It's your choice, as long as you do what I want.
Judge Orders Teen to Cancer treatment 21 7:49 PM US/Eastern
By SONJA BARISIC Associated Press Writer
NORFOLK, Va.
A judge ruled Friday that a 16-year-old boy fighting to use alternative treatment for his cancer must report to a hospital by Tuesday and accept treatment that doctors deem necessary, the family's attorney said.
The judge also found Starchild Abraham Cherrix's parents were neglectful for allowing him to pursue alternative treatment of a sugar-free, organic diet and herbal supplements supervised by a clinic in Mexico, lawyer John Stepanovich said.
Jay and Rose Cherrix of Chincoteague on Virginia's Eastern Shore must continue to share custody of their son with the Accomack County Department of Social Services, as the judge had previously ordered, Stepanovich said.
The parents were devastated by the new order and planned to appeal, the lawyer said.
Is freedom real, or is it an allusion? How much freedom does or should the state allow. We live in a "free" society yet when it comes to many of our personal choices, that freedom is being curtailed. Examples:
Seatbelt laws: Why is it the states place to force me to wear a seatbelt in my car? We are told our safety is enhanced by wearing belts, but what if I don't want to be safe? Personal choice?
Smoking: Only a moron doesn't know that smoking is bad for your health, but so is falling off a cliff. It is conceivable that in some places smoking may be banned in your car or house. What makes me mad about this one, and I don't smoke, is that the state wouldn't dream of banning the product. They need the tax revenue. If I were the tobacco companies when a state sued for damages, I would pull my product completely from the shelves then run it on sale across the border. The drop in revenue would drop the suit.
Yet, despite these "do gooder" laws we often contradict ourselves. We won't allow the boy above to choose his own treatment, but we'll allow abortion. Aren't we told abortion is a personal choice? Well, so is smoking, seatbelts, medical treatments, what you eat etc.
The question is then, how much freedom is too much freedom? What would you allow or ban? And, are we really free or do we just live with an illusion of freedom?
posted by Death Warmed Over | 3:18 AM
9 Comment:
Of course you can do what you want to, just have money ready to pay the tickets. :)
I can only go off of the bible, which primarily governs my life, says you are allowed to partake in anything, but not everything is beneficial for you.
So, yes, laws need to be in place, and usually it's for your best interest, but I see what you mean about some personal freedoms.
As far as Starchild goes - anyone who's named that, more than likely, needs additional guidance. I wonder how devastated the parents will be when they neglect to administer proper treatment and he dies? Who will they sue?
Oh well, I think I'll have a smoke and think about it some more. ;)
i came to the conclusion some time ago, shocking as it was, that the world was going to hell. Somehow, everything else pales in comparison to this realisation.
We believe we can learn or gain control of our lives. Either with the help of science, or money. In actual fact, we can't. Control is an illusion. We can only do what we do, and make our choices based on what we have.
freedom is not a right, its a privilage. Rights are the illusion that the world owes you something because you made it alive.
The government is in position to keep the peace and protect its people, sometimes from themselves. I'm not sure where to draw the line, maybe the government doesnt have the right to regulate victimless crime, guncontrol, and safety and marraige and etc etc...
If anyone wants the right to be 'free' they can always find a more accepting country, or face the consequences.
[i'm not sure if that had anything to do with the post...]
The question is "what is freedom"? Those of us who want the government off our backs often feel that they are infringing their beliefs on us. Yet at the same time, the government may feel a responsibility to protect life, so they install laws about seatbelts, one that my brother in law refuses to obey for the same reason you gave. I don't agree with abortion, but I also don't support capital punishment. I also think people need to choose how to stay healthy--if we banned smoking, it would become the next crack. I haven't followed the case of this young man, so I don't know the government's motives. I am cynical when it comes to our government; I believe they make choices to "help" us, so that it is of minimum cost to themselves. Hence, the seatbelt law: fewer accidents, lawsuits and mess. I can't imagine they really care whether we live or die. That is not to take away from the fact that I love my country, despite whatever fools sit in office and have no idea how real people live.
I feel free to do whatever I want, as long as I don't get caught or am willing to slaughter all witnesses (I am). I am therefore perfectly free.
But I agree that the government shouldn't pass laws forcing us to be safe. If I want to be an idiot, it should be my god-given American right.
one time I had to take a calcium supplement
OMW-Your right of course laws are needed because absolute freedom is anarchy. And of course I'm not arguing the merits of the states intervention in a minors medical care but it was a spring board for some of the envasive laws being thrust upon us.
Fatty-You are correct about the worlds status. You're right on about control. Our insistence that the massive tides that rule our world can be controlled is our undoing. And of course there is no country on earth that doesn't have some form of oppression.
EOTR-what we've gotten away from is personal responsibility. And the abortion vs capital punishment issue, especially among Christians is interesting. Where do you draw the line on state sponsored death.
Grant-the freedom to be an idiot should be a constitutional right. Of course, when in doubt I always default to the 2nd amend. Works every time.
Boring-calcium suppliments are truly boring
You hit on the main point here -- the inconsistency of our laws. We are over-regulated and it shows when the rules start to contradict each other.
Whatever happened to "the government should only do what people can't do for themselves?" Socialism is winning by sneaking in through the back door.
-- david
Oh yes, and I've added you to my links.
-- david
I hate back door socialism, that and Illinois Nazis.
Thanks for coming by David.
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