Sorry about the “radical feminist” thing. You do call yourself a feminist, and from where I’m sitting your views are pretty radical, but I don’t see where it helps to use polarizing language like that.

On adoption—what a breathtaking non sequitur! I dispute the notion that there are insufficient numbers of adoptive parents, and it follows that my eight children must have been adopted?

I suppose it’s pretty clear from the photo that my kids are not adopted. But what’s it to you?

That’s my point: you claim to advocate reproductive freedom of choice, and clearly resent any criticism of your own choices in that regard—yet feel free to characterize my reproductive choices as “beyond irresponsible”.

That sounds just a little bit hypocritical to me.

Nor did I say anything about your decision not to have children being “selfish”. I did say that you’ve made that decision without regard to the “replacement rate”—the criterion upon which you based your original criticism of my family size.

As to the world’s “fast diminishing resources”—and the inferences you draw about how this impacts needy children—check out Jeff Jacoby’s column in the Boston Globe earlier this week.

I am happy to see you got a chance to visit my website, and I’m gratified to learn that you enjoyed my art. A few points regarding this post:

1. As my “about” page states, I am not a radical feminist. I understand you have since amended this word choice, but my technorati page shows the original context, so I wanted to make that point transparent.

2. You dismissed my criticism that most parents are unwilling to adopt. Am I correct to assume, then, that your eight children are adopted?

3. If this is not the case, it appears your children are a surplus in an already overpopulated world. With thousands upon thousands of children living in tragic foster care conditions, waiting to be adopted, the decision to have large families in the modern climate is beyond irresponsible. My sympathies lie with those children who have been born, only to be discarded.

I understand you do not respect my life choices, and I assure you, the sentiment is reciprocated. You believe my decision not to have children is selfish. However, I know it is a wise choice, made by a loving couple who seeks to improve the world in ways that do not involve straining it’s fast diminishing resources.

And on that note, we must agree to staunchly disagree.

Remember All Life is Precious, Born & Unborn!!

Lawrence & DianeMarie Leach (In God’s Image)
Go to our http://www.myspace.com/InGodsimagemusic
or our http://www.soundclick.com/InGodsimage
or our http://www.shoutlife.com/InGodsimagemusic
Websites and click on button for the Word of Promise Bible,
and support our music ministry.

Thanks for your comments.

Annie: Sarah gets cuter every day. I swear she’s starting to say “hi” to me!

Karen: I am indeed pleased to find the pro-choice crowd so troubled by the bounty of our family.

Brian: Turns out “those best equipped to support children” are not those blessed with material wealth—for many of whom that blessing becomes a curse.

John: Thanks! We have a lot of fun together. My kids are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met.