STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN

Some of us just quietly do what we need to do in support of our beliefs, avoiding possible confrontations of any who feel otherwise.  Others may be willing to be open in their efforts and take up the fight for the same cause.

I'm usually the quiet one.  I created the original ".com" website and now this blog to get the word out there, but I will suffer an anxiety attack just thinking about giving public speeches on the issues near and dear to my heart.  

However, there is something happening in the state in which I reside that compelled me to write not one, but TWO speeches and take them to our Capitol to give them in person.  The stress was so great at the thought of giving testimony before an audience that I started having dizzy spells (once I almost completely blacked out!).  Despite this, I was bound and determined to prevail!  

I have never been a part of similar events before.  I'd always found the televised meetings sadly lacking in holding my attention.  This was new territory.  Unchartered.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  What was expected of me.    

The first was to be given on Tuesday, 9 March 2011, in front of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.  It pertained to a proposed bill (SB5005) in which the state would mandate (force) parents who choose to not vaccinate their children for personal or religious reasons to get a signature from a physician.  The healthcare professionals giving testimony in support of this bill are concerned that parents who make this decision are only doing so for a matter of "convenience".   

Trust me when I say that choosing to not vaccinate your child is anything but convenient!  

Even tho' my oldest child (now 24yrs old) had a MEDICAL EXEMPTION from vaccines, I had to fight with the doctors who chose to ignore the fact this child had an allergic reaction from a series of vaccines, and had more than one fight with the school's each year in which he was enrolled for his education!  My youngest (and only other child) is just 8yrs old and completely non-vaxxed!  Again, I have fought the doctors on our decision at each visit and, now that our son is in school, I have been having the same fight as before with the school's.  

Alas, I was never asked to give the oral testimony at that Committee hearing, but I did submit my written one.  I wasn't sure if I was relieved at not having to testify or not.  

It was obvious to the 90 people who showed up to OPPOSE SB5005 that there was prejudice and that a decision was made by those charged with weighing the information provided.  How did we come to this conclusion?  Well, they allowed six supporting the bill to testify and go well beyond the 2-3 minutes allotted for each person, but only four opposing members the same privilege and cut many of them off in the middle.  They then abruptly ended the meeting and walked out.  We were stunned almost speechless! 

The second time I was to potentially testify was on Thursday, 17 March 2011, before the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee in regards to HB1015.  This one is very similar to SB5005 and following along the same terms.  This time, I came better prepared and had a much better understanding of what to expect.  Again, I was not called to give my testimony, but left a written one.  I then went to personally visit with a couple of the Representatives to personally ask them to OPPOSE this bill!  

I think this second Committee was more willing to listen to all parties.  They had four people in support of the bill to give testimony and asked pointed questions of them.  There were at least two doctors and a nurse, but I cannot (for the life of me) remember who the fourth person was.  

They then had four people opposing the bill give testimony and, again, asked pointed questions.  One was a father who lost their child to the Hep B vaccine 5 days after it was administered (even the coroner reported it was vaccine related!).  The second was a contributor to the book "Vaccine Epidemics".  The third a mother of a (living) vaccine injured child.  And the fourth was an advocate with the National Vaccine Information Center (nvic.org).  All of those opposing the bill had college education and many had high profile jobs.  These were not ignorant backwoods people!  

Whatever their decision at the Capitol, this fight will not be over.  If they decide to vote against it?  Those who support the bill will resubmit with changes and we'll be starting the fight all over again.  If they decide to vote for it?  Those of us who oppose them will be willing to take it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  

I, for one, will be back there to continue the fight against it!!