Not for my daughter, you don’t!
February 3rd, 2007 by JWIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or Via e-mail. Thanks for visiting!
Here’s the scoop: Perry orders anti-cancer vaccine for schoolgirls
Compulsory vaccinations to prevent an STD for all Texas schoolgirls? Can we say ‘government approved premarital sex’? This is outrageous, and it gets better, the shots are to be given to –>SIXTH GRADE GIRLS!
“Now we know your parents might have told you not to have sex until you’re married, but your friendly invasive government agency figures you’re gonna do it anyway, so step on up for your STD vaccine kiddos!”
Have I used the word asinine yet? Well, I should have. You Christian parents in TX must be outraged. You absolutely would not touch my daughter with such a thing that undermines all the purity so hard-fought to instill in her. Perhaps the dumbest thing since teaching abstinence in health class and then passing out free contraceptives… Ugh. Reason number 211 for homeschooling (but hey, who’s keeping count?)
In other news, WV has a new way to keep kids from getting fat, teach them to dance. No, not the bunny hop, or even the electric slide but, “hip-hop” dancing… maybe they will be needing those STD vaccines after all… but I’m probably just being paranoid, ’cause you know, the hip-hop scene is SUCH a great thing to get our kids interested in. Just imagine your son or daughter dancing along with this:
(reason number 212, I think it is… but who’s counting)
In a final piece of WV news, it is evidently A-OK if you shoot a law-enforcement officer who comes into your home without “properly identifying themselves,” how could this law possibly backfire, I wonder? Here’s the brilliant piece of legislation. [toward the bottom, §61-2A-3 (1)]
Praying for the kids and those who protect and serve,
~JW, for thegospelfortoday.com
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Posted in JW's thoughts | 
February 5th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
On being compassionate and merciful:
400 women will die this year from cervical cancer in the state of Texas alone. Over 70% of all cases(thousands) of cervical cancer are linked to HPV. For consequence of sin or not I wish cancer on no one.
On love for one’s savior and subjection to his will:
How a vaccination “undermines purity” escapes me. Apparently a bunch of young Christian ladies will be encouraged to shout “woohoo I can’t get HPV so let’s go do it!”
February 5th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Interesting response, Craig.
On your first point, I don’t recall wishing cancer upon anyone. I believe my comments were on the inappropriateness of vaccinating 11 and 12 year olds against an STD.
On your second point… the government is forcing these CHILDREN to be vaccinated against an STD. If this is not an affront to the purity of these little girls, then I don’t know what it would take to get your ire up, good sir. I don’t claim that the vaccination itself will make them impure, but the idea that these young ladies are in danger of contracting a sexually transmitted disease and must be immunized against it?? Its further sexualizing children in an already sexualized society. I find it disturbing. If you and others feel that your daughter(s) need to be immunized against HPV at 11, go for it, but the government will not be doing so with my daughter, as she will have no need for such a vaccine.
February 6th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Another example of those in government thinking that all children are alike (or perhaps just involved in the same things as theirs are). I would not wish this or any other type of cancer upon anyone either, but children shouldn’t need this “advanced protection” if we would take care of our God commanded parental responsibilities, something that political “geniuses” want to continually overlook. Excellent, brother JW.
February 7th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
First of all those of us who are women or girls already have the gene in us that will or will not give us cervical cancer, so giving us STD shot should be our decision when we are adults and can make up our own minds, not the goverments place to decide. Sometimes I think the goverment assumes to much, that is not up to them.
February 7th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Although I whole-heartedly agree that the gov. is, once again, overstepping its bounds in requiring this drug, and I do also agree that having this “vaccinaton” will give a sense of false security in the minds of young, highly impressionable GIRLS (let’s face it, an 11 year old is absolutely a child), there is another point I want to bring up regarding this topic.
Simply, we have no idea what this drug might physically do to our daughters and their children. Oh, sure, the FDA says it’s safe. Do you believe them? If you do, let’s consider the use of Thalidomide in the late 50s and early 60s. This drug was supposedly “safe” and was highly recommended for use as an anti-nausea drug to treat morning sickness. The drug was pulled from the market in 1961, when it was found that it caused birth defects in the reproductive systems of children born to mothers who had taken the drug during their pregnancies. I am sure that these pregnant ladies were assured that this drug was completely safe, but after further studies, the drug was proven down-right dangerous. Why would you want to inject a substance that is specifically designed to target the reproductive system into a child at the exact moment when her hormones are raging and the reproductive system is kicking itself into gear? Perhaps Guardacil is totally harmless, perhaps it isn’t. My daughter will NOT be a guinea pig. I love her too much to allow Merck to use her to test the longterm safety of its product.
