Do you think these anti-vax parents are going too far?
Parents Who Think Vaccinations 'Anger God' Are Putting Kids in Danger
When it comes to hot-button parenting topics
like how long to breastfeed and whether TV is okay in moderation, I try
to avoid getting caught in the "I'm right/You're wrong" vortex of
righteous indignation. Meaning, I might be opinionated, but I try not to
be judgmental. At least not outwardly.
That said, the latest chapter in the To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate saga is disturbing enough to warrant, let's say, a formal expression of concern. (Which is not the same as a judgement. Not really.)
Look, it's dangerous enough to decide against vaccinating your child because of religious beliefs. But let's say another kid at school comes down with one of those communicable diseases your child didn't get immunized against. What if the principal temporarily banned your kid from school for her own protection?
Would you be grateful to that principal or would you ... sue the school?
If you were Fabian Mendoza-Vaca and Nicole Phillips of Queens, New York, apparently you would sue the school. That's right, they're asking a judge to nullify a law that would force their kids to stay out of school if classmates are carrying diseases such as measles, mumps, or chicken pox.
Explained Mendoza-Vaca:
"It is my opinion that resorting to vaccinations demonstrates a lack of faith in God, which would anger God and therefore be sacrilegious ... We don't want anything being into our bodies at all. We'd rather rely on our natural immune system and our faith in God. This is about my children's rights."
Oh-kay. So not only are you NOT going to vaccinate your kids, you're also not going to let any person or institution take any measures to protect them?
To me, this takes the anti-vax argument too far. It's a huge, selfish step in the wrong direction: The direction of blatant irresponsibility.
I'm not religious now, but I was raised in a religious home. And my grandmother had a faith-related saying that seems to apply here, "God helps those who help themselves."
Here's hoping God helps the unvaccinated kids who can't yet help themselves, too.
Do you think these anti-vax parents are going too far?
Quoting Mipsy:
This "article" is too biased to even form an opinion on.
I agree the article is VERY biased but I think that family is a bit over the top by taking the situation to court when the school is trying to keep the child safe.
Yeah, crappy article aside and just the story. I wouldn't sue the school, that's all we need to do is take more money away from our schools, but I would fight it. The majority (and I say majority because there are still those who blindly follow whatever, whether they do or don't vaccinate) who do not vaccinate are aware of the risks of not vaccinating their child and sending them out into the world (school, the mall, everywhere). And IMO that is not the school's place to decide my child shouldn't go to school during an outbreak of any kind. That decision should be left up to the parents, period.
But I think this is more of a liability issue. The school is most likely worried if they allow those students to attend school and they end up catching the disease or even die from it then the parents could try and hold them responsible (and in today's messued up society, the parents just may win even if the parents were made aware of the situation. But that is another topic of how things need to change in our system).
Quoting Vertical15:
Quoting Mipsy:
This "article" is too biased to even form an opinion on.
I agree the article is VERY biased but I think that family is a bit over the top by taking the situation to court when the school is trying to keep the child safe.
Tyler
Aug 9th,02
Jacob
dec 28,11
Why does the school (and not the parents) what is "in the best interest" of the child?
If the child were posing a risk to other kids, then I might consider the school's authority to protect the majority. (i.e. a sick policy). But provided the parents are informed that these viruses are going around (which is pretty standard communication) then the parents should be allowed to make this decision.
This story is mighty interesting. I've never heard of this happening really until now and I'm not quite sure what to think about it. I am glad that the school was thinking in the best interest of the one child, that hardly ever happens for obvious reasons....but still...it should be left up to the parents to decide. But then again, it depends onthe outbreak and teh child. If the child is really susceptible to an illness, and catching the illness would be deadly for that person, then doing what the school did was admirable. I don't know the full story though :/
The sad thing is, even if the family wins the lawsuit and sends their child back to school, if they contract a communicable disease, the family could then turn around and sue the school for letting it happen! What a sue happy society we are!
Quoting Mipsy:Yeah, crappy article aside and just the story. I wouldn't sue the school, that's all we need to do is take more money away from our schools, but I would fight it. The majority (and I say majority because there are still those who blindly follow whatever, whether they do or don't vaccinate) who do not vaccinate are aware of the risks of not vaccinating their child and sending them out into the world (school, the mall, everywhere). And IMO that is not the school's place to decide my child shouldn't go to school during an outbreak of any kind. That decision should be left up to the parents, period.
But I think this is more of a liability issue. The school is most likely worried if they allow those students to attend school and they end up catching the disease or even die from it then the parents could try and hold them responsible (and in today's messued up society, the parents just may win even if the parents were made aware of the situation. But that is another topic of how things need to change in our system).
Quoting Vertical15:
Quoting Mipsy:
This "article" is too biased to even form an opinion on.
I agree the article is VERY biased but I think that family is a bit over the top by taking the situation to court when the school is trying to keep the child safe.
MEMORIAL DAY
- Cafe Amber
on Feb. 14, 2012 at 7:51 AM