Thursday, April 26, 2007

So Angry

I read today that the Texas state legislature has voted against instituting a statewide vaccination of teenage girls against certain strains of cervical cancer, using the vaccine Gardasil which has proved effective against several varieties of the virus.

I'm not going to comment on that. When it comes to a politically mandated vaccination, there's often more sides to the argument than just public health. I don't necessarily agree, but I don't know enough to have a studied opinion. However, it's this quotation that has me shaking I'm so angry. All excerpts are from the New York Times article.

"There was no public testimony — why we were jumping so fast into a vaccine that was not for a true communicable disease," said Senator Glenn Hegar Jr., a Republican representing a district just west of Houston...

I would like to know just what the FUCK do you think a communicable disease is, then? Somehow you must live in a little universe where women don't die from cervical cancer, contracted from their partners? Last time I checked the dictionary (5 seconds ago), communicable meant that an infection can be transmitted from one person to another. 400 women die each year in Texas from cervical cancer (ref: also the NY Times article)

I love this one, too:

"We did not want to be the first in offering young girls for the experiment to see if this vaccine is effective or not," said Representative Dennis H. Bonnen, a Republican from Angleton, who sponsored the ban in the House.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other health authorities, describe Gardasil as safe and effective when given as approved to girls ages 9 to 26 in three shots over eight months.

Why do people believe the lies and filth pouring out of these people's mouths? This isn't an experiment. The experiment's already been done. It's called clinical trials. Perhaps you have heard of them?

And this isn't about girls, either: the vaccine is only available to women less than 26 years of age, and is effective over a lifetime. So these men wish to control these women's sexual behavior for their entire lives, by holding a death sentence punishment over their heads.

Let's cut to the chase here. Some people opposing this vaccine would rather a woman dies a horrible death by cancer than have sex. With anyone. Even her husband. Who, I don't know, is of course ALWAYS FAITHFUL because no one ever gets divorces for adultery in Texas. Or gets raped. All this because of the possibility that a woman might have multiple sexual partners of her own choosing.

I cannot express in words how repellent it is to me that people would rather cause pain and suffering rather than prevent it.

4 comments:

Carole Knits said...

They didn't actually BAN the vaccine, though, right? They just didn't make it a requirement that girls have it. It's still available as a choice? I certainly hope that's the case.

pacalaga said...

You know, sometimes (lately, all the time) I am ashamed of our federal government and it makes me hard to hold up my head and be proud of where I live. But by golly, at least I'm not a Texan.

Carol said...

A. MEN. As a matter of fact, both of my girls 12 & 16 just got their first shots last week. Paid for, by our health insurance. Why would I happily take my children for this? I have the virus and at a very young age, all the cells went abnormal. Nice at 23 to think your life is over. I wasn't even a "wild" child when it came to relationships either. We need to really rock our votes!

FUZZARELLY said...

Just came across your blog via Rabbitch. And it struck me that earlier today I was researching this topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griswold_v._Connecticut

Talk it up, girlfriend!