not entirely correct. You had ...Mr. Myste, you are not entirely correct. You had converted me to liberalism; not pro-abortionism. <br /><br />In my new liberal faith, I took that to mean that I can change my position or moderate it as necessary depending on the crowd I was addressing. In other words, using the mendaciously brilliant Harry Reid as my mentor, I thought it was acceptable to lie on a given subject if it were politically advantageous to do so. Am I wrong on this, sir? I am so new to this morally ambiguous faith and am uncertain accordingly. :)Darrell Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474956372325309461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-9168240612866741342012-08-27T11:09:16.214-06:002012-08-27T11:09:16.214-06:00Butch, I would respectfully have to disagree with ...Butch, I would respectfully have to disagree with you. Melinda Gates wants to provide charity in the form of birth control to these poorest of countries. As Ms. Ekeocha explains, many societies within African culture are such that birth control, especially in the form of abortifacient pills, are contrary to their beliefs. Despite the well-intentioned philanthropy of Ms. Gates, Ms. Ekeocha explains how Gate’s gift would only degrade their society and not address its true needs. <br /><br />I would agree with you, as I suspect so would Ms. Ekeocha, that parents should be able to decide when they are ready to have children. However, there are natural ways to do this without resorting to artificial means that many folks, particularly in many African cultures, consider to be immoral.<br />Darrell Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474956372325309461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-74079433194064184182012-08-27T11:08:38.247-06:002012-08-27T11:08:38.247-06:00DD: Interesting. So in conclusion, women should N...DD: Interesting. So in conclusion, women should NOT be allowed even the choice to use contraception? <br /><br />TP: Nobody said that, Dave; however, if I were king of the world and could rule by decree, like Obama does many times now, I would disallow artificial contraception. That said, I am not the king. <br /><br />DD: That is her choice and opinion, and she is entitled to them. But does her opinion alone reflect that of all of Africa? <br /><br />TP: I am certain that her opinion does not reflect all of Africa. I am equally certain that her perspective on her culture and their joy of babies and life is such that it should strongly be taken into account before Mrs. Gates well-intentioned gift does more to harm that culture rather than help it. I strongly suspect that Ms. Ekeocha’s opinion on this is not a minority view point.<br /><br />DD: All I can say with certainty is that we, as a society, LOVE and welcome babies. (Actually so does ours for the most part. Yes, even liberals love their babies.)<br /><br />TP: I would humbly disagree with you here, Dave. Unfortunately our country does not always love our babies. This is true to the point that we have even made bumper stickers promoting that “every child is a wanted child”. The implications, with our current enlightened culture of death, is that we can abort those children that are unwanted, much like euthanizing an unwanted dog.<br /><br />DD: She takes a dire view indeed. However, population rises even in countries with access to contraception. Perhaps her conjecture is flawed elsewhere, too. <br /><br />TP: I think you missed the forest for the trees there, sir. It isn’t simply a matter of curbing a rising population that is of paramount concern to Ms. Ekeocha, unlike Mrs. Gates. Ms. Ekeocha sees the ramifications of free and widely available contraception and knows that the degradation of her culture will ultimately be the end result of this “gift”. Again, when one looks at supposed “responsibility-free sex” due to contraception, one takes the sacredness and love out of the marital act and turns it into just another form of recreational entertainment. God intended that a married couple are to engage in that marital embrace and be open to the possibility of life (procreative) and to bond in love together (unitive). Both aspects are necessary, or the act of sex becomes cheapened and far more meaningless.<br /><br />DD: If overpopulation was not an issue I might have more sympathy. However the woman admits to the issues resulting from that problem. ”not getting even the most basic postpartum care. And so vulnerable to malnutrition”<br /><br />TP: Really Dave? Overpopulation should not be a justification for abortion, sterilizations, and other forms of contraception. The problems in Africa are often politically created due to corruption and evil dictators. The continent of Africa could easily support its population if freedom and capitalism was allowed to flourish.<br /><br />DD: While I totally support her requests for the additional medical and educational aid, I would wonder how the women back home would respond to a woman living in Britain with a civilized health care system telling them what choices they shouldn’t have. Before criticizing Mrs. Gates, would it be reasonable to want to hear from a larger sample of the African population? Just wondering. <br /><br />TP: I find it ironic that while Britain’s technologically advanced medical system far outshines most of Africa’s in its abilities to care for and save life, Africa tends to be far more moral in the fact that it actually values those lives. That said, I do agree with you that it would be interesting to get more data on what most African’s think about this proposed gift. I strongly suspect that you might be surprised, Dave.Darrell Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474956372325309461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-32884771755127125922012-08-25T14:31:35.437-06:002012-08-25T14:31:35.437-06:00Are you?Are you?John Mystehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263634313238599515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-86699998889575952232012-08-25T14:30:53.019-06:002012-08-25T14:30:53.019-06:00MR. Paine,