February 7th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Cervical cancer is not a genetic cancer. Over 90% of cervical cancer is caused by a virus which is transmitted from a man who will never know he is infected. Because the man does not know he is infected, he could be in a perfectly scriptural relationship with his wife and still pass on the virus. Additionally, it is possible that a Christian woman could be raped. It should also be considered that Christians also make mistakes as well. These facts, in conjunction with the fact that cervical cancer is thought to be one of the most miserable ways to die, should be considered before any decisions are made.
As a parent, you always hope that your child will not commit fornication, get raped or be exposed to HPV by her husband. But the fact is that no matter how much purity you instill in them, you can not prevent any of the above 100% of the time. It can be a life saving treatment to the 13 year old girl who is raped, or the 28 year old woman who is married. Give it some thought.
February 7th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Elijah,
I understand and appreciate your concerns, but that is just the issue, they are your concerns
Personally, I live in a town in which I cannot recall ever hearing of anyone being raped, let alone a little girl. The danger is not high enough for me to go out and get this vaccine for my daughter. In your case, you may be unfortunate enough to live in a place with a high rate of crime and that would and should be your decision. This is NOT a decision that should be forced on ALL parents with vastly varying concerns (as shown by the comments to this post) by a blanket order from our government. What happened to the government staying out of the bedroom? I’d like to see more of that these days.
Thanks for the good discussion folks, keep it coming!
February 7th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
This information came from the web site of www.webmd.com, which is a site to look up medical questions. I did not see anything about a virus,not to say some can’t be caused by it, but the bottom lines do say by taking birth control pills to long, who is to say the shot the government wants are daughters to take wouldn’t cause it to.
Cervical cancer is caused by severe abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. Most precancerous or cancerous cell changes occur in the cervix at the transformation zone because these cells normally undergo constant change. During this natural process of change, some cervical cells can become abnormal, especially if you are infected with high-risk types of HPV.
Other factors that may play a role in causing cervical cancer include:
Smoking or a history of smoking.
Having an impaired immune system, such as from having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Using birth control pills for more than 5 years. This may be related to infection with HPV.2
February 8th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Actually, we live in a nearby communities, and that is how I came across your site. Having worked in the social services field, I can tell you that women are raped in Huntington, Wayne, Crum–every community in West Virginia. It happens to little girls. It happens to grown women. But that is still only part of the concern. She may well grow up to marry a man who carries HPV.
But if it is not your concern, then it is understandable. I just know that if something would happen, you would be broken hearted.
February 8th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Just thought I’d post this, its a news story I came across this morning:
STD vaccine campaign sweeping the nation
Elijah, not to minimize rape for any reason, but do most of these cases come from within the victims own family? This is just my assumption as I have no statistics on hand.
February 8th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Vicki–I can assure you that regardless of what you read, greater than 90% of cervical cancers are due to HPV, human papilloma virus.
jwmurdock–Most cases of childhood rape do occur within the family. This is not the case with adults. Again, do not ignore a *distinct* possibility that a woman’s husband may be infected. Men do not have symptoms from HPV, nor do they end up with any disease. They are not screened for it. So whether a girl gets raped or sins willfully, there is still the chance.
However, one of the other people on here makes a good point that there is never any way to know what a medicine, vaccine, or whatever will do in the long run. So I guess if you think the risk is greater from the shot, then that is something to think about too.
February 8th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I live in Texas, Rick Perry has left open a way for parenats to file an objection on religious grounds, and refuse the vaccination.
February 8th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Richard,
I read this as well, but I still don’t like this. Parents already have the choice to ‘opt-in’ and take their girls to have this vaccine administered. The burden should not be to have to ‘opt-out’. It is not the governments place to mandate this. Not to mention that, like the kids in my elementary school who were Jehovah’s Witnesses and ‘opted-out’ of any Christmas related activities, they will be marked forever as, ‘those people’. You know what I mean…
Elijah, I honestly respect your comments, but still feel this should be the choice of the parent or the girl herself when she comes of age (I understand the vaccine can be administered and be effective up to age 26). I’m sure there are those in my own brotherhood who would disagree with me on this, and that’s ok, this is certainly one of those ‘liberty’ areas, but for my money, I think the government has overreached on this one. Not surprising, but still chaffing.
February 8th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I agree. Parents should have a choice to decline this. I was only speaking on the need for the vaccine to be given, even if the person is a Christian. You spoke as if your daughter (or any other Christian) had no chance of getting the disease. While the chances are greater for those women that I counsel in my office every day due to their engagement in risky behavior, it is still a possibility for any woman. No offense, but you really haven’t addressed this issue, even though that was the focus of what I was talking about.
