Forced sterilization
Posted
October 1, 2006 at
6:16 pm by
Jessica
What kind of crazy ass suggestion is this?…Sterilizing women for their kids bad behavior? Even if I did agree with it in theory, in real life it’s a horrific suggestion and even more so coming from a city councilman. People! Think about who you’re electing, will ya?
From WIStv in South Carolina:
(Charleston-AP) September 30, 2006 - A Charleston City Council member says parents who can’t properly care for their children should be sterilized.
Councilman Larry Shirley says mothers who cannot take care of their children should be treated like stray animals and spayed. Shirley tells The Post and Courier, “We pick up stray animals and spay them.”
Shirley’s comments come after a video store was held up by a group of children, including a nine-year-old who police say was too young to be charged. Police also detained a 14-year-old girl suspected of wielding a BB gun which looked like a pistol.
According to the paper, Shirley says “These mothers need to be spayed if they can’t take care of theirs. He reportedly goes on to say, “Once they have a child and it’s running the street, to let them continue to have children is totally unacceptable.”
Tags: Charleston, forced-sterilization, Larry-Shirley, Social Issues, South-Carolina |
10 Responses to “Forced sterilization”
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1. Amy
October 3, 2006 @ 7:54 am
This stuff is just sick. Who has the right to even make that call? So much for human rights.
2. wordgirl
October 3, 2006 @ 11:14 am
I agree. When I see someone doing something stupid I often say something like, “Please don’t reproduce”.
But I don’t believe a law should be made that allows the authorities to sterilize.
3. Mary
October 4, 2006 @ 10:47 am
I don’t think he meant it literally.
What should be done though?
No one wants to say anything because it might not be politically correct these days.
There are way too many children who have no parenting whatsoever.
4. Shauna
October 4, 2006 @ 11:14 am
Oh please people, get over yourself. Eugenics is far gone and will never be brought back. If someone believe that people should sterlized, that’s they own opinion and (usually) are kidding. My God, do you honestly think all of American is going to start campaigning for Eugenics just because Larry Shirely says we should?!
NO!
But you know, I agree with him wholeheartedly.
5. David
October 4, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
Yes, but when we elect someone, that person should be revered only so far as their words and actions will carry them. We expect elected officials to be careful about what they say and hope to *know* what they believe. To not hold them accountable is tantamount to, er… irresponsibly raising kids.
6. Sonia
October 6, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Okay, so this guy, Larry, is on his town’s city council - not exactly a seat of immense power. Every city in the U.S. has a group of people who are “elected” (many places have just a few more interested in the job than there are spots to fill) to make the menial decisions related to running the community. So Larry made a comment that was “off-color.” So have I. But I do understand completely his frustration that the city has to spend time, money and other resources dealing with young children who have little to no parental controls.
A person has to pass extremely thorough and intimate testing, interviews and critiques to be able to adopt a child. But any yahoos with sperm and a uterus can bring (obviously) unwanted and uncared for children into the world. I’m never going to be a perfect parent, but I’m damn sure my children will never be running the streets in search of easy criminal behavior.
7. Jessica Carlson
October 6, 2006 @ 5:58 pm
George Allen also made a comment a little “off color”, and there was outrage. People who represent communities, states or nations might want to think a little more before making off color comments. I realize it was a councilman, but hey, in Chicago, they’re making some pretty significant decisions and anybody in public service should probably be a little more aware of their words than someone just saying that in the privacy of their homes.
The difference between having to qualify to adopt, is that you’re taking the responsibility of someone elses child, it’s not a matter of natural, biological consequence. The whole “need a license to be a parent” is as unrealistic as asking someone to obtain a license before consuming fiber, or obtaining a license for bedtime.
8. David
October 9, 2006 @ 8:21 am
Good for you Sonia. Good for you. And if one of your children were to go out of bounds, let’s all make sure that he/she is accountable to the fullest extent of the law. And if they happen to be minors, well, that’s okay, may the law then just come knocking at your door. I’m sure you’d welcome them.
9. Beth
April 17, 2009 @ 8:56 am
Please correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t it take a male AND a female to make a child?? Interesting that no one wants to sterlize all men until they can prove they are worthy to be fathers??
10. mully
April 17, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
Great point Beth! I wonder why it is that when it comes to child rearing and the success or failures of it, all we ever seem to hear about is the mother in question.
Im not in favor of “big brother” tactics when it comes to the problem which caused the comment in the first place, and for years before and probably for years after, there have been and will be irresponsible parents who teach the same irresponsibility to their offspring and they in turn do the same thing. The generational link for dumbass parenting hasnt been broken yet and I dont see how it can be.
My point is this: While I agree that wild kids are a pain in the butt and a danger in some cases to society, this isnt a problem that is likely to be solved easily and its been around for a long, long time.
Right now, Id be more concerned and worried by the governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano and HER mouth shooting off.