The War, It's Got a Lot of Power, It Makes Me Feel Like, It Makes Me Feel Like… Woooo!

All that Israeli blood that isn't being shed is apparently flowing to the right organs:

Ziv medical director Dr. Oscar Embon said that according to health fund reports, the number of pregnancies among women in the North is 35 percent higher now than at this time in 2006. Doctors, psychologists and sexologists explain that the "mini-baby boom" was motivated by the determination that life must go on despite the war and to "take revenge" on an enemy that wants to destroy Israel.

Creating new life, said the experts, is a source of consolation and hope. After every Israeli war, there is an increased number of pregnancies and deliveries; experts said that even animals that feel the threat of war are more likely to mate as an instinct for survival.

Natalism works! All you need is a populace ravaged by war. I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if citizens thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if prospects stay grim for long enough…

Comments

[mike]

Post title reference brought to you by Rick Flair, military contractor.

[crimethink]

Death is the new Viagra!

[NotThatDavid]

...like I could...
TAKE ON THE WORLD!

Wait, that's not it.

[Goldwater Conservative]

Think of it from the perspective of the Israeli men that were having a hard time getting pussy. I know a number a men of who would support a war if they could get women.

[Brian Sorgatz (and Ogden Nash)]

Candy
Is dandy
But warfare
Is quicker.

[Pro Libertate]

Ric Flair? I'm no wrestling fan, but I always liked his nickname, "Nature Boy".

[montaigne]

"I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if citizens thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if prospects stay grim for long enough... "

What?

Look at Europe in the Middle Ages for an example of humanity surviving despite war, disease, famine, and the complete collapse of a civilization. It's a miracle there was anyone left.

Arguably at a certain point (i.e. American Indians) you can't reproduce fast enough.

Finally, I think it's interesting that you'd think birthrates would decline in bleak times when we're seeing declining birthrates in Europe, Japan, and even the US when all of those populations are quite wealthy and have a bright future. So is "choice" and individualism more destructive than war for a society?

[JimmyDaGeek]

Easy explanation:

With bombs dropping all around them, these Israeli couples try to give new meaning to going out with a bang.

However, when they don't actually die, they become another statistic in the rising pregnancy rates.

[Hooked on Innuendo]

So is "choice" and individualism more destructive than war for a society?

In some ways, yes. We're kind of seeing that people will sacrifice the future to enjoy the present, if given a chance (for example, women having "careers" instead of children).

Maybe this is nature's way of preventing one group from becoming too dominant?

[montaigne]

Hooked,

Yeah, it's an interesting thing ...

It reminds me of the theory that most family businesses or family wealth rarely last(s) past the 3rd or 4th generation. If the first two generations were successful, the prosperity tends to corrupt the generations that follow. In a sentence, they don't know the value of what they have since they didnt' work for it.

[Mr. F. Le Mur]

I was under the impression that birthrates dipped if citizens thought their future was dark or uncertain, but if prospects stay grim for long enough...

Great impression (was it Jimmy Durante?). Too bad it's completely incorrect.

From people who deal with more than impressions:
Higher adult mortality is associated with increased levels of risky behavior, higher fertility, and lower investment in physical and human capital.

If the marginal utility of a surviving child is convex then there will be a precautionary demand for children. As the mortality rate and thus uncertainty falls, this demand decreases.

[Hooked on Innuendo]

If the first two generations were successful, the prosperity tends to corrupt the generations that follow. In a sentence, they don't know the value of what they have since they didnt' work for it.

Hard to disagree with that.

I'm sure since all of us have grown up with ubiquitous electrical power (for example) it's almost impossible to fully appreciate the efforts that it took to create such a system.

[independent worm]

I'm sure since all of us have grown up with ubiquitous electrical power (for example) it's almost impossible to fully appreciate the efforts that it took to create such a system.

That's not a good comparison at all. A more accurate analogy would be to say that it's like trying to sew with a cabbage, or shuffle penguins with a lily pad.

[John]

I guess Weigal missed the day in history class when they talked about the Jews surviving 4000 years despite exile the determined efforts of the entire world to kill them. I swear the duribility of the Jewish people and culture has to give even the most ardent athiest pause for thought.

[Montaigne]

Electricity? Hell, I'd be lost (literally and figuratively) without mapquest, let alone running water, electricity, etc.

[R C Dean]

Someone (Tim Blair linked to it) had a photo album up of women in the IDF.

With that kind of smokin' hawtness running around, lots of baby-making should be no surprise.

[de stijl]

Speaking of electricity, if the power was out during the time period it would explain about 99.9% of all of the "excess" pregnancies. Modern folks don't really know what to do when when the power is out. No TV, intertubes, radio, etc. You can't even read at night.

So they fuck as a way of passing the time.

[VM (passing through)]

go away!

BATING!

[Hugh Akston]

"So is "choice" and individualism more destructive than war for a society?"

Only if it interferes with your statistical predestination.

[JIMMYDAGEEK]

R C Dean | April 6, 2007, 10:53am | #
Someone (Tim Blair linked to it) had a photo album up of women in the IDF.

With that kind of smokin' hawtness running around, lots of baby-making should be no surprise.

Looks like scenes from Grindhouse.

IDF 1.

IDF 2.

[Mo]

the "mini-baby boom" was motivated by the determination that life must go on despite the war and to "take revenge" on an enemy that wants to destroy Israel.

Creating new life, said the experts, is a source of consolation and hope

Ahhh revenge, what better reason to have a child.

[Clevon]

I'M GONNA FUCK ALL Y'ALL! WHOOOOO!

[Clevon, Sr]

THAT'S MY BOY!!!!!!

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Those photos are fascinating. Here is the link to the entire album.

I wanted to post a couple of these fascinating pictures of Israel's military women but Rachel said she'd rather I didn't.

[LarryA]

In hard times no one can afford birth control.

[highnumber]

OMG!
Let's invade Israel!
I'll enlist!

[Goldwater Conservative]

Why the hell are Israeli military chicks so hot? Not that I care, but what is the ethnic makeup of these chicks? I can't see any Sephardi's or other ethnic minorities.

[M]

the duribility of the Jewish people and culture has to give even the most ardent athiest pause for thought

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.aip?id=10855&page=all

[You can tell from that angle?]

I can't see any Sephardi's or other ethnic minorities

[crimethink]

| April 6, 2007, 11:52am | #
I'M GONNA FUCK ALL Y'ALL! WHOOOOO!

Clevon, Sr | April 6, 2007, 11:58am | #
THAT'S MY BOY!!!!!!

Holy crap, there's another Idiocracy fan here! That gives me a warm feeling inside.

[James McPeeky]

Kind of a depressing way to do things, actually: War and privation ruining your life? Well, heck - have more babies!

That'll show 'em!

[John in Nashville]

Make love plus war?

[Sigh.]

Holy crap, there's another Idiocracy fan here! That gives me a warm feeling inside.

After the opening sequence, that movie was pretty forgetable.

(Oh, and this thread settles it. I'm moving to Israel. Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha?olam, bo're p'ri ha?etz!)