Any parent will agree that few things are as rewarding as having children. Unfortunately, that reverence has been corrupted today as cheap fulfillment has become the norm. Couples today actively seek out ways to avoid having children and proudly display their unwillingness to remain childless. Some joke they took exotic trips with the money they saved by not having a baby. Others point to sports car bought with an unborn child’s college fund. Regrettably, the act of having children and raising them in a loving household has been largely replaced in society by a trend of satisfying selfish desires.
Unfortunately, in the spirit of that disregard for the sanctity of parenthood and family, many couples choose to prevent pregnancy through contraception. Worse still, unmarried, young couples have also seized these forms of birth control to recklessly satisfy their desires. Even more troubling still are the countless young people engaging in this act because an assortment of modern contraceptive devices makes it apparently convenient and safe. The entire notion of unnatural birth control methods distorts the very notion of children and the family itself.
Indeed, when couples view sex as a legitimate shared activity before a serious commitment has been made to each other, they risk bringing a child into the lives that might not be compatible. Therefore, children for sexually-active, unmarried couples become seen as a burden. This is in direct opposition to the contention that children are a gift to be treasured. In this way the entire bond of a relationship is corrupted, with carnal pleasure replacing deeper, worthy forms of connection.
Along with these negative feelings towards children, respect for one’s partner also becomes secondary to selfish pleasure if couples don’t appreciate the gravity of an intimate relationship. This disrespect is especially evident for women in relationships because they bear the burden of most premarital sex consequences. Viewing unplanned marriage as the fault of the woman, many unmarried men successfully force their guilt on their partner for an act they had full participation in. This leads to a willingness to compromise their partner’s safety through risky contraceptive methods. Indeed, without the loving history of a long-term relationship, this unconscionable decision is made easier.
This disrespect is illustrated openly in society today as dangerous contraceptives are endorsed everywhere, from the media to schools. Unfortunately, this also leads to the creation of future generations of Americans unaware of the reward in having children and raising a family. Unfortunately, the most dangerous of these birth control options openly discussed, oral contraceptives, are also the most popular form of contraception. Indeed, the temptation for sexually active young people to turn to these methods is easy. Women need only take a pill each day to effectively eliminate their chance of pregnancy. Unfortunately, side effects are frequent.
Because oral contraceptives are hormone-altering drugs, they carry dangerous side effects. These hormonal methods, while effective, can also falsely imply complete protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Although schools fulfill their minimal obligation and warn students about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, this incomplete education might simply prompt more confused young women to turn to this drug as a safeguard.
Misconceptions about these oral contraceptives are easily understood after examining the marketing done for many of these products. Bayer HealthCare, for instance, spends millions each year on ad campaigns declaring their birth control alternatives a total quality-of-life improvement option. According to this company, these drugs alleviate everything from acne to premenstrual depression, in addition to parenthood. However, the FDA recently requested Bayer remove misleading television commercials, citing the fact those claims have not been conclusively proven.
Despite these revelations about the credibility of this drug manufacturer, the worst side effect of this drug is still the physical effects it has on women. In fact, the growing number of complaints against oral contraceptives, exemplified by pending Yaz lawsuit, indicates that the safety of such birth control options is far from guaranteed. Users of this particular product have seen serious, and sometimes fatal, side effects including heart attack, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and gallbladder disease.
As if the physical dangers of these contraceptives weren’t enough, these manufacturers also succeed in devaluing the fulfillment children bring to a parent’s life. It’s important to recognize the threat some aspects of society pose to our most valued roles. While parenthood is undeniably not for all Americans, we should be intelligent enough to recognize that products promoting a simpler life without the miracle of birth fail to address what a couple will feel when they grow old and realize they made no lasting contribution to the world, only took from it.
No comments:
Post a Comment