Commentaries

May 27, 2009

 Commentaries is where Minnesota Public Radio welcomes your thoughtful opinion about current events and issues. Commentaries are like letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, your commentary should be issue-related, clearly written, and follow our Terms of Use. New insights into ongoing topics are especially welcome. Not all commentaries received are published. For topical interaction with others, visit the discussion groups.

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Why not legalize medical marijuana?

What is Pawlenty thinking? [MPR News: Pawlenty vetoes medical marijuana, signs seat belt and legacy amendment bills]If the governor of Minnesota is sympathetic to people who are dying, why not legalize medical marijuana? If it is because the federal gov't wont have a say in it, then that is an ignorant statement. What about states' rights? What about those terminally ill patients who are dying as I type this? How will they enjoy these outdoors and arts activities?

I know that if I was dying - let me repeat this, dying, on my deathbed, kicking the bucket, buying the farm - what damage could a joint possibly do to me? Can anyone answer that? Better yet, can the governor himself answer that? That's right, I'm calling out the governor, and his bluffs.

Jay Dee
Gainesville, Ga.


Chemo v. Alternatives / Family v. Child Protective Services

We should not use the law to enforce the use of chemotherapy, ever. There are many treatments to choose from and we should always have the right to choose.

Mrs. Hauser is not out in the desert somewhere praying over Danny's lifeless body. She is actively seeking treatment for her son. I am hoping the best for the Hauser family. I don't want to see them divided by social services.

Social services cannot guarantee the safety of children in state care. Until they can, no mandated reporter, in good conscience, should ever report a family. Children are murdered in foster care. We are taking children away from loving parents and placing them in harm's way in state care. We need to eradicate our child protective services and let the police handle reports of crimes against children and other vulnerable citizens. In a case like this the non-crime is a treatment that is not FDA approved. What if the treatment works? What will doctor's have to say then?

As scientists, doctor's should be open to researching new methods of treatment. Scientists already know the benefits of good nutrition on the immune system. The kind of treatment the Hausers are searching for uses massive doses of pure nutrients from organic foods consumed in the form of fresh juices, fruits, vegetables, grains, plus supplements, injections and enemas to strengthen the immune system and vital organs so that the body can function optimally to fight disease.

I hope law enforcement leaves them alone until they finish treatment and I hope that when they return, they are shown the compassion and dignity they deserve by our medical community, not ripped apart by a social services agency eager to collect the funding that comes with each child taken into "protective" custody.

J. Holderbaum
Minneapolis, Minn.


Forced medication

Why is the government involved in this family's decision in the first place? It's not as though the parents have not considered what is best for their child. [MPR Your Voice Commentary: I support Colleen Hauser]

Some alternative therapies have proven to be just as effective as conventional treatment. I watched my uncle die from cancer and my son had to watch his best friend (then 13) die from cancer also.

My uncle and my son's friend were very sick, lost all their hair, risked dying from another infection daily because of the effects of chemo. These parents are not medically neglecting their child. Why don't the government get their noses out of places they do not belong, and work on the economy.

I do not know this family at all, I just know that I will not have the government making my decisions for me or my children on which course of action I choose to follow with my health.

De Dennett
Cartersville, Ga.


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