When news first broke about a woman from California who gave birth to what was supposed to be seven children, media anchors, reporters and blogs were cooing with delight over the joyous occasion. Little did anyone know that the mother, Nadya Suleman, (who refused to be identified in the days following the multiple births which stirred the media in a small frenzy for facts) already had six other children through In Vitro Fertilization, was unemployed, and living with her parents in a three-bedroom house.
As light began to shine on this story, citizens of America became angry (and still are), media outlets had special guests/experts on their shows trying to determine whether or not Nadya was crazy, if she was trying to be Angelina Jolie, if she had plastic surgery, they dragged her parents into the spotlight, and discussed her finances.
It’s rather interesting that they were (and still are) discussing Nadya’s finances and how she plans to support these children. You see Nadya has found herself in a predicament – she has become the poster child for the crisis that has taken over America: Over excess, easy access.
Nadya Suleman was unlucky in her negative media attention in that her excess was babies. However, where is the media outrage for the thousands upon thousands of Americans who have indulged in excesses that they simply could not afford? These “octuplet” excesses, such as signing on to a mortgage that they knew quite well, they could not afford. The “octuplet” excess of buying things on credit and dealing with the financial issue when the bills came. How about the banks that supplied all this easy access to the millions of Americans who were no more qualified to handle the burden of owning these purchases and owing money than a thirteen year old is qualified to be a father (have you heard about this story yet)?
Nadya’s “bank” was her doctor who most likely will be placed in court and have to explain his actions to a Judge. Sound familiar? Just last week CEO’s of major American banks came before congress to be questioned about their banks’ actions. It has really become a sickness in this nation, that when we want something, we get it – on credit. The days of saving and buying have long been over, but I have a feeling that this old school ideal will be put back into action and gosh darn it, if someone is going to want that new or used car a nice man in a nice suit won’t be so willing to hand you a loan that you “promise” you’ll pay back -on time. The pouting and tantrums that we threw in order to get access to excess are (hopefully) no longer effective, and our “parents” who gave in will finally step up the discipline.
Was Nadya a little too eager for children? Perhaps. Were her actions and her doctor’s actions irresponsible? Most likely, but how does Nadya differentiate from the millions of other Americans who became selfish, unsatisfied with the luxuries they already had and wanted more to the point of financial sickness?
Nearly every American has their own “Octuplet Crisis,” be it homes, clothes, cars or gadgets. I can’t help but wonder: Are we truly as a nation enraged, to the point of sending death threats, that Ms. Suleman has given birth to so many babies with no solid plan in sight or are we really ticked off that she exposed nearly every American and their over excess, easy access lifestyle?
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