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Octuplet Mom Hits Nerve

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2009

People may not have changed a lot since 18th century England, when some actually relished public hangings.

If given the chance, I suspect some Americans would want to hang, or stone to death, Nadya Suleman, the woman who recently gave birth to octuplets.

I try to avoid listening to controversial issues on the news such as this one, but I could not help but watch NBC's Ann Curry's recent interview with the mother of 14. I'm sickened by the judgmental attitude on the part of many Americans and their hostility toward the woman.

It's just amazing to me because conversely, few people have shown extreme animosity toward government officials for spending trillions and trillions of dollars that will put our children and grandchildren in debt for their entire lives. Yet people spit out venomous criticisms toward the woman. How will she pay to raise all of these children? Why should she receive welfare to pay for the children? How can a doctor let a single mother voluntarily have so many children?

Suleman had all of her children through in vitro fertilization. She did not expect to have octuplets because the odds of all of the embryos taking would have been extremely low.

People have argued that, as a single mother, she should not have any children through in vitro fertilization. Others say she should have aborted some of the children once she realized what had happened.

Maybe it's a stress relief for some people to criticize women such as Suleman because it makes them forget about their own problems. But I don't understand the negativity. I'd feel happier knowing individuals in our country wanted to reach out and help someone in Suleman's situation.

Some might argue if we send Suleman money or give her positive attention, then it could encourage other women to have multiple children and cash in on the notoriety.

I think only a tiny fraction of people in the universe would have any desire to go through the kind of agony and struggles this mother has - and will continue to have. One positive thing to take from this event would be to celebrate the miracle of the healthy births of her beautiful children. Instead of trying to make people conform to that ever-shrinking narrow box of what's acceptable, let's give this mom a break.

Helping people instead of criticizing them always should be our goal. It won't diminish what you've accomplished in life, but rather increase its relevance. It's about giving the people around you a helping hand even if you think they are undeserving or immoral.

It's alright to admit when you think you've made a mistake in life. I just don't understand how anyone else can look at another person and say they have made a mistake. It's especially hard to understand when those "mistakes" are children with the warmest of souls, on this cold planet

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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