We're keeping things short and simple today (hey, it is Monday after all), but can't help speculating that young Barack "Christianity and Western Civilization have always sucked" Obama must have treated history class the same way. At least, when he wasn't out in the parking lot getting high with his "Choom Gang" buddies...
BONUS: SPOT SHOT
All of the political brouhaha surrounding measles and vaccines reminded us of this old cartoon from our good friend and eternal victim Johnny Optimism...
16 comments:
I kinda had the same experience in high school history class as Lucy. Not because I wasn't interested, but because my teacher believed the only history worth knowing about was that which involved the Civil War. We had to learn the dates and specifics of every single battle. Everything historic that happened before or after that time period was covered briefly in a few days, if at all. That, and the teacher was a died in the wool liberal who preached his left-wing propaganda daily.
Actually, he probably did far more for my education than he knew. Since then, I have voraciously read history books just to catch up on what I missed.
On the topic of vaccinations, all one has to do is read the ingredients and possible side effects to realize they are a very risky gamble. Flu vaccines contain mercury, have been linked to Alzheimer's, and often aren't even for the correct strain of the virus. The measles vaccine now being pushed on us tends to cause more cases of measles than it prevents:
http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/02/measles-vaccines-kill-more-than-measles/?cat_orig=health
Getting vaccinated should always remain a personal choice. For the government to try and make it mandatory is outrageous. For others to place blame for epidemics on those who choose not to be vaccinated is ridiculous. If you or your children have been vaccinated, how could I or my unvaccinated children possibly spread the disease to you and yours if the vaccine actually works?
@Geoff King- I wish I had confidence that today's kids will eventually be inspired to learn history on their own, but I just don't see it happening. They seem to avoid reading anything longer (or more meaningful) than a tweet.
Regarding vaccinations, I think "personal choice" is a good way to go. In general, I think (opinion only) that vaccines do much more good than harm. That being said, they unquestionably do cause harm to a certain percentage of people receiving them.
And I think your final point makes a good deal of sense: if the unvaccinated get sick, how does it pose a risk to the vaccinated?
Personally, I usually skip the flu vaccine (though I got it last year in case Ebola got a real toehold and I didn't want to be confused by having "flu-like symptoms"). I did, however, get the shingles vaccine because shingles can hurt like a mofo.
Measles had been pretty much eradicated in the United States, and those few Americans that chose not to vaccinate their children presented little risk to the population at large. However, with illegal immigration comes the added detriment of a myriad contagious diseases crossing our borders unchecked, and I believe that the recent outbreaks can be traced directly to such a source. Notice as well an uptick in tuberculosis over the past decade, yet another malady that had been all but eliminated in the First World. Perhaps if those open border proponents among us would be willing to volunteer as Americas' elite team of "Wallmart Greeters" - move to the border and welcome all comers with open arms. Of course, the remaining somewhat sensible folks would necessarilly need to then reestablish a secondary border within the border, say fifty miles in, thus ensuring that legal immigration might occur at some point. As to the volunteers, well, they did volunteer, and as such, may be considered heros. We'll console them with statues and monuments.
Regarding Shingles; Long story shortened: Weakened by nearly a year of various therapies for breast cancer, my wife got Shingles but we noticed it immediately in the morning and knew what it was. Had her on the antivirus Rx in a couple of hours. Dr. said time is of the essence with this & with such quick action, her case was not too bad. She had it beat in 3-4 weeks. IF you get something happening on just one side of the body and not the other, don't waste any days. Call Dr. for call-in Rx ASAP. PS: That was 13 years ago and she's still OK.
@Mike Porter- I like your volunteer idea, and certainly agree that the unchecked influx of potentially disease-carrying illegals is a big problem.
On that note, Drudge is now reporting that Homeland Security has set up hotlines for illegals to complain if they feel immigration officials aren't obeying Obama's non-enforcement policies.
We're screwed.
@Rod- First and foremost, congratulations to your wife for being a cancer survivor. When I hear "not too bad" paired with "3-4 weeks," it really reinforces my decision to get the shot.
By the way, I really need to make my position clear that while I feel many vaccines should be a matter of personal choice, I certainly do acknowledge that there can be overriding public health interests for mass vaccinations against certain things. I don't think anyone could argue that we aren't better off for essentially eliminating the scourge of polio and other diseases.
