Oct. 5, 2007
One of the many reasons why we DON'T vaccinate
Posted in Critical Thinking
Shock and awe. We do not vaccinate, nor will we ever again. I questioned these "wonder drugs" before vaccinating my wee one, but due to misinformation, I began vaccinating him. After two rounds of vaccinations, he suffered a severe reaction, and we have not vaccinated since. (This is the short version...full story to come one day.)
I came across this story today, and it reaffirmed to me once again, why we won't vaccinate again.
------------------------------
LONDON - A polio outbreak in Nigeria was caused by the vaccine designed to stop it, international health officials say, leaving at least 69 children paralyzed.
...The CDC and the World Health Organization announced the cause of the polio outbreak last week, even though they knew about it last year.
...In 2001, officials reported that 22 children were paralyzed from polio in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in this way. Subsequent vaccine-caused polio outbreaks have occurred in the Philippines, Madagascar, China and Indonesia.
...But no vaccine is risk-free.
...the continuing Nigerian outbreak is the biggest ever caused by the vaccine.
Source
---------------------------
Aside from the clearly apparent issues here, note that I highlighted the last two sentences. NO VACCINE IS RISK FREE. Think about that.
As for the outbreak being the biggest ever caused by the vaccine...that is patently untrue. It is now known that the polio outbreak in the USA during the middle part of the last century, was actually CAUSE by Salk's vaccine. Did you know that he eventually spoke out AGAINST his own vaccine? Did you know that the parent seed were infected with SV40 (Simian Virus 40), due to their being cultured on the kidneys of rhesus monkeys? Did you know those SAME parent seeds are still being used today? Did you know that SV40 has been linked to many cancers, including mesothelioma?
Infected Polio Vaccine
One day soon, I will post links for numerous vaccine information sites. Between now and then, I highly recommend reading:
Evidence of Harm, by David Kirby. Be prepared for a scary reality.
Sep. 21, 2007
Why we unschool
Posted in Critical Thinking
We all know that there are many different ways to homeschool; some choose to homeschool the way they do, due to state restrictions; some choose to homeschool the way they do because they like structure and schedules; and some choose to homeschool the way they do because they like the freedom of being able to go on unscheduled trips, etc, at the drop of a pin. The point is, we all have differing reasons as to why we do it the way we do. This is a story about why we choose to unschool.
Contrary to popular belief, unschooling is anything but the lazy person's version of homeschooling. In fact, not to disparage those who homeschool in a more classical sense, but I honestly believe unschooling is more difficult. I do not have a curriculum that tells me what to teach my wee one, when. Nor do I have the printables already created for me, and so forth. Again, I am not disparaging classical homeschoolers...this is the way we choose to homeschool...and the following is but one of the many reasons.
I had been trying for weeks to teach my wee one multiplication, beyond the simple basics. He understood the concept behind basic multiplication, but beyond that, zilch. There were days that we both felt frustration, and had to walk away from it for the rest of the day. Yesterday, I decided to print out some multiplication worksheets, and hoped for the best. We were both full of sunshine, so surely it would be a good day, right?
Well....it didn't take long before the frustrations began. The last thing I wanted to do, was to fight, so I offered him the only other worksheet I had printed out...division. I didn't expect him to even understand it, but I thought it would at least introduce him to the concept. I left him so I could go switch out some laundry, and received quite a shock, when I came back to check on him. Not only did he understand the concept, he got every problem correct! I was beyond shocked! I truly never expected that he would "get it". I decided that since he seemed to understand it, we would come into the computer room, and do some division problems on the easel. He answered those problems correctly too! At that point, I decided I would see if he still understood the concept, when doing mental math. So, I began asking him division equations. He ticked off the correct answer, every time. I just cannot begin to convey how astounded I was.
Since it was very apparent that he understood division, and well, I thought I would have him attempt to do the multiplication worksheets again. BINGO! He understood it completely! I don't know what happened, or what we did, that he so easily understood division, while struggling with multiplication, but it worked! I am guessing that in his understanding the division concept so clearly, he was able to apply it to the multiplication, making it where he finally understood it well. Today we have been doing division/multiplication mental math, as well as on the chalkboard. We even did "fast" math, going between addition, subtraction, multiplication & division. Of 30 problems, he only missed two.
Not bad, for a just turned 7 year old.
And this is why we unschool. Classically, he should have been taught multiplication first, and not until he had that concept down well, should he have even been introduced to division. I can only imagine how much, and for how long, he would have struggled, had we gone about it classically. Unschooling allows us the freedom to "do it backwards"...and sometimes, as evidenced here...it works!
Feb. 20, 2007
One of life's harder lessons
Posted in Critical Thinking
While some may consider this as a negative, one of the reasons we homeschool, is so that we are able to shelter our wee one from the ugly bits of life, for as long as possible. Not to be misunderstood with being overbearing, untrusting parents. That is far opposite of what the reality is. We just feel that our wee one will be barraged with the uglies of life soon enough...and we should therefore aid in perpetuating his innocence for as long as we are able.
Sadly, the other day, a bit of ugliness crept into his world.