I thought I already converted you to ...MR. Paine, <br /><br />I thought I already converted you to pro-choice. <br /><br />Are you backsliding?John Mystehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263634313238599515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-87093542267617020962012-08-25T01:25:52.907-06:002012-08-25T01:25:52.907-06:00What Malinda Gates says does not conflict with wha...What Malinda Gates says does not conflict with what you are saying! Parents should be able to decide when they are prepared to have children.butchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16759324958029121635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-81765039989058015862012-08-24T16:15:53.029-06:002012-08-24T16:15:53.029-06:00Interesting. So in conclusion, women should NOT be...Interesting. So in conclusion, women should NOT be allowed even the choice to use contraception? <br /><br />That is her choice and opinion, and she is entitled to them. But does her opinion alone reflect that of all of Africa? <br /><br /><i>All I can say with certainty is that we, as a society, LOVE and welcome babies.</i> (Actually so does ours for the most part. Yes, even liberals love their babies.)<br /><br />Fine, then let us assume the rest of her conclusions are not based in certainty, although she seems emphatic enough, especially seeing her claims speak for not just her small village, but the entire continent. <br /><br /><i>Even at a glance, anyone could see that the unlimited and easy availability of contraceptives in Africa would surely increase infidelity and sexual promiscuity<br /><br />I see this $4.6 billion buying us misery. I see it buying us unfaithful husbands. I see it buying us streets devoid of the innocent chatter of children. I see it buying us disease and untimely death. I see it buying us a retirement without the tender loving care of our children.</i><br /><br />She takes a dire view indeed. However, population rises even in countries with access to contraception. Perhaps her conjecture is flawed elsewhere, too. <br /><br />If overpopulation was not an issue I might have more sympathy. However the woman admits to the issues resulting from that problem. <i>”not getting even the most basic postpartum care. And so vulnerable to malnutrition”</i><br /><br />While I totally support her requests for the additional medical and educational aid, I would wonder how the women back home would respond to a woman living in Britain with a civilized health care system telling them what choices they shouldn’t have.<br /><br />Before criticizing Mrs. Gates, would it be reasonable to want to hear from a larger sample of the African population? <br /><br />Just wondering. <br />Dave Dubyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03279370558997246976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-20203209182794623892012-08-24T15:26:18.621-06:002012-08-24T15:26:18.621-06:00It might surprise you, Jim, but women can work or ...It might surprise you, Jim, but women can work or go to school even with having children. Further, there is nothing wrong with, and indeed many very good benefits from a mother staying at home and raising her children rather than having a daycare center doing so, if such is her choice. Aborting children for the convenience of the mother is intrinsically wrong. The fact this even needs to be explained in this day and age only proves how deeply we have ushered in this culture of death where the sanctity, beauty, and want of life are scoffed at by many misguided folks.<br /><br />As for this being a Catholic obsession, I would absolutely agree. It has nothing to do with your cynical assumption of control or growing the congregations though. It has everything to do with protecting the most precious gift of life that God has given each of us. Sex is a supremely powerful act. It is cheapened and degraded when it is used simply for casual recreation. Being open to the possibility of life only in the context of the marital embrace is what God intended for it to be. I know that makes me archaic and out of touch with current day norms, but that doesn’t make me wrong. Look at the misery of cheapend life, casual sex, and “choice” has brought to us, sir.<br /><br />Did you read Ms. Ekeocha's beautiful letter, Jim? Life in the form of a new child is something they still cherish as part of their culture. I think in many ways, their culture is far richer than ours here in America, accordingly.Darrell Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474956372325309461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408858764761620479.post-52559161445315254192012-08-24T14:36:56.498-06:002012-08-24T14:36:56.498-06:00If women can control the number of children they h...If women can control the number of children they have, then they can go to school or work or do whatever. This Catholic obsession with having babies is simply a centuries old way to control women and increase the number of humans tied to your religion.Jim Marquishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192637469594429978noreply@blogger.com