I love LL. However, this toon reminds me of one of my (many) pet peeves - the ignorance of history among the electorate. Without understanding the past, today's problems seem much too important and atavistic.
And your timely vaccine cartoon reminds me that once again, the moronic progs, ignorant of history and everything else except their navels, have yet another thing to beat thinking people up with. I support vaccinations - as long as the scientists/companies do their homework. But I do not support government mandates to stick a needle or anything else in me. That doesn't preclude a school or other institution from banning someone from entering WITHOUT those vaccinations. Everyone is free to make their own choices. Of course, in a natural emergency, all bets are off.
Reminds me of another cartoon I saw posted - Three ISIS guys are about to behead a "scientist" (in a lab coat, natch, even though few "scientists" wear lab coats) - one guy is labeled "anti-vaxxer", the second "creationist" and the third, mysteriously, is labeled "climate denier". I am not sure how many people deny climate - but at any rate, it shows once again the eagerness of the so-called progressive to not talk intelligently about things but instead sling mud.
And intelligent talk about vaccinations goes down the tube - the test tube.
Oh Lucy, once again you make me laugh, and then cry.
As for the "vax" debate:
The only reason we're having this debate today is because as a society, we've been royally spoiled by the civilization created for us by previous generations. In addition to a fantastic level of wealth never before experienced by so many, (contrary to popular rhetoric) we've also inherited a fantastic level of general health as well. Overall, no generation of people of any civilization has been as well fed and cared for as the current generation, and that even includes those we call "the poor".
One of the consequences of this phenomenon is that today, there is almost no living memory left of once common, debilitating and frequently fatal diseases like smallpox, polio, and the measles and the horror and suffering that accompanied them. The closest reality to most might be stories of some distant relative generations ago that might have suffered or died.
IMHO, there have been few greater social/economic benefits to the modern age than vaccinations.
Yes, I acknowledge there is a possibility there will be those who might have an adverse reaction to vaccination. But what objective states that do exist on this are clear as well; that you are more likely to die in an auto accident on the way to get your shot than you are to have even a mild reaction to it. What is clear is that the studies that have made connections to adverse reactions have been anywhere from inconclusive to outright fraudulent. Combine junk science with pop culture, and we get a real social disaster.
Here's a clue people: If a cause is being fronted by former playboy models and other vapid Hollywood types, consider that the opposite of whatever they are saying is likely true.
In the same sense that I feel that accepting a 1/2-degree rise in climate temperature of the course of a century is a pretty good trade for all the benefits we receive from industrialization (if that is indeed the case), I also believe that the general health of society today is worth the small risk that vaccination represents.
In a more perfect world, I wound't care so much in the sense that "abortion on demand" doesn't animate me; I see a social and economic benefit to the less-bright and ill advised self-removing themselves from the gene pool. But the unfortunate realities of "herd immunity" and the proximity in which most of us live makes those carrying highly contagious diseases a threat to everyone.
Does this mean I think vaccination should be mandatory? No. However, I do believe that it is not unreasonable that public venues, such as schools should restrict participation to the vaccinated.
A friend of mine said the other day that "Seems most of the measles infections are happening within a 5-mile radius of Whole Foods stores". Wouldn't be a surprise.
Oh, and kudos to the MSM for keeping the likely connection to the rise in diseases formerly considered extinct in the US to our now open borders to the south out of people's minds. Another Obama success story.
@Mike Porter, if I was more totalitarian-minded, I'd require that all "open-borders-anti-vax" people be required to work a single shift as a Walmart greeter at a store on the southern end of any border state.
@Froaderick Barbarossaa, that is exactly why the Progressives are so into "hate speech", "trigger warnings" and "speech codes". When you're a Progressive, the best debate is the one that is never allowed to take place.
What still gets me is that places like UC Berkeley, the supposed birthplace of the "free speech movement" is now one of the most repressive places in the country. We always knew the hippies were full of it.
Thanks Stilt, she's a tough lady and that was a rough time for her. And if you don't mind further hijacking of your blog: By "not to bad" I mean with immediate Rx Shingles didn't spread much from 1st appearance on right side head; got real itchy but not very painful,& compared to bad cases they cleared up pretty quickly. Treating even a day later (like going in for an appointment) it would have been worse.
I remember as a kid in the second grade getting the Salk polio vaccine. If we had a choice, I was unaware of it. Of course, in the early 1950s, polio was still very much a scourge. I also remember having to provide immunization records for my children in the 1970s and forward. Am I "misrembering?"