As many homeschoolers do, we play Toontown. It is a fun online game, that has always seemed to be geared towards fun and innocence. One of the features of Toontown, if you are a member, is the ability to make secret friends...which means you can have somewhat open dialogue with other people, as opposed to only using the pre-determined, speedchat phrases. It's just another aspect of the game. As an adult, I only had other adult secret friends, because I know as a parent, if I discovered my wee one was secret friends with an adult, I would be none too happy! As a general, it is an unspoken rule that you do not have secret friends that are children, if you are an adult...unless you happen to play with their parents...that is a circumstance that allows for children and adults to be secret friends. That said, after playing with many of my secret friends for months, I allowed some of them to become secret friends with my wee one, at their request. Now, however, before I allowed them to become secret friends, I detailed many times over that due to his young age, he could be a pest.
For some months, everything was all and well. These friends of mine had nothing but positive things to say about my wee one, commented on how mature he was, and so forth. The other day, everything turned ugly.
One of the speed chat phrases, is "You stink!"
It was intended to be directed at cogs...but too often one toon/player will direct it at another toon/player. The other night, my son made the unfortunate choice to direct this phrase to one of our secret friends...an adult...twice. Upon discovering that it had occurred, I immediately made wee one get off the computer, and grounded him off Toontown for three days. I then apologized to the person it was directed at, and thanked another for telling my wee one to behave. I thought that was the end of it.
Three days later, I logged onto Toontown, only to be met with a two hour barrage of what a terrible child I have; how he is an annoying brat; and the many different ways I have failed as a parent! To say I was shocked and astounded is an understatement! All this occurred, because a young child, told an adult "You stink!" I am not making excuses for his behavior...had I thought it was okay, I never would have grounded him; my point here is that it was four adults going on and on about what an annoying brat my young child is! Four adults who, honestly, became as offended as they did, over two words: "You stink!"
Needless to say, we are no longer playing Toontown with that lot!
For myself, the lesson learned was that under no circumstances, will I now allow my wee one to have any secret friends, other than myself.
That harder lesson came in having to explain to my wee one why people who liked him so much previously, suddenly no longer liked him...and why was it okay for them to call him names? Obviously, it wasn't okay, and we told him as much. We just explained how sometimes, adults act very badly, often times worse than children do.
Thankfully, he has not given it thought since it occurred; children are resilient. It is a shame, however, that these supposed adults have acted in such a poor manner. I am glad that I discovered this now, instead of later...when who only knows what could have occurred!
Feb. 10, 2007
How I fear '08
Posted in Critical Thinking
I just read on Fox news, that Barack Obama has officially announced his bid for President. Coming from Illinois, I have very little positive to say about this individual. He has a long voting history, leaning very far to the left. Extremely far. Add in that Billary Clinton is also running for 2008, and I am scared! I know that ultimately, our Father in Heaven will take care of it...but I pray that it doesn't involve either of these two liberals in ANY high office. Additionally, if you read my previous post, and consider that state of things today, and libs are NOT in high office...I can only fear what will come. We really need to be steadfast prayer warriors in this time. Won't you join me?
Feb. 8, 2007
Prejudice and Pride
Posted in Critical Thinking
Liberal: [lib-er-uh l, lib-ruhl] –adjective:
Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
Favoring or permitting freedom in action, esp. with respect to matters or personal belief or expression.
Free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant.
Open-minded or tolerant.
I wanted to take the time to address a number of issues that have bothered me for some time; it may turn into a rant...I make no apologies.
In regards to liberals, I have a few questions:
Why so prejudiced about my pride in choosing to be a stay at home mother?
~Women's Lib tells me I should only feel fullfilled and whole if I am stepping on anyone and everyone on my climb up the corporate ladder.
Why so prejudiced about my pride in being a wife?
~The liberal state of mind tells me I can do anything a man can do-and better! I can ball-bust as well as the next guy, afterall.
Why so prejudiced when it comes to my choice to homeschool?
~The NEA, a heavily liberal influenced organization, tells me that I am unable to school my child properly. The only "good" education is taught by those who are more concerned with tenure and entitlements, than with actually teaching the basics to their charges.
Why so prejudiced toward the pride of our military?
~One of the most important mantras of a "good" liberal, is "free speech"; yet at every turn, those of the liberal persuasion are spitting upon, protesting against, and undermining the morale of our men and women in uniform. The very people who have given up many of their freedoms while they serve, to ensure the rights of others. Let us consider, for instance William M. Arkin!
Why so prejudiced about my belief in G-d?
It is unceasingly being shoved down that throat of John Q. Public that evolution is finite...an absolute; and a belief in G-d is nothing short of radical extremisim bordering on mental disorder.
The libs that I know (and I know many, having been a lib myself, before I grew up) are self-centered, ego-maniacal, over-degreed elitists, unsatisfied with their own lives to such an extent, that the only enjoyment they glean comes from incessant attempts at making others miserable.
I find it rather ironic that liberals are some of the most close-minded people. How is it that in the name of liberalism, prejudice is plentiful towards those who are white, male, mother, conservative and Christian?
Now for the $64,000 question:
Why can't liberals be liberal enough to allow my family and I our beliefs and viewpoints?
|
