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It is true that population is growing. But the fear of overpopulation to cause government to control and interfere with the decision of a married couple on how many children they should have is already overboard. We are all aware that this phenomenon of ‘Democratic Winter’ in reference to the article of Ms. Lilia Borlongan-Alvarez 'World's future linked to 'demographic winter' posted last February 1, 2010 is the cause of some countries who implemented a one-child policy. The result is obviously depopulation as they no longer meet the replacement level of population.
If the state interferes with the decision of a married couple to procreate naturally, there will naturally have a contraception and abortive mentality within the family. The psychological make-up of the family is that a child is a ‘burden’ because of economic reasons. This would have a tremendous impact on psychological, social, economic, political, emotional, and spiritual growth of the whole family and each of them as a person especially the child.
When a child who needs a brother or a sister and feels that his parents are unwilling to provide him one because of economic reasons, the child will then feel money is more important than his need to give love. The child will grow up prioritizing money or power over relationships, thus becomes materialistic and emotionally ‘empty’. This would result to psychological escapes in forms of addictions, and if uncontrolled leads to crime and anti-social behaviors.
The contraceptive and abortive environment in a family and in a nation sees life as a ‘want’ not a ‘need’. The ‘want’ mentality is a mentality of a spoilt child who only thinks of himself and what gives him pleasure. If the ‘want’ mentality is in the adult, he is immature. He cannot hold leadership, cannot keep and maintain relationships, and is insensitive to social order. He tends to be unaware those around him and cannot take care of others.
In a healthy family, a ‘need’ mentality is at work. Parents need their children because they love them. A child needs his parents because he loves them. A child needs his siblings because he cares for them. The family needs the society to share the good that they have with them and to be of help. A ‘need’ is ‘other-centered’. It is self-giving. It is sacrifice for the common good. A ‘need’ is born out of consideration, concern, and love.
In a natural family, some children chooses to live a single life, not out of escape from responsibility of having children, but having a 'need' to be more of service to the society. We all know that people with no attachments can fully give themselves more to far greater number of people than those who are tied to a family. If the option of remaining single out of love naturally comes out of a family, so who will worry about overpopulation?
Maria Charina Rodriguez
