This was a response to a comment thread by KD, on the post about my view on the childlessness problem everyone is apparently so worried about in the West.
This entire thread brings tears to my eyes. The entire world is such a cursed mess and so much worse than it should be. I fear for my children. Our youngest son was married this last Saturday to a truly wonderful young woman who only wants to be a good 1958 Catholic. She is of Czech ancestry and very intelligent. Also kind and good. She wore a brown scapular under her wedding dress and told her Mom that she intends to never take it off.
Catholics have been persecuted, hunted, killed and had to convene in catacombs before. The current desolation too will pass, as will we all from this worldly life. Be safe and at peace in the Love of our God and know your children, and mine, are seen and known by Him too. As are we all. There is nothing to fear. Because God is justice as well as love.
I think you first started writing about that fundamental difference about a year ago, but once you see it... that focus on efficiency and impersonal rules permeates every social interaction here in the Teutonic parts of Europe. It's insidious, hiding in plain sight, slowly normalizing increased levels of dehumanization.
Can't see the frog jumping out of the pot anytime soon. You're right about forming communities
Many reasons, but essentially fear and economics. Making a decent living here is very hard, with taxes at around 70%.
The state is not exactly helpful either and Italians (in a different but analogous way to Russian Soviets) have always grown up knowing government means theft and thuggery, so they try to avoid “trouble” and try to survive as best they can. Children are also still very much cared for and the global enfantalisation of humanity means that now they mollycoddle children so that the poor dear will not get a skinned knee or not have the latest iphone etc etc. All of which costs money but what are you going to do? NOT dress your child in the latest fashionable clothing?
And so mainly for the purpose of not feeling like trapped beasts in a zoo with no options but eternal and constant sacrifice they limit themselves to one child if that. The idea of having 5-6 kids is mostly untenable for them as most people are barely making ends meet. Change that economic dynamic and you would have a boom of children.
This entire thread brings tears to my eyes. The entire world is such a cursed mess and so much worse than it should be. I fear for my children. Our youngest son was married this last Saturday to a truly wonderful young woman who only wants to be a good 1958 Catholic. She is of Czech ancestry and very intelligent. Also kind and good. She wore a brown scapular under her wedding dress and told her Mom that she intends to never take it off.
Do not despair, old friend.
Catholics have been persecuted, hunted, killed and had to convene in catacombs before. The current desolation too will pass, as will we all from this worldly life. Be safe and at peace in the Love of our God and know your children, and mine, are seen and known by Him too. As are we all. There is nothing to fear. Because God is justice as well as love.
I think you first started writing about that fundamental difference about a year ago, but once you see it... that focus on efficiency and impersonal rules permeates every social interaction here in the Teutonic parts of Europe. It's insidious, hiding in plain sight, slowly normalizing increased levels of dehumanization.
Can't see the frog jumping out of the pot anytime soon. You're right about forming communities
Well, you know where I am when you want to join up in the Kurganate!
I agree in general, but why then does Italy have such a minute birth rate?
Many reasons, but essentially fear and economics. Making a decent living here is very hard, with taxes at around 70%.
The state is not exactly helpful either and Italians (in a different but analogous way to Russian Soviets) have always grown up knowing government means theft and thuggery, so they try to avoid “trouble” and try to survive as best they can. Children are also still very much cared for and the global enfantalisation of humanity means that now they mollycoddle children so that the poor dear will not get a skinned knee or not have the latest iphone etc etc. All of which costs money but what are you going to do? NOT dress your child in the latest fashionable clothing?
And so mainly for the purpose of not feeling like trapped beasts in a zoo with no options but eternal and constant sacrifice they limit themselves to one child if that. The idea of having 5-6 kids is mostly untenable for them as most people are barely making ends meet. Change that economic dynamic and you would have a boom of children.
I have noticed that Italy’s birth rate crashed below replacement at the same time the Novus Ordo “mass” was implemented — around 1970.
Yup. Not a coincidence. Vatican II was a nuclear bomb against Catholicism, as I detailed in my book Reclaiming the Catholic Church
Correct. Once you figure out the time-warp thing tho, and how to earn enough to live like a human being, Italy is pretty hard to beat.
Interesting. Next time you are in rimini or nearby give a shout and we can have a cappucino. Heh
Yes.