I see a growing trend of people opting for sterilization as a response to the current political climate. While I respect everyone's right to bodily autonomy, I urge you to consider the long-term implications of this choice.
If you have yet to see the movie Idiocracy, I urge you to see it. We've seen in countless dystopian narratives the values and intellect of the next generation shape a society's future. The stark reality is that those prioritizing education and critical thinking increasingly choose to refrain from reproducing. Meanwhile, those with less nuanced worldviews are often more likely to have larger families. I can't tell you how many times I’ve scrolled through videos and come across an evangelical family that has 10+ kids all because “They wanted a girl, so they kept trying.” This demographic imbalance has the potential to erode societal progress and intellectual diversity.
I understand the deep-seated reasons behind the desire to avoid parenthood: trauma, uncertainty, potential complications, and a world that seems increasingly hostile to children. However, it's essential to recognize that by choosing not to have children, we risk relinquishing the future to those who may not share our values. Many of us had brutal childhoods because of the environment we had to rise from and heal from. But imagine a child growing up with the love and support they need to be the most capable and strongest version of themselves without having to overcome such hurdles. At the same time, there's hope that as people grow, they too will follow this path to educate themselves and heal from this. Many of them will continue to be lost without other people on the outside who are there to help guide them.
We have the power to shape a better world. By raising kind, empathetic, and intellectually curious children, we can counter the forces of ignorance and division. We can instill in them a love of learning, respect for diverse perspectives, and a commitment to social justice.
It's a heavy burden when we all want peace, healing, and softness: the ones who have had to reparent themselves, the people around them, and their parents. The work may never be finished, but it yields immense rewards in time. Choose to be the change we wish to see in the world. Do the work. Raise a stronger, wiser, and more compassionate generation than our own. Be the person you needed growing up.
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