Joy vs. sacrifice

"[T]he world would be a grayer place if everybody tried to be a Randian," writes Stanley Paluch ("A Rand-y world," letters, Jan 15). As an example, he states that while Rand was, and presumably all other woman are, "under no obligation to have children, some women have to make personal sacrifices if the race is to continue." For the sake of argument, let’s suppose such a scenario is not pure science fiction. Which world would be "grayer," one where adults choose to become parents for the sheer joy and accomplishment of raising a child to become a healthy responsible adult, or one where adults sacrifice their life-dreams to have children? How many people lament to psychologists that they were their parents’ pride and joy? Tell me when you find one. Therapists and support groups are surely busy enough with adults who feel that their parents saw them as a chore, a duty and a sacrifice.

Brian Schwartz/Boulder