Cheer Up Charlies
Disheartened and Disillusioned
RECEIVED Mon., May 18, 2015
Dear Editor,
I've been your loyal reader, defender, and crusader since the day you were born. Little did I anticipate that the May 1, 2015, edition would become the day I became irrevocably disheartened and disillusioned with The Austin Chronicle. After reading Michael King's response to the letter to the editor written by Carol Jackson [“Chronicle Needs Health Writers,” Feedback] my jaw dropped so hard it popped. I looked back to the Staff Listing to see if his name was followed by Ph.D. or M.D. or any notation of medical studies and found none. There are so many upsetting aspects of Mr. King's response to Ms. Jackson's comments that it is hard to believe at least one thing he wrote didn't stop him short of publishing those comments ("unreasoning and unreasonable fears"?!) and lead him to reconsider his qualifications for making blanket medical statements. Does Mr. King know what does cause autism? No one does, so nothing can be ruled out. I'm wondering why we wouldn't question the safety of vaccines to the same degree as, say, the safety of car ignition switches or dog food or fluoride in our water.
The Austin Chronicle was revered by many because it reliably and refreshingly took the liberal, left-wing, defend-the-underdog approach to keeping the belly of Austin exposed for consternation. In this case, The Austin Chronicle's readers were treated to a derision of mass proportions by Michael King's comments.
After endorsing unspecified medical evidence, Mr. King continued the comment with chastisement, condescension, and dismissiveness. The crux here is that there are some very real and frightening results from vaccinations – children who literally die within an hour of receiving the "proven safe" shots. How can that be dismissed without scrutiny?
Parents have a right to get information, not propaganda. Why are newborns required to receive a hepatitis B vaccine within minutes of birth when their only means of contracting the virus are sexual contact, sharing of needles for intravenous drugs, childbirth, tattoos/piercings, or blood transfusions?
My two college-age children are current on all vaccinations and have traveled overseas, requiring some extra shots, so I have no axe to grind other than my disappointment with Mr. King and The Austin Chronicle for using your readers as doormats.
I've been your loyal reader, defender, and crusader since the day you were born. Little did I anticipate that the May 1, 2015, edition would become the day I became irrevocably disheartened and disillusioned with The Austin Chronicle. After reading Michael King's response to the letter to the editor written by Carol Jackson [“Chronicle Needs Health Writers,” Feedback] my jaw dropped so hard it popped. I looked back to the Staff Listing to see if his name was followed by Ph.D. or M.D. or any notation of medical studies and found none. There are so many upsetting aspects of Mr. King's response to Ms. Jackson's comments that it is hard to believe at least one thing he wrote didn't stop him short of publishing those comments ("unreasoning and unreasonable fears"?!) and lead him to reconsider his qualifications for making blanket medical statements. Does Mr. King know what does cause autism? No one does, so nothing can be ruled out. I'm wondering why we wouldn't question the safety of vaccines to the same degree as, say, the safety of car ignition switches or dog food or fluoride in our water.
The Austin Chronicle was revered by many because it reliably and refreshingly took the liberal, left-wing, defend-the-underdog approach to keeping the belly of Austin exposed for consternation. In this case, The Austin Chronicle's readers were treated to a derision of mass proportions by Michael King's comments.
After endorsing unspecified medical evidence, Mr. King continued the comment with chastisement, condescension, and dismissiveness. The crux here is that there are some very real and frightening results from vaccinations – children who literally die within an hour of receiving the "proven safe" shots. How can that be dismissed without scrutiny?
Parents have a right to get information, not propaganda. Why are newborns required to receive a hepatitis B vaccine within minutes of birth when their only means of contracting the virus are sexual contact, sharing of needles for intravenous drugs, childbirth, tattoos/piercings, or blood transfusions?
My two college-age children are current on all vaccinations and have traveled overseas, requiring some extra shots, so I have no axe to grind other than my disappointment with Mr. King and The Austin Chronicle for using your readers as doormats.
Leah Leissner
