We are parents who love our children, just as much as you love yours.
We want what is best for them, just as you do.
We want to raise healthy, happy and successful children, just like you do.
We want to give them all the things that we didn’t have and more, just like you do.
We would give our lives to protect them, just like you would do.
We also know that you are doing what you believe is best for your children, and deep down you know we are too.
Our similarities in the need to protect our children outweigh our differences substantially. The only major difference between you and us is that we believe that there is more than one way and one-size-fits-all to accomplish this. We may not agree with the current pharmaceutical-based model of health for children, but we will fight to the death to protect your right to make that decision as a loving parent of your child! We would also never ask you to make a health choice for your children that you honestly thought would harm them. So how can you ask us to do this to ours?
Look at the messages coming from both sides of this debate. One is asking for the right for all parents to make the choices that they believe are right for their child. The other is demanding to take away that right from anyone who does not conform to one rigid set of beliefs.
We don’t blame you for how scared you feel about childhood diseases. We understand that the media, government, and the medical fear-mongering machine have been blowing the “danger” horn loudly and repeatedly. But you need to ask yourself why are they making such a big deal out of 150 cases of measles when there have been 0 deaths in the U.S. in the last 10 years from the disease (editor’s note: There is some discrepancy about this, because the CDC’s MMWR reports 2 measles deaths for each of 2009 and 2010, which Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC claimed last year there were not deaths in the last 10 years. Why would that be? The only thing we can think of here at TMR is that there were people who died of measles, but they were immunocompromised people who caught vaccine-strain measles from either their own MMR shot or one of someone close to them), while there have been 108 deaths linked to the vaccine. (Editor’s note: this is also an uncertain number because of the nature of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System reporting system and the difficulty of getting a straight answer from it. VAERS is a “passive reporting system,” which means the data is not automatically collected. It has to be reported. And the data is never substantiated. Which gives plausible deniability: “Oh, you can’t trust that system. Anyone can report anything. There’s no proof that vaccines caused those things that are being reported as adverse vaccine reactions to a system that few people have even heard of.” And, yet, studies on similar systems make it clear that most adverse events are largely under-reported.)
There is a much bigger issue at stake here than just forcing parents to vaccinate their children. By attacking our rights, you are literally throwing away your own right to object to any vaccine that is on the government-enforced schedule now, or in the future.
You are also throwing away your right to demand safer vaccines for your child. Pharmaceutical companies are not going to give you the best quality vaccines when profit is their priority. They need to be pushed to do this, and, if no one ever questions their products or the ingredients they use, they have no reason whatsoever to improve them.
These companies are not in the vaccine market for the “Greater Good.” They are in it to make money, period. The fact that have been fined for fraudulent marketing practices, bribery and concealing the risks of their products time and time again testify to this fact. These same companies have over 200+ new vaccines in the pipeline. Do you really want to have no say about which of these vaccines are added to your child’s already extensive schedule of shots?
You may not believe this, but by protecting our right to choose what medical interventions our children get, you are actually protecting your own right to choose what kinds of vaccines your children get. The quality, the quantity, and even which ones you feel are necessary for the best interests of your child. If you take this basic human right away from us, you end up taking it away from yourself as well.
Dr Paul Offit, the creator of a rotavirus vaccine and one of the world’s biggest vaccine promoters, once said that a baby could theoretically tolerate 10,000 vaccines at one time. Is this what you want for your child? Or do you want the right to say no?
~ Epiphany
Epiphany is a mum whose roots are in the South Pacific. Sheis a law student and an advocate for informed choice in Australia. All of her vaccinated children have either autism, ADHD, speech delays, or mood swings, combined with autoimmune, gastrointestinal and allergic disorders, while her unvaccinated children are healthy and disorder-free. She is a big softie in general, but is an Amazon warrior when it comes to defending her children and speaking out for health freedom!
I’m not a parent of an autistic child. I am a sister of one. My mom is involved in the Facebook group and I’m actually doing a research paper for school about the link between vaccines and autism and I just got to thinking. There really isn’t a blog or Facebook group out there (that I know of) for older siblings of autistic children and I haven’t really met many teenagers with younger autistic siblings and I think it would be a great idea to start a Facebook group that is run by the thinkingmomsrevolution blog but just for siblings. Is it a possibility that I could make this happen?
Cara, that is a fabulous idea! And one that has been kind of kicking around, but we haven’t had anyone ready to start it up. Unfortunately, we’re all stretched a little thin. We’ll have someone contact you soon, though.
