School, Vaccinations, and Perspectives

Like many of my fellow friends and family, I started the fall semester yesterday. I really enjoy school and am really excited to be back in session again. I always feel a little slower during the summer break because I am so wiped out from the last school year, I make sure not to do anything too intellectually stimulating during the summer. In my statistics class this semester each week has a few online lectures available to study with. I listened to my first lecture today and was so frustrated so I'm going to blog about it. If you know anything about statistics you know it involves a lot of data graphing and probabilities which means learning about a lot of different studies. The study in this lecture was about the development of the polio vaccine. Thinking I am going to learn about the study and how it relates to mathematics was my first mistake. She spent twenty minutes on the lecture talking about vaccines as a whole and how anyone who thinks anything is wrong with vaccines is obviously uneducated and "wacky." She stated things like, "Don't condemn your innocent, sweet children because of some trendy scare tactic." Let me clarify that I think vaccines are a good thing. Actually a great thing. They have saved so many lives and are the reason parents don't have to worry so much about their children surviving infancy. That being said, I have had the opportunity for the past years to work around individuals involved in the autism community and although I do not believe it causes autism, I do believe it is a possible risk factor when combined with certain genetic predisposition. Because of this, I have chosen to vaccinate Taven on a slightly slower schedule where his shots are spaced out. I recently had a near fist fight with a pediatrician here in Texas about this issue who was accusing me of neglecting my child and not protecting him from untimely death. So, my point is, I am sick of people being so ridiculously closed minded! It is ok to have an opinion, but I don't care how educated you are, it is not ok to tell other people that is the only right way! Even though I believe what I do, I would never confront someone for vaccinating their child on the CDC schedule. Every person has a certain set of circumstances and ideals that allow them to make decisions for themselves and those they are responsible for. I can disagree with someone on an issue, but I still keep their idea in mind as another possible answer to a problem and it does not have to affect the way I stand on the issue. Considering other ideas and perspectives keeps you grounded. I get really tired of people fighting and fighting over something just to attempt to have another side agree with them (politics is a perfect example). Then again, what do I know, I am just an uneducated, "wacky" chiklet. Hmph. I feel better. I'll step down of my soap-blox now. Heh heh, get it?