OK. So I have this "friend" who drives me crazy. I've known her since high school and we got along during the limited amount of time we spent together. We went to the same college and we were roommates for ONE year. We decided that it was best for us to not live together any longer in order to preserve our friendship and for me to not kill her.
You see she's a born-again Christian. I am Catholic. More to the point I'm Irish and Catholic and anyone who is both, understands that this fact runs deep. It's ancestral. We might not agree with everything the Church spews out, but it's a part of us. She spent the better part of the year we lived together trying to "save" my soul. Telling me how I wasn't a Christian...hey there, sweetie pie, us Catholics were here BEFORE you so zip it!
Now I've got other friends who are born-again (and no where near as obnoxious!). Friends who are Agnostic, Atheist, Wiccan, Jewish, Muslim, etc. Name it I've got it. Heck I was in the Army and they've got it all! The thing about this one friend is that she is rather intolerant. In case you were wondering everyone is going to burn in hell and the best way for this country to get out of the economic crisis is to teach creationism in school. Get out your bibles boys and girls and put those gosh darn science books away!
OK, so I've connected with this friend again on Facebook. She's been tolerable until the past few months. As you can probably tell, being a zealot, she is so VERY anti-Obama/anti-Democrat. She actually believes the nuggets of poop that dribble from Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck's moronic mouths. I'm an Obama supporter. This past election was the first time in my life I have ever donated to a campaign. The first time I have ever gone to a campaign rally. While I'm not so idiotic as to agree with everything he plans, I do firmly believe that he speaks from his heart and wants to do the best he can for the country. I don't feel lied to and I'm smart enough to take any news with a grain of salt. I worked in the intel community for almost 10 years...you all don't have all the details and I can be accepting that I don't either. So news flash, neither do the news agencies and conspiracy theorists, but they know the fears of the general public and it's easy to play into them.
So she's been posting anti-vaccination stuff. What does that have to do with Obama? Well, the H1N1 has broke during his presidency. Instead of sitting back and waiting to see how deadly this pandemic can be, he was PROACTIVE. He ordered the manufacture of vaccinations to ensure we had enough on hand if needed. Because of him doing what he felt (and frankly I whole-heartedly believe as well) was right now getting the H1N1 flu shot has become a political issue! Holy cow!
So far this pandemic is no where near as bad as the 1918 pandemic, but it could have been and could still be! John M. Barry's book, "The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History" about the 1918 flu is exceptional. It gets a bit technical (and boring at times), but I'll tell you I'll never miss a flu shot after reading it! It's not political hype and it was released back when good ol' G.W. was in office. In fact, G.W. claimed to have read it...more likely that he had it read to him or had someone read it for him and give him the cliff-notes version...
So nut-girl with 5 kiddos isn't going to get her kids vaccinated against the H1N1...but the regular flu shot, that's OK. So I go to the CDC's website and I view the shot information sheets they have on their website. You know. The ones your doctor gives you before you or your child gets a shot...and they are pretty much the same.
The H1N1 shot is an inactive virus shot that contains thimerosal, a mercury derivative that some claim to cause autism. Same as for the regular flu shot. Keep in mind that the reason thimerosal is in the shot, is as a preservative. The bottle that the shot is in has multiple doses and thimerosal is in it so it doesn't get contaminated (which is what used to happen and then those getting the shot got extremely sick and/or died if there was contamination). You can ask your doctor if s/he has the single dose shots that don't contain thimerosal...they do exist!
The link to the H1N1 sheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccine
H1N1 mist (active virus - does state that you should keep away from those with weakened immune systems) will NOT cause illness in persons with a normal immune system!
The link to the H1N1 mist sheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccine
Furthermore, the vaccines (seasonal flu and H1N1) are made the SAME WAY. The only difference is that they've never made a vaccine for this particular strain before. They all have crazy names like H1N1. It's just that this new strain hasn't been in humans before which is why it has the potential to be so deadly. We don't have any immunity built up for this strain. It's never made it's way around before. The main reason why the flu shot doesn't work all the time is because they have to make their best scientific/educated guess as to which strains of the flu will hit the US during the year and make the vaccine for those particular strains. If they guess wrong more people get sick, but because those strains are related there will likely be some immunity so you hopefully won't get as sick.
The people making the vaccine aren't the President's cronies! They'd be making the same vaccine, the SAME WAY if McCain had been elected! Such silliness. Vaccinations can be a touchy point for people. The fear of what might happen to those you love is a powerful thing. I'm a mother of two boys and understand those fears. Our children aren't replaceable. There is nothing that terrifies parents more than the thought of losing their child. So whether to get vaccinated is a very personal choice. Then the other shoe with my friend dropped. She let it be known where she got her information from...Dr. Mercola...and she's just going to take supplements!
Do a search on Google. You either come up with one of his MULTIPLE websites where he's trying to hock his wares or a website claiming he's a quack! He talks about using supplements...his supplements. I've used herbs and supplements from time to time, but NOT as a REPLACEMENT for medical science. There's a lot to be said for the benefits of herbal remedies, but this guy vomits claptrap that, in my opinion, is meant to scare people away from traditional medicine for the benefit of his own pocketbook.
I'm not claiming that he doesn't believe the stuff he's saying. I'm saying that someone who has a medical degree, but rages against everything the medical community says as though doctors are out to get you, needs to be taken with a cup of salt...not a grain! Apparently he's the only honest person out there! My feeling on the man is that he preys on parents' fears for the safety of their children during a time when people are scared about this new pandemic. People are scared and what a great opportunity it is to sell them his product!
Come on...he was used as a source for information on Fox News! Need I say more?
I certainly don't think that all Republicans/Conservatives are nut-bags. There are just as many Democrat/Liberal nut-bags, but the right is getting the press right now. How I wish we could have some tolerance in this country of ours. I've sat down and talked with friends and family on the opposite side of the political spectrum. And with all we've been able to agree on quite a bit. That's what is so frustrating today. Our politicians don't talk. They refuse to cooperate. If you can talk with someone who's willing to compromise and listen to your concerns and fears then it's easier to see the other side. Not gonna happen in politics anytime soon...sniff.
So, I rant. I'm not going to change my "friend". I'm going to take her off my newsfeed on Facebook so I don't have to see her rubbish and it will cut down on my stress levels enormously. That's what it's about when you can't have constructive conversation...de-stressing. Well, and the fact that I can't help "stirring the pot" as my husband says. I hear stupid and I must comment. So I'll comment here so I don't create conflict in her perfect world. After all, I'm going to hell and she's going to be saved. I'm sure the Lord will save her and her little ones from the H1N1 flu. I pray he does. For her childrens' sake.
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