Fair readers, I must bid this page adieu for a time. Negotiations with the Ockhamist have occured with the result that I will now be contributing directly to Ockhamism in a Real World. You can find my posts there, in characteristic Blandus Blue. Jake runs one of the most entertaining and interesting blogs I know. It is my favorite site and I am honored to be invited to take part in the growing Nominalist enterprise. I'll keep the site up for awhile, until we see if the trial arrangement will become permanent. Thanks.
A disturbing new trend in the fight of the baby killers is developing. The tools are the FDA and regulations regarding medical use of ultrasound equipment. The instigators are various abortion groups and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM).
The AIUM has been provoking the FDA into investigating and shutting down so-called Fetal Foto Boutiques. These are places where pregnant women can go to get 3-D and 4-D pictures and videos of their unborn child in special frames and keepsake ornaments. Some of these baby photo studios have been reported to use the ultrasound machines on higher energy exposures for as long as an hour to get the pictures. Although nothing has ever been proven, this is potentially harmful to the child and should not be practiced.
The official stance of the AIUM regarding the use of ultrasound technology is thus:
The AIUM advocates the responsible use of diagnostic ultrasound. The AIUM strongly discourages the non-medical use of ultrasound for psychosocial or entertainment purposes. The use of either 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound to only view the fetus, obtain a picture of the fetus or determine the fetal gender without a medical indication is inappropriate and contrary to responsible medical practice.Everyone can agree that it is probably bad to have long-exposure high-energy ultrasounds on little babies, right? Isn’t it great that we have an agency like the FDA to protect us from those who would put us in harm’s way for a profit? No one really likes those cutesy strip-mall boutiques anyway, right?
Ahhhh, that’s what the baby killers would like you to think. Under the cover of “consumer protection” they move to restrict access to the truth about abortion.
You see, the key word in the AIUM’s statement is psychosocial. According to these experts, use of the ultrasound purely for informational or educational purposes – even if used correctly and under the supervision of a physician – is inappropriate and contrary to responsible medical practice. This means that the official stance of the organization is that ultrasound machines may not be used in crisis pregnancy centers. The statement effectively moves the caring practice of the physicians at these centers outside the realm of acceptable medicine.
Before you think I am reading too much into this, here is a quote from a recent president of the AIUM, the very active L.A. doctor Lawrence Platt. Dr. Platt was interviewed by NPR recently and was asked about how the FDA’s new aggressive stance should apply to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers. He said,
"I think that to use the equipment in this way is similarly a misuse of technology. To provide information is certainly appropriate, but to use it to sway one’s decision and impact someone’s rights, I think, is the wrong way to use this technology."Apparently, Dr. Platt believes that if you have a "right", then you must immediately exercise it without discretion or evaluation of evidence. There also seems to be the idea that the purpose of a medical faculty is to suppress all information that runs contrary to his private non-medically informed sociopolitical vision. Generally, people believe that medical associations are about organizing and presenting medical facts. In reality, they are political institutions bent on achieving their own ends. The effects of sin cannot be regulated though extensive education. Doctors, as much as anyone, are corrupted by sin and may skew advice for selfish ambition. There is no true objectivity.
The most obvious factual statement is that abortion is always more harmful to a baby fetus than any level of ultrasound. This is so obvious that we should not assume that Dr. Platt and others like him at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine do not recognize it. This medical body has taken a political stand in favor of those who would promote violence against unborn children and actively work to suppress the efforts of those who have a different point of view. The culture war touches every soul and every organization is affected. If you know someone who belongs to the AIUM, encourage them to take a stand against the leadership that seeks to kill children – and remove psychosocial from the official position statement.
I have been very excited about the prospects of teaching my son what he needs to know about life and God and everything. Training him up in the way he should go and all that. I was unprepared for how much he was going to teach me.
Yesterday, I had morning kid duty to let the Regina sleep in a little. When Regis woke up I welcomed his little 4 month old self to a new day and smiled and made several of his favorite little noises. I love the bond that is developing between the boy and me. He hears my voice and smiles and laughs. He sees my face and diverts attention from everyone else (even his own mother!) to smile at me. But, he changes so quickly. I try to spend some time devoted exclusively to him everyday - so that our relationship is strong, so that he will trust my words when he is older, so that he will always know that he can come to me for safety, shelter, help, and love.
Anyway, I took him over to the rocking chair and turned on the small Tiffany lamp we have there. I proceeded to bounce, sing, and play with the boy - but he was more interested in the bauble with the colored lights than with dear old Dad. I knew that this would be the only good time we had to spend together that day, so I turned off the light so as to get his attention focused on our time together.
As I did so, he turned around in confusion. "Why did that light go off?" his expression seemed to say. Then his gaze fell upon me and he smiled and we played together and it was good.
At the risk of being too sappy....I thought how God reacts as our Heavenly Father sometimes. I think of all the times I have been focused on some pretty bauble - electronics, increased social circle, sex, career achievement, whatever - to a degree that my priorities were skewed. I think of how mad I was when these things were taken away or became unachievable. I think of how mad I was at God that I could not live the life I wanted to live. Then I think of how important and special it was for me to spend time with my little boy. For my own enjoyment, yes, but more so for the benefits to him and his future. I think of how I turned off the light so that he would focus on me.
I am glad and humbled that God cares enough for me to turn off the light of my baubles every now and again - so that I can refocus on the privilege and pleasure of knowing and being in a right relationship with him. Praise be to God Almighty, our Father in Heaven. Amen.
When President Bush visitied Louisville a few months ago for a $1,000 a plate luncheon fundraiser, many people stood outside the restaurant and protested. The local news did not cover the fundraiser, but did cover the "story" of the protestors. The protestors said, "A thousand dollars would feed a lot of hungry people in Louisville."
Last night, John Kerry held a $1,000 a plate dinner fundraiser in Louisville. The local news covered the fundraiser, but protestors were nowhere to be seen. Maybe the protestors all got jobs as the economy recovers and could no longer spend their days holding up posterboard signs. Maybe they only oppose $1,000 lunches and not $1,000 dinners. Maybe they all work night shift and so couldn't make the protest last night. Maybe they are willing to bastardize their beliefs for quick political gain. Maybe they just displayed the worst of political rancor by making up something for cheap political shots at Bush. Maybe they were at Kerry's dinner living their convictions and the media just didn't give them the face time. Maybe you just can't trust anything a liberal says. Maybe the media believe they are objective. Maybe definitions and ideals really don't mean much anymore. Maybe this country is as screwed up as the liberals claim. Maybe they are right. Maybe they should leave. Europe is opening borders like never before. I bet they would be more comfortable there. Viva' la Kerrie!