I actually think Brad is pretty selfish for leaving Jennifer. You can tell your friend she did have a miscarriage during their time together so they weren't living that "selfish of an existence".
I think it's pretty sick that we're even privy to such information about celebs. Let them have their lives and let's live ours...see 'em at the movies and let's not know every last detail (not to slam you, Moe...it's the celeb culture which I can't stand).
I can't stand the "celeb bump watch" that we've devolved into...and even more, that many media outlets consider it actual "news". It's laughable. But that said, Angelina and Brad get kudos from me for adopting needy children. They're several notches above many other celebs in this ridiculously pro-natalist media climate, at least.
However...how can someone be selfish, unless they're failing to live up to a responsibility they've already signed up for, or which is incumbent upon them? Parents who bring children into this world and then neglect them are selfish. People who decide not to have children are not being selfish...they just have other priorities, some of which sometimes include bettering the lives of children who are already here (through being educators, mentors, informed and active citizens, or just plain taxpayers, thankyouverymuch).
I love this analogy: if someone asks you why you're not a parent, ask them why they're not feeding the hungry in Asia? Or why they're not a firefighter? Or why they're not working with homeless people in Bangladesh? These are all difficult, low-glamour-quotient jobs (just like parenting). The difference is that they *need* doing --- and they need to be done for people who are *already here*. Why aren't these parents attending to the needs of people who are already here first... people who are in terrible need...by doing one of these selfless jobs?
Because...
they want to have their own children, their own genes, carry on their own name. Parenting is not about selflessness or charity or generosity to the world --- and never was. When you talk long enough to a parent about why they had kids, it generally comes down to "I
wanted..."
Which is totally OK, but --- calling
us selfish? Puh-leeez.
Elise