Thank you so much. The reason I’m thinking of this is because I go to an IB school and eventually I will have to do this big project where I will have to get creativity action and service hours(CAS) and I realize that many people at my school really don’t know anything about autism and how it can affect families so greatly. I don’t often share our story because I just know that some people won’t understand no matter what you tell them. People have ideas in there head of what they think autism is but don’t really know because they haven’t experienced it first hand. So if I share my story on the Internet for lots of people (more specifically teenagers) to see then they will begin to become a little bit more understanding. And also it would be great for college applications and essays but that’s not my main priority. I want to inform kids and teenagers about ASD:)
Cara, this is percolating more and more… My daughter goes to an IB school as well, and she has a friend with autism who struggles with certain things. My daughter has ADHD and struggles with OTHER things. She came with me to see the film Trace Amounts the other night and she was infuriated. She really thinks we need to get YOUNGER folks much more involved. She said, “No offense, Mom, but you guys are OLD.” 🙂
Thank you. I shared this on my FB profile page. I am involved in combatting SB 442-3 in Oregon which would remove philosophical and religious exemptions for thinking parents who either choose not to vaccinate or do not want to subject their child to the entire vaccination list, or who wish to space out the vaccinations for increase efficacy and reduced risk. It’s an uphill battle we’re fighting. It would be great if everyone would sign a federal petition to ban mandated, forced vaccines. Here it is: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/prohibit-any-laws-mandating-force-and-requirement-vaccinations-any-kind/HW1B3YKz
In addition, there is in the works a federal vaccine program for ADULTS called the National Adult Immunization Program, which would make it mandatory for adults to get booster shots and NEW vaccines that are legislated. They invite public comments until March 6. Here is the link to that: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/02/06/2015-02481/solicitation-of-written-comments-on-the-draft-national-adult-immunization-plan
If we don’t fight for our rights, who will?
Hi Yvonne, I just read the federal register document, something struck me as odd, it says “In an average year, 95 percent of the approximately 20,000 to 50,000 Americans who die as a result of vaccine-preventable disease are adults, depending on the severity of annual influenza outbreaks.” That number seems awfully high, and I don’t see a source anywhere. Does anyone know if that is true? Just curious if they are using that number to scare people…
It doesn’t surprise me, frankly, because most “vaccine preventable” diseases are pretty benign. What isn’t benign are the vaccines themselves! The adults who die of the “vaccine preventable” diseases I would be my life on are dying of the flu because they are already quite elderly and frail. Because the report references “depending on the severity of annual influenza outbreaks” I’m sure that’s what this is about. Does that help?
What should really be questioned is that number, 20,000 to 50,000, in the first place. That number is essentially based upon the number of “deaths due to influenza,” which is a very shady number, indeed. First off, the vast majority of the approximately 30,000 deaths due to influenza are NOT due to influenza, but pneumonia that is ASSUMED to be DUE to influenza. Influenza itself kills less than a 1000. That assumption is crude and, frankly, ridiculous. There are over 200 different viruses that can cause influenza or “flu-like illness.” Many of them are NOT influenza viruses in the first place, and no flu vaccine is designed to address more than 4 of them. They hope that they have targeted the ones that are the most commonly circulated, but in any given year the vaccines only cover approximately 10% of “flu-like illness.” Therefore, IF all cases of pneumonia were brought on by “flu-like illness” (they’re not), then only about 10% of those could even be considered “vaccine preventable.” http://www.cochrane.org/CD001269/ARI_vaccines-to-prevent-influenza-in-healthy-adults
Thank you for clarifying. What you say makes perfect sense. The way misinformation gets spread is that people don’t bother to question it.
The whole ‘science’ behind vaccines is questionable. Rather than ask if any vaccine is safe ask if there is any proven need to tamper with our immune system? Ask if there is any actual proof of vaccines eliminating any disease or were they introduced when the disease was disappearing naturally. Remember, you are being sold something, so it’s up to you to make an informed decision. My answer would be to just say NO, THANK YOU.
There is pretty clear evidence that at least SOME vaccines greatly reduce the incidence of acute illness, such as measles. The question to be asked is whether that avoidance of acute illness is worth the cost? For some, perhaps. But it is unlikely that it will be worth the cost to those whose immune systems cease to function well as a result.
How can I become a TMR Member?
Hi, Michelle! We don’t actually have “members.” TMR is made up of the 24 original founders. But we greatly encourage people to call themselves Thinking Moms and Dads and to hang out at our Facebook page. In addition, we’re always taking on new and different projects. What do you like to do? Maybe we can hook you up with someone doing something in your line.
Wonderful post. Lets hope the logic starts to seep through the walls of fear & ignorance. Compassion for eachother is the only way. Thank you again and again Thinking Moms!ff
What we need is a petition to mandate that every parent is given the ingredients and possible side effects of every vaccine prior to their child being vaccinated. Once read they can then make an informed decision. how do we start one?
Currently, there is a requirement that every parent receive a VIS – Vaccine Information Statement prior to child being vaccinated. These are the yellow, or pink pieces of paper you received at a well-baby visit. The issue I personally take with them is that ingredients are not listed, adverse events are listed as rare. They DO list VAERS information and National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program information though.
Terrific post. This was spoken with such love. I could feel the compassion & unity. This is a post I will try my best to memorize!
I’m not the greatest at spitting out numbers & facts regarding vaccines–I get SO nervous! But I do better at finding common grounds and this post fits me to a tee!
Thanks again to all you Thinking Mom bloggers. I have said this before…You all have such a poignant way with words and are truly an encouragement.