Imperfect Genius

The creator of Hathor the Cow Goddess has written an excellent letter to DailyKos about five issues close to her heart (and mine). Here are they are, with an excerpt from her letter about each.

1) Homebirth …did you know that many states are making it illegal to birth other than in the hospital? …and that right now midwives are sitting in jail for midwifery, the truly oldest profession?

2) Breastfeeding …women are being charged with indecency and harassed here for breastfeeding in public… giant corporations are advertising, promoting and giving away formula…

3) Child Protective Services (CPS) …has become a government agency that will enter homes and seize children without a search warrant… many cases of children being harassed and even taken from families with alternative values…

4) Homeschooling …parents should have school choice including the right to homeschool their kids… In a free society why do we have compulsory school anyway?

5) Mercury in vaccines …did you know that many, many people think that there might be a problem with adding thimerosal to vaccines? …parents are opting out of the vaccine game, at the same time that the government is protecting pharmaceutical giants from lawsuits.

I did not have a homebirth, but I have friends who did. And one day my children may. I’d like to see that be a viable option for them fifteen, twenty years down the road. And I’ve never had dealings with CPS but I know families who have, and I think there is legitimate cause for concern about how this agency functions and the unchecked power it has.

In my not so humble opinion these are issues that everyone - not just families, not just folks of one political party or religion, not just people who make alternative educational or medical choices, but everyone - needs to be concerned about because they effect us all in one way or another.

They effect the health and wellness of our children, who are the future, the health and unity of families, who are the central unit in most societies, and the freedom for each of us to make informed, individual choices.