[stylist] Poem: Measles

Mon Feb 2 21:15:05 UTC 2015

I know an older couple and one of their children has five children.  The 
oldest two have autism so they chose not to vaccinate the younger ones and 
they are fine.  For only this reason do I agree with not vaccinating. 
Though I do not believe that vaccines cause autism, there may be something 
in the DNA that makes the problem when they mix.  Since we knew something 
was up with our kids upon first seeing them, when the doctor said the 
translated records showed them up-to-date on their shots, we chose not to 
redo them.  We refused that new HPV or whatever that one for STD is because 
if they get it, someone needs a law suit filed against them.  We also choose 
not to do flu shots, and this year is the first year we got the flu.  We 
refuse them because when the twins were little they had setbacks for a month 
or so after the shots and we decided it wasn't worth it.  I can't have the 
flu shot due to yolk allergy.
And yet, I do see why we should have them because I have a cousin whose 
little girl cannot get the MMR because of her health issues so if kids 
around her don't get them, they could get her sick.
Being a parent of autistic children, I see both sides of the issue.

The poem is cute.
Barbara

Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.--Robert Frost
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jacobson, Shawn D via stylist
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 11:43 AM
To: 'Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter' ; 'Writers' DivisionMailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Poem: Measles

I recently read a book "Reality Check" by Donald Prothero which you might 
like.  It talks about all kinds of anti-science nonsense (the 
anti-vaccination movement, aids deniers, climate change deniers,) and the 
like.  There is also some discussion of big tobacco and the attempt to deny 
the link between smoking and cancer.

As for the poem itself, I did like it.  Hooking up the measles epidemic with 
the blogger in Saudi Arabia was an interesting combination.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit 
Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 12:15 PM
To: 'Bill Outman'; 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Poem: Measles

Bill,

As a mom with young children, this poem hits home. It's terrifying to read 
all the info out there that anti-vaccination people put online, but it's 
equally terrifying to read what these diseases can do. I like to go into 
things fully researched, eyes wide-open, but it can also make you a little 
paranoid.

Nice topical subject.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman 
via stylist
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 7:41 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Poem: Measles

Good morning again, folks.

Who would ever believe a poem could be made out of the subject of measles, 
which has been in the news lately because of the recent epidemic.  There 
have been a minority of irresponsible doctors and celebrities who have been 
advocating against vaccinations.  As some background, I represent the other 
side of this story, having been affected by disease prior to the 
availability of the measles, mumps, rubella(MMR) vaccine.  My visual 
impairment was originally caused by congenital rubella syndrome.

Also in the news of late is the case of the Saudi blogger who was trying to 
push his society in a more progressive direction and was sentenced to 
flogging and jail because of it.  That was the inspiration of my reference 
to flogging in the poem that follows my signature.  As some further 
background, my mother who is a career R. N. was working in a small town 
general practice in IL where I was born, and she got ill while carrying me, 
thus resulting in my circumstances.

On the one hand, we have people here who have freedom and abuse it it so as 
to put others in jeopardy while others wish they had such freedom or wish 
they had some say in their circumstances either in the past, present or 
future.

So here is what I have, below my signature.

Bill Outman

Measles

I heard someone wrote a blog.

It said, "Don't get the shot for measles."

That person I'd like to flog,

That person is one of the weasels.

I came when there was no choice.

It made me an odd fella.

With nature I had no voice,

Before my birth it decreed the damage of rubella.

People listen to science that's bad.

It really makes me mad.

Paranoid worry about ebola

While justifying vaccine ignorance that's crapola.

For compassion and mercy we will not flog

Those whose knowledge is in a gfog.

I'll be your buddy

If you at least do diligent study.

---
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