Letters to the Editor, September 2022

Many people who are against abortion speak out passionately on behalf of “the unborn.” Their passion seems to dissipate once a fetus is no longer an abstraction, but a living person with needs.

Many seem oblivious to the plight of unwanted children, craving love and a fair chance at life. I’d like to speak out on their behalf, as I was one of them. Given away as an infant when my parents moved to the United States from Hungary, only for them to have a “change of heart” that caused them to bring me here later, I discovered the horrors of being unwanted.

My heart doesn’t bleed for “the unborn,” it bleeds for the countless unwanted, abused children who feel pain, neglect, and hunger all over the world.

Ava Barcelona

There was one question that was asked several times in September’s issue: Why haven’t people accepted the fact that overpopulation is and has been the number one driver of human misery?

Ancient “facts” played a huge role. Start with the idea that large populations guaranteed greater success on the ancient battlefield. Forget that starvation and deprivation led to nearly all of those battles. Move to religions wanting to assure their status by having astronomical numbers in attendance at services. Forget that many of their flock were poor beyond belief or starving because of the inability to care for their family size. Then switch to economics and know that large populations provide both work forces for production and large consumer numbers. Forget that those workers and consumers would live with hardships that are unnecessary. End with the lie that people who love children have as many as possible. Forget that it would make more sense to believe that people who love children ensure that children never experience unnecessary suffering due to unnecessary numbers.

Here are some real facts. Battles wouldn’t have been necessary if people could have easily fed their families. It would be tough to convince happy people that war with equally happy people is necessary. Religion isn’t about numbers in the door; it is about the happiness of the people who exit the door. Only when all people are easily cared for is that a possibility. Last and most indubitable, is the fact that a limited area can only support a limited number of lives. Earth is a limited area and we must limit our population. Sooner or later we will have to face that indisputable fact. The only question is whether we will do so in time to save everything we love.

Eric Thompson

Hello from Northeast Ohio! As a new member, I just finished reading your opinion piece in the September issue. An excellent encapsulation, I feel, of what needs to be a constant refrain by most of our media outlets.

This retired educator is happy to have finally received Population Connection magazine. I will certainly consider adding the organization to my estate plans in the future.

Walker, M Ed.