This is sad, but...

[somdebay]

I don't understand why people have babies that they can't take care of. If you yourself are starving, why have a baby and know it's going to starve?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070217/ap_on_he_me/un_fighting_hunger

 

[Roughidle]

Hmmm...I would say because they're ignorant and hump like rabbits.

 

[vraiblonde]

Hmmm...I would say because they're ignorant and hump like rabbits.

Well, there's that part of it.

I don't trust stories like that, anyway. #1, the UN lies its ass off, and #2, when we send money and food for these people, their governments end up confiscating it and building palaces and nuclear weapons.

Think about 18,000 kids dying (just of hunger) every day. That's 6.5 MILLION a year. So if the kids are dropping like flies, who's birthing the next generation of starving children?

 

[Roughidle]

Well, there's that part of it.

I don't trust stories like that, anyway. #1, the UN lies its ass off, and #2, when we send money and food for these people, their governments end up confiscating it and building palaces and nuclear weapons.

Think about 18,000 kids dying (just of hunger) every day. That's 6.5 MILLION a year. So if the kids are dropping like flies, who's birthing the next generation of starving children?

The mama and papa flies?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
I agree with ya. I find it hard to believe the money sent ends up where it is advertised that it will go. But then, I have little faith in humanity. Saw a news story a ways back about how the USA sends 1.5 Billion in foreign aid to So.America every year. Wonder where it all goes.

 

[Penn]

I never have understood that phenomenon; and that's how I think of it. To echo somdebay's question - how in the heck can you justify making more babies, knowing you cannot properly feed and care for them?

Much of Africa, India and China have had this problem for as long as I can remember.

You gotta wonder if the drive to have sex, is stronger than the realisation that -you then have to care for what you're creating.
(obviously, it is.)

But then, many of these countries expect the U.S. and other wealthier countries to step in and take care of the mess - that they've made! Good logic there.

 

[RoseRed]

Perhaps they don't have easy access to birth control.

 

[Penn]

Perhaps they don't have easy access to birth control.

:chasitybelt:

 

[vraiblonde]

Perhaps they don't have easy access to birth control.

One would think that starvation would be excellent birth control. When your body fat gets too low, conception is almost impossible.

 

[Penn]

One would think that starvation would be excellent birth control. When your body fat gets too low, conception is almost impossible.

Extend that a bit, with another twist:

There you are, in the middle of the night, starving, or hungry as hell, and your SO wants to get real cozy with you.

So, the first thing that comes to mind is ....................?

 

[Pasofever]

One would think that starvation would be excellent birth control. When your body fat gets too low, conception is almost impossible.

That is suposted to be true...

 

[vraiblonde]

There you are, in the middle of the night, starving, or hungry as hell, and your SO wants to get real cozy with you.

I don't think it works quite like that in third world nations.

 

[Penn]

I don't think it works quite like that in third world nations.

If I'm reading you correctly, then involuntary castration would seem to be the proper method of birth control in those societies.

 

[somdebay]

Well, there's that part of it.

I don't trust stories like that, anyway. #1, the UN lies its ass off, and #2, when we send money and food for these people, their governments end up confiscating it and building palaces and nuclear weapons.

Think about 18,000 kids dying (just of hunger) every day. That's 6.5 MILLION a year. So if the kids are dropping like flies, who's birthing the next generation of starving children?

Good point

 

[hvp05]

To echo somdebay's question - how in the heck can you justify making more babies, knowing you cannot properly feed and care for them?

This is an off-hand guess, as I have never been a starving African, but perhaps the mortality rate is part of why they breed so frequently. Obviously, everyone knows the danger there, but everyone wants their 'seed' to carry on, so they figure if they have 10 kids the odds of at least one surviving are better than if they limit themselves to one or two.

But then, many of these countries expect the U.S. and other wealthier countries to step in and take care of the mess - that they've made! Good logic there.

This is why the world hunger problem is a somewhat skewed matter. For so long the complaint is that we (wealthy nations) don't care enough, don't give enough. We have poured money and aid into these nations in recent decades... but for every person we help they create two more. Thus the problem persists. If they - meaning the local governments moreso than the individuals - don't help themselves the problem never will go away, regardless of what external resources may be available.


But hey, we're America... our money grows on trees, so we can afford to drop truckloads into the bottomless pit anytime we want!

 

[Lenny]

One would think that starvation would be excellent birth control. When your body fat gets too low, conception is almost impossible.

That is suposted to be true...

Reproduction of the species is one of the last things to go as the body withers away (how else could Warren Beatty have fathered a kid with Annette Benning?).

With the religious and cultural pressures in these countries it is not surprising the birthrate is so skewed toward early death of newborns. All attempts to introduce birth control is countered by the local (frequently Muslim) religious leaders, plus the local (frequently Muslim) social mores say that the man is the supreme being and must be appeased and satisfied. Thus, the night time "cozy" situation is fequently a marital rape.

 

[Penn]

This is an off-hand guess, as I have never been a starving African, but perhaps the mortality rate is part of why they breed so frequently. Obviously, everyone knows the danger there, but everyone wants their 'seed' to carry on, so they figure if they have 10 kids the odds of at least one surviving are better than if they limit themselves to one or two.

This is why the world hunger problem is a somewhat skewed matter. For so long the complaint is that we (wealthy nations) don't care enough, don't give enough. We have poured money and aid into these nations in recent decades... but for every person we help they create two more. Thus the problem persists. If they - meaning the local governments moreso than the individuals - don't help themselves the problem never will go away, regardless of what external resources may be available.


But hey, we're America... our money grows on trees, so we can afford to drop truckloads into the bottomless pit anytime we want!

Maybe it's not so off-handed after all. And, like you, I've never been in that kind of environment where possibly the mentality is just that: the more offspring you produce, the thinking is that at least one or two will survive to carry on the bloodline. There are many cultures in the world that we, as Americans, cannot understand their everyday logic. Years ago, it was the Oriental mind, then more recently, the Middle Eastern philosophy puzzled many of us. The more we study and read, the more we realise that.

I have to agree with you too, that: "If they - meaning the local governments moreso than the individuals - don't help themselves, the problem never will go away, regardless of what external resources may be available."

So sad, but very true.

 

[somdebay]

If these folks don't have money for food where in the world do you think they will get condoms? DUH!

To the genius who left that...it's called abstinence...if you can't afford to feed yourself, there is no reason to be having sex and reproducing.

 

[Penn]

With the religious and cultural pressures in these countries it is not surprising the birthrate is so skewed toward early death of newborns. All attempts to introduce birth control is countered by the local (frequently Muslim) religious leaders, plus the local (frequently Muslim) social mores say that the man is the supreme being and must be appeased and satisfied. Thus, the night time "cozy" situation is frequently a marital rape.

I missed the gist of this statement the first time around.

Focus in on the very last line. It makes sense.<!-- / message -->

 

[baileydog]

Ive always said, stop sending food and money and send birth control instead. I guess the reason they screw all day is because theres nothing else to do. I think its sad, but the saying needs said again, if you cant feed em, dont breed em.

 

[vraiblonde]

Ive always said, stop sending food and money and send birth control instead.

We tried that and they refused to use it. Against their religion or culture, or some such.