Culture of ... Life?
Atrios points this out:
In case you don't want to, or can't, follow that link, it goes to an Andrew Sullivan post about "how theoconservatives and Christianists have waged a quiet war against some critical vaccines, especially against Human papillomavirus or HPV."
That story, in turn, links to a Q-and-A in the online New Yorker, about the Bush administration's hostility to science and how it affects decision-making. It's a pretty good analysis of the administration's alliance with the Christian right, including its effect on sex-education and decisions about how to deal with STDs including HPV and AIDS.
Pro-Life
Religious conservatives would prefer that people die than have sex. That'd be really funny except one of those conservatives is on the CDC's immunization committee.
In case you don't want to, or can't, follow that link, it goes to an Andrew Sullivan post about "how theoconservatives and Christianists have waged a quiet war against some critical vaccines, especially against Human papillomavirus or HPV."
That story, in turn, links to a Q-and-A in the online New Yorker, about the Bush administration's hostility to science and how it affects decision-making. It's a pretty good analysis of the administration's alliance with the Christian right, including its effect on sex-education and decisions about how to deal with STDs including HPV and AIDS.
posted by JimK at 3:38 PM
9 Comments:
And the article points out that the Christianists will also oppose an HIV vaccine as well. Republicans -- The "Party of Death."
I just think those opposed shouldn't get the vaccine. We know that none of these people or their family members ever have sex outside of marriage and neither do their spouses. They also wear gloves so they never get HPV. So they don't need the vaccine. Just like none of those legislators who are opposing abortion no matter what the situation will ever help their wives/daughters get an abortion. funny, if you have money- you can go to another state, another country, even know a real doctor who will perform an abortion where you are.
I have to go over to the Middle School today and take my son's vaccine record to prove that he has been vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Chicken Pox. He had these vaccines before he started school; they have been right there on his vaccine record every time MCPS has required me to show it. MCPS hasn't tracked those vaccines before now, so they are making me show them proof of what they've been ignoring for 7 years.
In time, schools are going to be requiring proof of HPV vaccine. If grade schools and high schools don't, the colleges will. My daughter had to have a meningitis vaccine before she was allowed to live in a dorm.
The government has an interest in preventing the spread of disease.
Tish said,
The government has an interest in preventing the spread of disease.
Yup, I could not agree more...and that is why I would support a vaccine for HPV and HIV.
Surprised? Shocked? You shouldn't be...the Common Good requires reducing disease where possible. And such a consideration trumps other considerations, including personal moral sentiments.
Besides, I am supremely confident that Nature will continue to find a way to remind us all that to live a sexually promiscuous lifestyle, while exciting, also has certain risks. The Laws of Nature and Natures' God work all on their own.
Orin Ryssman
Fort Collins, CO
P.S. Arrived back about a week ago from my trip to CA (for a family wedding). Had a good time...in 6 days I ate at In-N-Out Burger 3 times (it is a good thing I don't live near one), went sight-seeeing in Hollywood, and visited several friends. The freeways are amazing; I found that the slowest drivers drive the 65 mph speed limit, while most drive in upwards of 75 to 80 mph - it often had the feeling of being on a raceway. Contrary to what my teenage daughters said, I had not lost my "touch" at driving in such an environment, but I am glad that I don't have to do that in my work a day life.
Oh, and we bought almost $200 worth of Trader Joe's grocery items (alas, we do not have TJ's in CO yet).
No TJ in the entire state of Colorado? Wow!
Too many burgers, big boy.
I am not at all surprised that you would support such vaccines, and, I imagine, all vaccines.
I do find it cute how others (not you) love to bring in the absurd notion that STIs are God's way for punishing those who have sex outside marriage. By that logic, TB is God's way for punishing people for living in close-knit families, along with leprosy, streptococcus, enterococcus, etc. There are a host of viruses that are God's way for punishing us for having babies, who, any parent knows, get infected all the time and make the rest of the family miserable. Malaria is God's punishment for living near pools of fetid water, as are dengue fever, yellow fever . . . Schistosomiasis is God's punishment for swimming in rivers, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) the just desserts of those who, while spiritually attuned enough to know God doesn't want them swimming in the river, are too foolish to not realize that walking alongside it will blind them in spite of their faith. And influenza is God's punishment for eating poultry, living with chickens and not covering our faces when we sneeze. (Sneezing-- the work of the devil during flu season). Oh, and my favorite, from the Jewish perspective -- trichinosis is God's punishment for sneaking a BLT or playing football.
Christianists hate sex -- period. Everything derives from that simple fact.
"The freeways are amazing; I found that the slowest drivers drive the 65 mph speed limit, while most drive in upwards of 75 to 80 mph - it often had the feeling of being on a raceway"
What freeway were you on, Orin? This summer I had trouble getting up to 5 miles an hour on the San Diego Freeway. We were in Santa Monica around eight on a Saturday night and just wanted to get to our hotel in Huntington Beach. We finally got off on went down the Pacific Coast Highway.
"Christianists hate sex -- period. Everything derives from that simple fact."
This is just so warped. Christians all believe that sex is a gift from God and should be used according to his plan for mankind. Indeed, the first commandment God gave was to have sex.
Also, what's this new rhetorical game where Christian now needs an "ist" at the end?
Anonymous writes,
What freeway were you on, Orin? This summer I had trouble getting up to 5 miles an hour on the San Diego Freeway. We were in Santa Monica around eight on a Saturday night and just wanted to get to our hotel in Huntington Beach. We finally got off on went down the Pacific Coast Highway.
I drove south from Huntington Beach on the 405, then the 5 to San Diego. We also drove south on the 405 from LAX to Huntington Beach. The section of the 405 you are talking about (that is, the 405 either direction) from LAX to West LA has *always* been a bottleneck which I think has something to do with I-10 emptying on to that stretch of the 405 just a little south of West LA.
Do I miss it all? Sigh...yea, sort of...
Orin
Wyatt,
"Christianist" refers to the politically active right-wing fundamentalist Christians, the party led by James Dobson and Co. which controls the White House. It is analogous to "Islamist."
The intent is to distinguish religious proponents of Christianity and Islam, and members of those faith communities in general, from those who hold extreme religious views which they force into the public sphere.
I think it's a very fair distinction, and one that I would encourage as it clarifies the issues to a large degree without offending the large majority of either Christians or Muslims.
As for sex, after arguing this issue for several years now, it is my sense that the ONLY sex that religious fundamentalists approve is sex within marriage, and only for the purpose of procreation. After all, it says "p'ru u'r'vu," not "Have fun and procreate while you're at it." I have seen hostiltiy towards teen sex as simple as kissing (see AG Phill of Kansas on this one), masturbation, any kind of adult sexual activity outside of marriage, gay sex, you name it, to say nothing about any sort of nuanced understanding of the scientific concepts of sex and gender.
Oh, and "Christians" don't ALL believe anything. Maybe if you could finally disabuse yourself of that notion you miught be able to enter into productive discourse. YOU, as a Christian, believe . . ., not ALL Christians. Speak for yourself, and yourself only.
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