This post is to satisfy a burning desire I have to exercise my freedom of speech a time when the local media is totally ignoring this story! I know that many of you may not be interested in a central AR local news story (or what SHOULD be a news story!) but I simply have to get this off my chest.
At an elementary school in our school district there have recently been multiple cases of pertussis. My friend Meghan says that the two kids that sit on either side of her son in class have it, as well as others at the school. Therefore the Arkansas Health Dept has mandated that ALL students at this elementary, immunized or not, take anitbiotics. They are not providing the antibiotics unless a family is financially incapable of providing them themselves.
I know that many worry about immunizations, and many even avoid them completely. That is fine with me, as long as they homeschool!
But for the state to ALLOW un-immunized children to attend public school tramples on my rights as a parent to keep my children safe!
I don't blame parents who don't immunize their kids--they are totally receiving the natural consequence in this case. I DO blame the state of Arkansas for this. Not only should they never have allowed these children to register in public school, they should now accept the blame and provide the antibiotics. The media should be covering this, so that more people are aware of it, and can insist that things change.
Our society seems to have developed this belief that you can and SHOULD be able to have whatever you want. This makes me crazy! We are so insistent on our rights that we don't care when they infringe on others'. Let's just leave it with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"! Pertussis is a deadly disease. My children have a right to live! If pertussis hits my kids' school, there may just be a lawsuit in the works.
Thank you. I feel better now. I hope no one is offended by this! (But I don't regret posting it. :)
How I love living in a country where I can say these things freely!
~ regular, nice-Michelle post coming soon :) ~
