Vaccines - The Stereo-type

It's been months and months since I wrote my first blog post about vaccines. I gave a rather brief preview into, what I had wanted to be, a several part series. However, every time I have sat down at the computer to write, I seem to get hit with a serious case of writer's block. Its a topic that could literally go 100 different directions. Its so controversial, and there is SOO much information and misinformation (on both sides) that it is REALLY difficult to have a conversation based on facts. There are many who claim to have “facts”, but when you discover the level of corruption surrounding vaccines and the Pharmaceutical industry, it becomes very difficult to know who you can trust to tell the truth. That being said, it is difficult to present a verifiable argument without CONCRETE evidence. The “facts” that the anti-vaccine groups publish are called lies, exaggerations, twisted truth, manipulation, conspiracies, and fear tactics by the “pro-vacciners” (pardon my made up word), and vice-verse. There is a lot of name calling and finger pointing on both sides, which accomplishes nothing. MY goal is to simply present the evidence and reasoning behind why I became an “anti-vaccine” parent, and maybe bring some things to light that you haven't thought of before. If you would like to read my previous posts on vaccines, just scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will find them.

The phrase “Anti-vaccine” sounds very extreme to many (though now more than ever I think more and more people are starting to really consider their vaccination decisions). I think when people hear that, they automatically assume that the person making that claim is out of touch, misinformed, on the “holistic bandwagon” , a conspiracy theorist, and probably a little crazy. For some reason we like to lump people into groups and make assumptions based on only a small portion of what we know about them. Now, I've always said, stereotypes are there for a reason. There is always a morsel of truth to them, but we just have to be careful how much we assume without getting the whole story.

As for me, I'm sure I could be placed in some of those categories. I AM trying to live a more holistic life, I'm not above conspiracies, and I'm sure I'm a bit crazy (what mom of small children isn't??). I also suppose I could be misinformed. I'm not so arrogant as to think that I can't “get it wrong”. And I would not consider myself to be out of touch either, but who knows, maybe I'm so out of touch that I don't even know I am! Lol ;) I don't think I fall in either of those categories though. I have studied this earnestly and with my best judgment considered all the options. I ALWAYS reserve the right to change my mind if I find new, convincing evidence that contradicts my former conclusions, and I am not too prideful to admit that I was wrong if I truly know that I was (ask my husband :) ).

When it comes to vaccines, I believe that, with the information I have RIGHT NOW, I am making the best possible choice for my family. I also think that once you start digging, if you can truly remain objective, you will see that choosing not to vaccinate is not nearly as radical as it is made to seem.

I caution you not to lump people into groups. Things are not always what they appear. There are always extremes. There are those who are blindly following the crowd on BOTH sides of this issue, but I can tell you from experience that making the choice not to vaccinate was one of the most difficult, intimidating, thought over and prayed over decisions Matt and I have ever made as parents. It is NOT something we took lightly, or did rashly out of fear. Our children's health and well-being is worth WAY too much for us to take such a decision lightly. So please don't assume that everyone who chooses not to vaccinate is “ignorant” or acting out of misplaced fear. In most cases, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. I posted an article on Facebook awhile back about the potential dangers of ingesting essential oils (not gonna get into that debate right now.... :) ) As I said before, I am trying to live a more holistic, healthy, lifestyle, so I have been learning about and using essential oils for awhile now. I really enjoy the oils, and have had great success using them for certain things topically. However, I still have many questions and doubts about taking them internally, which some major essential oils companies claim is safe. When I posted this, I had a friend, who uses and loves the oils (but disagrees with me on my stance on vaccines) say that she was surprised that I felt the way I did about ingesting the oils. Her reasoning was that because I was someone who didn't vaccinate, she assumed I would be completely on board the Essential Oils bandwagon. Basically, what she was saying is that she assumed I make decisions based on the group she lumped me in with. But I DON'T make decisions that way. Sure, I take into consideration the thoughts and opinions of those that I admire and who hold the same values as I do, but that doesn't mean that I don't do my own research or that I can't disagree. I don't assume that ANYONE knows everything. And just because they're smart, or wise, or a leader, doesn't mean they can't be wrong. I don't jump on ANY bandwagons, because “bandwagons” can quickly get off course and out of control when people begin to blindly follow a cause, even a good one.

