The Pivot of Civilization | Page 8

their lives.
So central, so fundamental in the life of every man and woman is this
problem that they need be taught no elaborate or imposing theory to
explain their troubles. To approach their problems by the avenue of sex
and reproduction is to reveal at once their fundamental relations to the
whole economic and biological structure of society. Their interest is
immediately and completely awakened. But always, as I soon
discovered, the ideas and habits of thought of these submerged masses
have been formed through the Press, the Church, through political
institutions, all of which had built up a conspiracy of silence around a
subject that is of no less vital importance than that of Hunger. A great
wall separates the masses from those imperative truths that must be
known and flung wide if civilization is to be saved. As currently

constituted, Church, Press, Education seem to-day organized to exploit
the ignorance and the prejudices of the masses, rather than to light their
way to self-salvation.
Such was the situation in 1914, when I returned to America,
determined, since the exclusively masculine point of view had
dominated too long, that the other half of the truth should be made
known. The Birth Control movement was launched because it was in
this form that the whole relation of woman and child--eternal emblem
of the future of society--could be more effectively dramatized. The
amazing growth of this movement dates from the moment when in my
home a small group organized the first Birth Control League. Since
then we have been criticized for our choice of the term ``Birth Control''
to express the idea of modern scientific contraception. I have yet to
hear any criticism of this term that is not based upon some false and
hypocritical sense of modesty, or that does not arise out of a semi-
prurient misunderstanding of its aim. On the other hand: nothing better
expresses the idea of purposive, responsible, and self-directed guidance
of the reproductive powers.
Those critics who condemn Birth Control as a negative, destructive
idea, concerned only with self-gratification, might profitably open the
nearest dictionary for a definition of ``control.'' There they would
discover that the verb ``control'' means to exercise a directing, guiding,
or restraining influence;--to direct, to regulate, to counteract. Control is
guidance, direction, foresight. it implies intelligence, forethought and
responsibility. They will find in the Standard Dictionary a quotation
from Lecky to the effect that, ``The greatest of all evils in politics is
power without control.'' In what phase of life is not ``power without
control'' an evil? Birth Control, therefore, means not merely the
limitation of births, but the application of intelligent guidance over the
reproductive power. It means the substitution of reason and intelligence
for the blind play of instinct.
The term ``Birth Control'' had the immense practical advantage of
compressing into two short words the answer to the inarticulate
demands of millions of men and women in all countries. At the time
this slogan was formulated, I had not yet come to the complete
realization of the great truth that had been thus crystallized. It was the
response to the overwhelming, heart-breaking appeals that came by

every mail for aid and advice, which revealed a great truth that lay
dormant, a truth that seemed to spring into full vitality almost over
night--that could never again be crushed to earth!
Nor could I then have realized the number and the power of the
enemies who were to be aroused into activity by this idea. So
completely was I dominated by this conviction of the efficacy of
``control,'' that I could not until later realize the extent of the sacrifices
that were to be exacted of me and of those who supported my campaign.
The very idea of Birth Control resurrected the spirit of the
witch-hunters of Salem. Could they have usurped the power, they
would have burned us at the stake. Lacking that power, they used the
weapon of suppression, and invoked medieval statutes to send us to jail.
These tactics had an effect the very opposite to that intended. They
demonstrated the vitality of the idea of Birth Control, and acted as
counter-irritant on the actively intelligent sections of the American
community. Nor was the interest aroused confined merely to America.
The neo-Malthusian movement in Great Britain with its history of
undaunted bravery, came to our support; and I had the comfort of
knowing that the finest minds of England did not hesitate a moment in
the expression of their sympathy and support.
In America, on the other hand, I found from the beginning until very
recently that the so-called intellectuals exhibited a curious and almost
inexplicable reticence in supporting Birth Control. They even hesitated
to voice any public protest against the campaign to crush us which was
inaugurated