February 9th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Yikes! Here is a story that hits a little closer to home, and it looks like if it passes, the ONLY option will be to home school if you don’t like it…
Children of God for Life Urges W. Virginia Lawmakers: Abandon Gardasil Mandate
On your question Elijah, I do believe that my daughter is not at a high enough risk factor to make it worth it. Education is the best cure for many things and my daughter will be educated about all of the physical and spiritual dangers of premarital sex. So aside from the itsy-bitsy chance that (God-forbid) she would be raped by a carrier of HPV and this then caused cervical cancer, I see little reason to get the vaccine. And by not getting it, there will be no seeming double standard of: “Don’t have sex, but just in case you do, here’s protection.” Inconsistent parenting is something I try to avoid. At such a time as she comes of age to make such decisions, she can go get this vaccine on her own if she sees the need. Abstinence is not a thing of the past and there is even more reason for it now than ever (healthwise, that it). I think you’d agree in your line of work that education is often the best defense. Hope this makes sense and doesn’t sound too snooty…
February 9th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Doesn’t sound snooty. You still haven’t made any comments about her marrying someone with HPV. I’ll assume you think that is unlikely or that you don’t want to consider it. Cheers.
February 9th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Hey Elijah,
I didn’t specifically address that, but I feel that is something she can decide on her own when the time comes… her husband being a carrier for HPV is definitely not a concern at 11 :-) Have a good Friday folks!
February 9th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Most of the argument “for” the use of this so-called “vaccine” is borderline ridiculous. It’s as if we’re trying to throw a life jacket to someone in the middle of the desert. My question is, how do you explain that to your children? “Daughter, we are going to poke you with a sharp object in case you are ever raped or if you happen to fall in love with someone that has a virus”. Not to sound harsh, but if they came out with an HIV vaccine, how many would run their grade-schoolers to the doctor for this treatment? After all, they might be raped or they might even marry an infected person. How far do we allow this to go? How can we trust this type of governmental insanity when the flu shots, that so many flock to, don’t even work? I have never had one, and I rarely, if ever (knock on wood), get the flu. Yet people that I am acquainted with that do get these shots, are sick most of the winter (or so it seems). Maybe my wife is a carrier of every specific flu vaccine known to man and she has passed that to me.??. Don’t mean to make fun, but again, how far do we take this?
February 11th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I am sorry that you thought my arguments were “borderline ridiculous.”
You can explain it to your children by communicating with them on the subject. What is so complicated about that?
I don’t know if you have a daughter, but if you do, do you think there is no way that she could ever be raped? Do you think that there is no way she could marry a man with HPV? What if she does and she ends up dying from cervical cancer? Then will you say that the argument is ridiculous?
February 11th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Oh and jw, I meant to say thanks for the last comment. That is a good point. I just get caught up in the idea that Christians don’t need the vaccine because they’re not in any danger and at 11, the risk is lower. So I agree with you that it is acceptable to wait and let your daughter decide on her own. But there are a lot of people who call themselves Christians who end up making mistakes or getting into terrible circumstances.
April 10th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I believe that it should not be manditory. It should be up to the parents. I don’t want the government telling me what is best for my daughter.They do not know my daughter.We teach our daughters abstinence. If they make a bad decision, there will be consequences to their actions. Bottom Line.
May 30th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
I totally agree with being angry that the Texas state is ‘forcing’ the drug to be taken. But from my point of view, it’s a savior. I’m sixteen and have been on birth control pills to help regulate my periods. I was told by my yearly pap test that I have abnormal cells that could lead to the cervical cancer. I am sixteen years old… and I was told that I needed to get tested to see if I do have the cancer. Do you realize how big of an impact that is on my life? Now yes, I am still very young and it could be nothing and I was born with my hemogobulin (sp?) levels backwards, so I have a horrible immune system so it could be that. I would like to have children one day instead of being six months pregnant and I could die and loose the baby at the same time.
I do agree with the 11 and 12 year olds not needing it as soon. Possibly when they get into high school or even towards the end of high school but at 11? I don’t think so.
And it might seem that they are promoting it, but it’s just as bad as your kid going to school and dealing with the other girls and boys. And if your child makes that mistake(if you look at it that way) of having sex then that is there problem. The vaccine is just to help prevent it. Like the polio vaccine we get when we are born.
Maybe it’s just because I’ve been threatened that I may have Cervical Cancer, or maybe it’s just because I think it would be best for girls more around my age (16 and up) to make the choice to get it, but I do think it’s a big breakthrough. :)