Those who know TLC’s program 19 Kids and Counting are familiar with the story of the Duggar’s large family. Today, it is reported that Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage in the second trimester of her pregnancy. Jim and Michelle were expecting their 20th child when they had gone in for a routine visit with their doctor. According to ABC News, and as reported by People magazine, Michelle Duggar related her sorrow and the sorrow of the family – “I feel like my heart broke, telling my children … they have all been so excited about this baby and looking forward to April coming around and having a new little one in our arms…” Any mother who experiences a miscarriage can share in the emotional devastation this can cause.
Having watched some of the episodes of the Duggar’s, the fascination with how their family functions is something that provides hope and understanding in the dynamics of a healthy and well-rounded family. Self-sufficient, the Duggars have not relied on any outside help or assistance. The moral upbringing and faith they have in God, their Christian heritage, and in one another shows, that such family dynamics are not hard to come by in today’s turbulent society.
However, the news of Michelle’s miscarriage has brought about some vitriol against her and the family. Some of the comments are uncompassionate, despicable, and in some instances downright inflammatory and childish.
Take for instance this comment posted on ABC News website:
Sounds like “The Lord” is saying “YOU ARE 45 AND ALREADY HAVE 19 CHILDREN, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” (All caps in original comment).
Another comment is right below the first:
The human body is not meant to bring twenty babies to term, I don’t care who you are, how you live or how much money you have. These people will continue to suffer if they don’t take responsibility for their contraception. I did not even have one child because I knew I could never afford it. They should be happy with what they have and let it go.
Such comments like these are beyond comprehension. This begs the question, should we dictate and interfere with a woman’s choice to have children, and further more limit that woman’s choice as to how many children she feels she ought to have? In addition to this particular question, many of those who bring up such criticism and chastise the Duggar’s for their large family may very well be those who also support the right of a woman to choose whether she wants to carry to full term a baby or abort that child. It is an interesting act of hypocrisy.
However, another comment that is more pathetic than factually based is this one:
This is God telling you to stop. She should of stopped a long time ago. This is ridiculous. I am sorry but there is no need in having nor wanting 19 kids. Maybe she needs to be mentally envaluated (sic). And then we they do the D&C, take her baby parts away because this is beyond enough.
This comment goes beyond appropriate discussion, and actually falls under the category of intellectual suicide. Maybe for someone who does not want to have children, or someone who feels that they do not need more than one, two or even three children, but who are they to dictate and force to have their baby parts taken away against the will and desire of that mother? How about we stop funding Plan Parenthood and force all mothers to adopt and carry a child to full term? Such a statement like this would generate a fiery debate and bring out those salivating wolves who would criticize Michelle Duggar, all the while supporting a woman’s right to choose to abort or carry a child to full term.
With the media attention on Michelle Duggar and this recent news, ignorant and bigoted people who have nothing better to do will tend to spout off such idiotic, intellectually suicidal statements to their own peril while the travesty and emotional devastation is ignored.
In reality, we ought to ask ourselves, how would we feel if someone were to dictate to us how many children we ought to have and then take the right of a mother away if she so desires to have 20 children? Let us leave such decisions up to qualified medical professionals whom the Duggars, or any parents for that matter, consult with, as well as those parents. We are better off not casting stones than to look stupid and foolish when we open our mouths and speak out of ignorance and despicable criticism.
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