Dear Editor,
Re: “Remove choice trouble follows” (Letters, May 9)
Thank you for reinforcing the reality that the world is overpopulated. Overpopulation needs to be discussed by everyone. Thank you for speaking out. Why are people afraid to speak out? Is it because nobody wants to change our idea of a family? How can we help people understand that they do not have to be afraid to speak out about family size?
Learning about paradigm shifts will help. Merriam-Webster defines paradigm shift: “an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way.” It’s important to realize that humanity has experienced paradigm shifts: when hunter gatherers changed to agriculture; when the population started gathering in cities; when antibacterial medicines and vaccines were developed; and when fossil fuel became the energy source of choice. These paradigm shifts have occurred because of population growth.
A new paradigm shift has begun. The planet’s resources will not be enough to maintain sustainability. Human overpopulation is driving nature to extinction. The lesson I get when I see how nature is diminishing is that humanity has not kept God’s commandment to be good stewards. No authority has told us whether God intends to use overpopulation to end civilization or if God intends to allow humanity to continue to exist, but with a smaller population. My choice: exist with a smaller population.
Do not be afraid of the future. With ingenuity, prudence, commitment, and diligence, humanity can devise a workable plan to reduce the population in a nonviolent, non-eugenic, fair, safe and humane manner. From the beginning humans have been able to have children indiscriminately. The new paradigm will have different rules for having children. Do not be afraid. The rules will not be hard to follow.
Arnold Byron
1717 Hillcrest Loop
Mount Vernon, WA 98274