I don’t usually get too much into politics and government on this blog because, if I did, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. But lately, something has been really bugging me. It’s the case of 13 year old Daniel Hauser whom the court is forcing to undergo chemotherapy, against his and his family’s wishes.
Now I know there are a lot of variables in a case like this – the age of the child, the parents’ intentions, etc. But, from everything I’ve heard and read about this case, the boy is aware of his options and has already undergone one session of chemo, and has chosen to pursue alternative therapies, based upon natural healing practices of a religious group called the Nemehah Band which is based on American Indian beliefs. I think that, at thirteen, he is old enough to understand the ramifications of his actions. His mother has stated that she will continue to seek permission to use alternative treatments for her son’s cancer “that aren’t toxic.”
What is really raising red flags in my consciousness is the word “forcing.” Since when is our judicial system allowed to force individuals to accept medical treatment? Even if a certain course of treatment is medically proven to help, since when do the courts, and, by extension, the government, have the right to decide and force someone to comply? It’s starting to sound pretty “Big Brother-ish” to me. And where will they draw the line?
Five years ago there was a similar case in Utah involving a boy named Parker Jensen who had been diagnosed with cancer. He and his parents had to fight for their right to refuse chemotherapy and finally won against the court. Today, five years later, the boy is still alive and in good health.
I understand that when a small child or baby is being denied treatment by parents with questionable motives, someone must step in to protect them. But I think this whole issue of the courts “forcing” treatment on people is one which we, as Americans, need to keep an eye on. There’s a fine line between genuine concern for someone’s welfare and judicial heavy-handedness. We’re in a situation already where the government makes decisions every day in the name of doing what’s best for the people. But my question is – “In whose opinion is something best for me?” I’m never consulted.
Our individual freedoms are very important and very precious and we must be vigilant in protecting them because once they’re gone…they’re gone.
I’m just sayin’…
Hey, y’all! This is more of a photographic version of Bits & Pieces today, consisting mainly of things I’ve been observing around the house.
But the really annoying thing is that it floats through the air and it’s THICK, like snow coming down. I tried to get a shot of it, but it’s difficult to catch because it’s always moving. This is the best I could do. 
Right now I’m looking through the window, and the air is filled with this cottony stuff! It makes it almost impossible to sit out on the balcony and read or relax because the stuff heads right for the eyes and the mouth. Each year I tell myself to keep track of how many days this goes on and each year I forget to do it. All I can say is – “Enough already!”
This little bird has been making trip after trip, pulling the “threads” off this plant. I might as well give up, and have an appropriate funeral for this good old yucca. It can’t fight dogs AND birds!
Kinda makes you want to get lost in there, doesn’t it? It did me.
Thursday morning I woke up, knowing she was there, but decided to ignore her. “She” is the side of me I usually keep successfully locked away. She’s a nitpicker, a worrier and my worst critic and I hate having her around. I’m the stronger of the two, but, occasionally, when I’m exceptionally tired or having a hormone storm, she bursts out of her prison to torment me.
When I was growing up, I had my friends and I had my family. Both groups were important, but I had a message embedded in my brain – “blood is thicker than water.” I took this to mean that, when the chips were really down, the only people you could count on were your family. Well, my experiences of the past few years have shot that theory to hell! When the chips were down for me, my family just threw me away!
Okay, I think I’ve come up with a new game, or at least, it’s new to me. It started when my friend, Charles, mentioned to me that his sister-in-law, who is in her seventies, has never in her life gone to a McDonald’s! And she had ten kids! I find this pretty amazing. So then, I got to wondering if I could think of things in my own life that set me apart from the majority. I’ve come up with five so far.
Death is a very personal thing, and we all choose to remember our loved ones in our own particular way. I think for the most part, the picture above best fits most people’s idea of a peaceful resting place, a place where one can go to remember one who was dear to us.
Dear Randi,
