By STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press Writer Wed Oct 17, 6:19 PM EThttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_re_us/vaccine_skepticsBOSTON – Sabrina Rahim doesn’t practice any particular faith, but she had no problem signing a letter declaring that because of her deeply held religious beliefs, her 4-year-old son should be exempt from the vaccinations required to enter preschool. She is among a small but growing number of parents around the country who are claiming religious exemptions to avoid vaccinating their children when the real reason may be skepticism of the shots or concern they can cause other illnesses. Some of these parents say they are being forced to lie because of the way the vaccination laws are written in their states.”It’s misleading,” Rahim admitted, but she said she fears that earlier vaccinations may be to blame for her son’s autism. “I find it very troubling, but for my son’s safety, I feel this is the only option we have.”
There is a two-tiered system in this country — religious people are allowed certain rights that nonreligious people do not have. Declaring one’s religiousity — even if false — is sometimes the only way to get the same rights. Lie or lose.
What,
HeatheNZ had made a joke about you and your wife being the Doctors What-son. And I just took it one step further and made it a Nordic Joke. You know: Sven, Johan’s son = Sven Johannson. Or Mary, Olaf’s Daughter = Mary Olafsdotter, etc…
That is all. Just fun with names. No disrespect intended.
Ramen, maitey.
On another aspect of “equal rights”, there is this story of a jesus freak who gets conscientious objector status because of his superstition.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071016/ts_nm/usa_soldier_beliefs_dc
“In following Jesus’ example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me,” said Brown, who plans to continue seminary classes he began by correspondence while in Iraq.
While in Iraq, Brown processed insurgents and detainees, the NYCLU said.
Brown said he had no conflict between his faith and military service until after he graduated from West Point in 2004 and began to study scripture and his belief.”
Fine and dandy, now if atheists in the military can get equal treatment on that score too, it will be even more fine and dandy.
I guess everybody has the right to run with the herd. I choose not to. In fact, I often find myself running against the herd, as with this issue. I don’t like crowds anyway.
We know the effects of relying on the invisible sky-daddy to protect us from disease vs. manmade solutions (vaccinations) to the problem.
Being skeptical of the safety of a vaccination is one thing. Refusing to vaccinate your child by being irrationally phobic of vaccines is another. If I had to choose between my child getting autism (which I know will not happen) and getting polio (which I know really could happen) I’d choose the autism any day. If I had a choice of having autism or polio myself, I’d choose the autism. I support mandatory vaccinations without exception because I do not believe it is not a right of you and yours to make a choice to affect the health of me and mine.
Atomic
If no tests of short term adverse effects of vaccines had been done would you say it was irrational not to give them to your children?
They go through all the phases of clinical trials that any drug would go through.
This hardly constitutes “no tests.”
But you didn’t answer my question.
Pharmaceuticals hire researchers to produce data that has the potential earn billions of dollars. Thay have enough resources to buy objectivity, and in its place are flawed and/or data skewed for profit. This doesn’t happen all the time, but it happens sometimes, Vi0xx for example. IMHO allowing new drugs and vaccines into your system is a veritable crapshot. Do ya feel lucky?
Do ya feel lucky…punk?
My sad attempt at a Clint Eastwood immitation.
I took Vi0xx for almost 2 yrs. The entire time I took it, I was having chest pains. As soon as they took it off the market, my chest pains went away. ‘Course, my arthritis flared back up, but I can live with big meaty paws. I can’t live with a massive heart attack.
I wasn’t sure of Clint said …”boy” or…”punk.”
Thanks for clearin’ that up Ren.
cry4turtles,
De nada! I was worried you would think I was directing that at you. It was directed at nobody, hence the reference to Clint.