I guess the point of this post is to encourage you in two ways.

1. Don't be a blind follower, no matter what cause it is that you believe in.
2. Be very careful with the assumptions you make about others and what they believe.
   
   
   
   
   There is so much we can learn if we truly listen and have open dialogue with each other. This shouldn't be a battle of our pride, who's right and who's wrong, but a genuine conversation out of concern for our youngest generation and how the choices we make for them today could radically be affecting their future. 
   
   
   Don't forget. Seek the truth and Speak the truth. You won't be sorry. 
   
   
   ~Carli~
   
   
   "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
   2 Timothy 1:7 

Part 1 - Vaccines: Asking the Right Questions

In my last post, I tried to give a brief intro into this topic to help you understand where I'm coming from as we begin this discussion.

It is really important to have an open mind when researching this topic. There is a ton of information, and most of what you read on one side of the debate will directly contradict what you read on the other. You must engage your ability to discern in order to decide what you will and will not believe. I found myself following these 5 simple rules when I was deciding what I would take to heart and what I would disregard in my research.

1.) Consider the source. What is their background? What do they have to gain or what do they have to lose for taking the position they are taking on the issue?

2.) Would I have any reason to believe this person or institution has the best interest of my children in mind?

3.) Would I normally disregard this information because it sounds crazy, makes me uncomfortable, or challenges me in ways I don't like? 

Those are NOT valid reasons to automatically discredit a source. If I am uncomfortable with the information for any of the above reasons, I should research it further and try to root out the truth.

4.) Just because I consider the information I find, it does not mean that I have to BELIVE it. 

Believe me, as you start reading, you are going to come across stuff that screams crazy. There is a wild range of opinions and stories and "facts" (especially on the internet). We all know if its on the internet, its true right? NOT. 
ANYWAY, what I'm trying to say it that its OKAY to read these things, as long as your brain is engaged and on guard. Don't forget that sometimes things that sound crazy end up actually being true (i.e. Noah when he preached there would be a world wide flood, Columbus when he said the world was round, the Wright Brothers when said they could fly. They were all "crazies" in their time. You get the idea.....) Use your God given sense don't believe or discredit anything right away. THINK! Then decide.

I discovered throughout this process that I have a tendency to shy away from things that I think I might not agree with. Its almost like I had a fear of changing my own mind. I guess we get comfortable with what we know, and change can be uncomfortable and require work. I think for those reasons, when I began to peel back the layers on this issue of vaccines, I would stop and be tempted to just quit. It would have been so much easier to just decide that my pediatrician knew best and I was silly to question her. I had to continue to remind myself that it was important to know the truth, and that considering information does not equate accepting it as truth. Once I have information, I have the right to do whatever I see fit with it. It is appropriate to consider it, chew on it for awhile, and then decide where it fits in the opinion I'm formulating. If it does happen to challenge me in ways that require change, then I have to be willing to “go there”. I am discovering that researching a point of view with which I may not necessarily agree is actually really beneficial. It will either open my eyes to another perspective, or it will make me stronger in my own stance because I will better understand why I believe what I believe.

5.) Become a skeptic. Ask the hard questions. Question EVERYTHING. Don't be afraid to question "authority" or the “norm”. 
I know. I sound like such a rebel right?? Lol.... Anyone who knows me can attest to how far that is from who I actually am! This is probably the hardest one for me. I am a people-pleaser. I don't like confrontation, AND I am a natural-born optimist, not a skeptic. Finding a balance between skepticism and optimism has been tough for me, but I do believe they can co-exsist. I'm getting there. :) 
This  one is so important though, because asking questions helps us to think critically about things and helps give us the information we need to make good decisions. When doctors get defensive about being asked the tough questions about vaccines, that is an automatic red flag to me. Either they aren't confident in their ability to defend their position or they don't believe they should be questioned, neither of which are good in my mind.

