angelmom
The love stays...forever in our hearts
I keep coming back to the seat belt analogy. I actually know people who STILL do not wear seat belts and are phobic about being trapped in a car. Their kids do not wear seat belts, and I have expressed my opinion very clearly. One distant cousin informed me that she only uses a carseat when she goes on the highway, and I BLASTED her. Her own grandmother threatened to call DFCS. They do not use bike helmets either because, "they're hot." 
In general, these people may not be stupid, but they are all on the less educated side and have a lot of superstitious and "I saw it in an email" beliefs. They don't believe any method of being proven wrong, even when you can show them scientific research about carseat safety, cigarette smoke linked to SIDS, or a snopes page disclaiming that the Gap is going to send them a gift card.
They cannot ride with me. I will not start my car without everyone being buckled up. I'm fine with personal beliefs, but in MY car, everyone buckles. If you don't like it, then get OUT. Most choose to buckle (large, dramatic sigh) but the dumb cousin just never gets in my car. Luckily we hardly see each other any more because that is only one of MANY dumb things she does and I don't really want her or her idiot husband or foul mouthed children around my kids.
And no one in my family would ever ride with her; I would never let her watch my kids. Hell, I wouldn't let her watch my DOG! She is the epitome of bad judgment.
And that's how I think of the government's case. They are pretty much okay with freedom of religion and everyone raising their own kids in their own way. I think that's clear since this kid has gotten to 13 without reading, and no one has come after them. But when his life is on the line, and it's something that is virtually certain to be curable, we can't just stand by and let him die. Just like the seatbelts - yes, there is probably a small chance (maybe 5% ?) that you could be trapped in the car. Yes, there is a small chance Daniel will survive without chemo. But in the face of a 90% cure rate, in the face of seatbelt safety stats, how can we stand by and watch him die???
The ironic thing is that even the people defending her would probably tell her to make sure he wears his seatbelt. Not wearing a seatbelt isn't going to kill you for sure. It might, or it might not. But there is a 95% chance that Daniel is going to die without chemo. And while chemo sucks, dying of cancer isn't pleasant either.
As for the government letting 13yos be charged as adults, we don't give them the death penalty! Some 13yos - on a case by case basis - are charged after a review shows that they acted like adults by planning and committing a heinous crime. This judge has reviewed the case and determined that Daniel is NOT thinking like an adult. He (and his mother too!) is engaging in magical thinking that he is not even sick despite all evidence to the contrary.
Besides, being old enough for one right doesn't guarantee all of them. You can vote and go off to war at 18 but not drink until you are 21. You can't smoke or drive until you are 16, but in 16 states girls can get an abortion without parental consent or notification at any age. The government has no qualms about consistency.
In general, these people may not be stupid, but they are all on the less educated side and have a lot of superstitious and "I saw it in an email" beliefs. They don't believe any method of being proven wrong, even when you can show them scientific research about carseat safety, cigarette smoke linked to SIDS, or a snopes page disclaiming that the Gap is going to send them a gift card.
They cannot ride with me. I will not start my car without everyone being buckled up. I'm fine with personal beliefs, but in MY car, everyone buckles. If you don't like it, then get OUT. Most choose to buckle (large, dramatic sigh) but the dumb cousin just never gets in my car. Luckily we hardly see each other any more because that is only one of MANY dumb things she does and I don't really want her or her idiot husband or foul mouthed children around my kids.
And no one in my family would ever ride with her; I would never let her watch my kids. Hell, I wouldn't let her watch my DOG! She is the epitome of bad judgment.
And that's how I think of the government's case. They are pretty much okay with freedom of religion and everyone raising their own kids in their own way. I think that's clear since this kid has gotten to 13 without reading, and no one has come after them. But when his life is on the line, and it's something that is virtually certain to be curable, we can't just stand by and let him die. Just like the seatbelts - yes, there is probably a small chance (maybe 5% ?) that you could be trapped in the car. Yes, there is a small chance Daniel will survive without chemo. But in the face of a 90% cure rate, in the face of seatbelt safety stats, how can we stand by and watch him die???
The ironic thing is that even the people defending her would probably tell her to make sure he wears his seatbelt. Not wearing a seatbelt isn't going to kill you for sure. It might, or it might not. But there is a 95% chance that Daniel is going to die without chemo. And while chemo sucks, dying of cancer isn't pleasant either.
As for the government letting 13yos be charged as adults, we don't give them the death penalty! Some 13yos - on a case by case basis - are charged after a review shows that they acted like adults by planning and committing a heinous crime. This judge has reviewed the case and determined that Daniel is NOT thinking like an adult. He (and his mother too!) is engaging in magical thinking that he is not even sick despite all evidence to the contrary.
Besides, being old enough for one right doesn't guarantee all of them. You can vote and go off to war at 18 but not drink until you are 21. You can't smoke or drive until you are 16, but in 16 states girls can get an abortion without parental consent or notification at any age. The government has no qualms about consistency.