Since my govt sent me on an all exspense payed trip to the orient and kindly brought me home again I was given series of shots for things I have never heard of. No-one mentioned anything about having a choice.
Sadly economics, insurance and legal forms sent me to LL's nirvana. However unlike our govt I do at least know about balancing a budget.
While I will not dispute that vaccines have improved human life, I must question their effectiveness. Case in point - the Polio Vaccine. Polio is spread by human feces. At the same point in time that the vaccine was introduced, massive sanitation efforts were also undertaken. Was it those efforts, the vaccine, or a combination of both that practically eradicated the disease?
http://rense.com/general92/polio.htm
P.S. By "human feces", I refer to the intestinal variety - not the political variety.
@Froaderick Barbarossaa- Lucy reminds us that without awareness of the past, the future is going to suck donkey gonads. (When I've had an evening aperitif, it brings out my poetic side).
It's sadly funny that you refer to the Johnny cartoon as "timely," since it's 5 years old and was never intended to be political. Still, it rather fits the moment. And I agree with your opinions about vaccinations. The good ones are (and have been) good, others have been less so, government in general is harder to trust than in the past, and personal choices will continue to have personal consequences.
@John the Econ- Great rundown of the vaccine debate. I could never be a true anti-vaxxer because I'm old enough to know the good they've done. My father in law (no longer with us, sadly) was afflicted with polio. He survived, but it affected his entire life (although he still fought in WWII and raised a fine family).
Life has risks, and life isn't fair. That being said, vaccines have changed the world for the better.
In your second comment, you mention restriction of speech on college campuses. I saw a story today about one college restricting multiple words. One was "retarded" because it "promotes ableism." I didn't even know there was such a thing as "ableism," much less that it was a sin.
@Rod- Shingles can be a terrible condition and I hate to think of your wife having to fight it with a compromised immune system. I'm so glad things have worked out well.
@Shelly- Likewise, my childhood had polio vaccines (I remember when they switched from punctures to oral vaccines) and "scratch tests" in school for TB.
I think schools are still pretty good about requiring proof of vaccinations - although the epidemic of measles suggests that there are some problems with the system.
@REM1875- I don't think there were many "May we please?" offers made about the vaccinations you were given for that particular trip. And yet here you are today, tough as a cheap steak - right?
And wow - I haven't even thought of asking Lefty Lucy her understanding of balancing budgets. I'll have to do that...
@Geoff King- I'm pretty sure it was the vaccines that made the difference. The only reason kids stopped playing with human feces is that Play-Doh was introduced and had more colors.
Oh yes @Stilton, "ableism". I figure that when society finally runs low on "white male privilege", it will turn to the "able" as the next oppressor class. The "able" will be classified as anyone who is self-determined, has a job, is responsible for themselves, and chose not to join any of the multitude of victim classes. The victimologists will argue that it's not fair that the "able" obtain things like the "unable" lack, like "self esteem".
Speaking of "free speech", my "We are not Charlie" file continues to expand at a surprising rate:
Wiltshire police officer asked newsagent for Charlie Hebdo buyers' details after Paris attacks
Barely a month after that grand show of European solidarity for "free speech", and already the PC enforcers are back at work, full force.
"A police force was forced to apologise today after one of its officers told a newsagent to hand over the names of four people in the name of community cohesion, after they bought a commemorative edition of the Charlie Hebdo magazine."
Got that? "in the name of community cohesion"?
Once again, Progressives demonstrate that for whatever reasons, they are far more concerned about the behavior of peaceful citizens than they are of the terrorists. Millions of kids are being sexually exploited by the "groom gangs", and the establishment turns a blind eye. But a handful of citizens buy a copy of Charlie, and only then the establishment decides it's time to take names. Perhaps it's because the misogynistic Muslims communities are conducting their rapes with "cohesion". We all know how Progressives love conformity.
Of course, as far as monitoring what media people consume, we now have good reason to expect the same happening here. It's just that our PC establishment has the common sense to be more discreet about it.
I went on the same all-expense-paid trip that you went on. Then I went on R&R to Australia. Had to have a complete new series of shots for God-knows-what before I left. On arrival in Sydney the quarantine officer noticed that my International Shot Record had not been signed by an Officer MD ... so I got a brand-new series for the same God-knows-what courtesy of the Aussie taxpayers.
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