Putting each of these things into practice as I do my research really helps me to develop an opinion and discover, what I believe to be, the truth. I hope it helps you as well!

Thank you so much for reading. I have so much more I want to share. Stay tuned for Part 2. I would also love to hear your vaccine-related stories, if you have any!

I will leave you with the words of Pastor Bob Burney, a local pastor and radio talk show host whom I really admire.

"Listen. Think. Discern."

And remember...Seek the Truth. Speak the Truth. You won't be sorry.

( I think I'll make that my moto) :)

~Carli~

The Truth

Well, I am going to try my hand at the whole blogging thing again. I'm not sure how consistent I will be, or if anyone will even read it, but I need a place where I can write about the things that are on my heart.

I have been on a journey over the past few years to really start living my life with intention. For me, this meant that I needed to start being proactive instead of reactive. I needed to start budgeting my time and my money better instead of spending them flippantly and figuring it out later. It meant that I needed to start making conscious, educated, and thoughtful choices concerning my family's health and stop just floating along and letting others make them for me. It meant realizing that I needed to make learning a never-ending pursuit in my life. I needed to break out of the apathetic, ignorant rut I was stuck in and start really THINKING, QUESTIONING, and DECIDING things for myself. It meant pulling my head out of the sand and taking the responsibility I have as a Christian, a wife, mother, and even as a citizen of the United States of America, seriously.  No more taking things at face value and blindly trusting the motivation and intention of others. This meant seeking out the truth and being willing to really see it, even if it was ugly. No more settling for immaturity. No more settling, period. I knew that somewhere along the way I had lost my drive to DO better and to BE better, and that had to change.

So here I am, several years down the road. I have made many changes in my life and learned a WHOLE lot of things about myself and the world I'm living in, some good, and some not so good. I most certainly still have my struggles and there are many, many things that I am still working on, but I am still learning and don't plan on ever stopping.

Deciding to live with my eyes wide open has been empowering and yet scary. It feels so good to have the information I need to make good choices, but I struggle daily with maintaining balance in my life. I wrestle with questions like "How do I continue to see the good in things without allowing myself to be blind to the bad?" I am a natural born optimist. I love seeing the good in everyone and everything. I would gladly ignore and excuse every fault and flaw so I could believe that everything in life is peachy and pretty, but that is so far removed from reality. I will admit, it is difficult to see the world for the way it is and remain an optimist. It is so easy to get caught up in all the negativity and forget that God is in control. I think that's why many people avoid "the truth". No one wants to see the "ugly", even if its staring them in the face. I totally get it. We aren't called to live depressed, pessimistic, lives. No one wants to live that way or be around people who do,  but we also are not supposed to live in IGNORANCE!!!

The fact is, our world is filled with "ugly" and pretending like it is not there will not make it go away. We need to acknowledge it, face it, and defeat it with knowledge and TRUTH. The TRUTH, after all, will set us free. So that is my mission. I am on a mission for the truth. I want to learn the truth, know the truth, believe the truth, and share the truth. That is what I hope to accomplish here.

We can all be soldiers of the truth. We live in a world saturated in apathy, distraction, dissatisfaction, and deceit. It doesn't have to be that way. It's not SUPPOSED to be that way. God has called us to so much more. People are aching to live a life filled with purpose, joy, peace, and satisfaction. They are tired of being fed lies and know that there has to be something more.

Somewhere deep down, we all are drawn to the truth. It won't be handed to us on a silver platter, though. Not by the world. We have to seek it out and then we need to SHARE IT! The truth isn't always popular, but it IS always necessary, and it always wins in the end.

Seek the truth. Speak the truth. You won't be sorry.

~Carli~

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6