Demographic Winter of Our Discontent

By Our Readers & Kathryn Joyce

This article appeared in the March 31, 2008 edition of The Nation.

March 12, 2008

Front Royal, Va.

Kathryn Joyce, in "Missing: The 'Right' Babies" [March 3], is upset that during a recent speech in Poland, I encouraged the Poles to be more open to life by saying, "I want to see more Poles!" and infers that I and others are in a "panic for more white babies." Of course, I would like to see more babies in dying Poland--or anywhere else. I am partial to babies, regardless of how much pigment they have in their skin. Speaking to 5,000 people in Manila, I declared, "I want to see more Filipinos!" And last year at a conference in Colombia, I called for more Colombians. Condemn me for being pro-people, if you will, but don't condemn me for being racist.

And if race is the subject, let me mention my ancestry, which includes Native American blood, and my wife's, who is Hispanic. My children range in appearance from little Geronimos to little Bridgets, but apparently Joyce couldn't see beyond the color of my blue eyes. Who's the racist here?

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About Kathryn Joyce

Kathryn Joyce is the author of Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement, forthcoming from Beacon Press in 2009. more...
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