Multiple births and Multi-culturalism

You might say that I'm a true believer in the Welfare State -

    up to a point. All human beings have the same basic needs; they

    are absolutely entitled to the minimum of community support sufficient

    to protect their human dignity. But I understand the dangers of a

    sense of entitlement and the proliferation of " welfare queens ".

          For years now I have been telling my friends that one of the

    greatest evils in life in the reckless reproduction of it - bringing

    more children into the world than you can really provide for.

           Twins and triplets are always cute, as long as they are

    rare phenomena. But multiple births beyond  2 or 3 strike me as

    downright OBSCENE. Nature would have given a woman a half a dozen

    teats if it anticipated multiple births in human females.

        Headline in this morning's Providence Journal : " Donors deluge

    Texas couple with offers of gifts for octuplets ". The mother -and

    her husband certainly - had religious scruples about terminating

    any of the embryos . They were both born in Nigeria but are now

    American citizens.

           Publicity minded corporations - food chains, diaper

    companies,  makers of educational toys , of baby car seats -

    are all joining this multiple birth circus.  The Chukwus have

    even been offered a lifetime supply of tires and oil changes !

           I would not deprive the children of Nkem Chukwu of any

    of this. But I must ask this question : Is not the mother of

    one " illegitimate " child also ENTITLED to at least a fraction

    of the assistance given the Chukwu octuplets ?

          Does mere celebrity call forth our generosity and  well

    wishes . Do we hear -and listen - to the lyrics of the Elvis

    Presley song about that poor ,solitary kid crying " in the

    ghetto ".  That everyday kid does not count ?