The Sheer Idiocy of it All
By Keiti | May 22, 2008
I’m not sure if I’m just being overly cranky this week or if there has simply been a rash of news articles that highlight the asinine.
Today’s lunacy hails from Boston in the form of a pediatric specialist, Dr. Norman Spack who has started a clinic at Children’s Hospital Boston for transgendered children.
When I first glimpse the title of the article (which I don’t remember, but I think it merely said something along the lines of Doctor Starts Clinic for Transgender Children) I was thrilled. I’ve been interested in the subject of transgender issues since I was a junior in high school and even though I don’t know them first hand, I am aware of the struggles that can affect the transgendered.
That initial sense of thrill turned to horror, however, when I read the full article and realized that Dr. Spack was offering children as young as seven-years-old drugs to stop the onset of puberty as well as offering hormone therapy to teenagers.
WTF?
Why is it that this country is so intent on shoving meds down kid’s throats at the slightest provacation? I’m not saying that medicines don’t have their place and can’t do a world of good, but we’re talking about treatments that alter the course of a child’s body chemistry and cause irrevocable changes - no child is capable of making such a life-altering decision - they simply don’t have the mental capacity to fully understand the repercussions. A teenager is one thing - I’m willing to concede that some may be mature enough - but a seven-year-old? I don’t think so, even with parental consent.
Dr. Spack states that the treatment is worth it as it decreases the number of suicides of transgendered children. I’ve got a novel idea for you, Dr. Spack: Instead of automatically shoving a pill down a child’s throat, you should be working with therapists to help the children accept themselves and understand that they are eloquently who they’re supposed to be; that there is light at the end of the tunnel when they’re physically and emotionally ready. I’m not against gender reassignment, but even adults have to go through the therapy process before they can even begin hormone treatment.
Perhaps after I’ve had some additional time to mull things over I may alter my position, but for now there’s just something inherently wrong with this.
Topics: Misfit Hall of Shame |
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 am
If my parents tapped me on the head with a magic wand when I was 7 years old so that I’d become whatever I thought I wanted to be at that point in my life, I would currently be a farmer, a truck driver, a priest, a person that makes marbles (don’t ask), or whatever else the flavor of the week was for a 7 year old.
Either way, I’m glad they didn’t, I’m kind of happy with the way things turned out on their own.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 am
I’m sure you’re going to tell me the story of your wanting to make marbles…
It’s a little bit different with transgender children - from what I understand, the feeling of being a different gender than the one you were born as makes itself very apparent very early. But obviously I agree that children need to have time to grow up and understand the consequences (good and bad) of their decision.
Were you actually at work today?
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 am
Yes, i was in a technical writing class all day, and will be all day tomorrow too…
The instructor has some serious dislike for sales people (what I used to do) because apparently they “already know how to write well” or something like that…I haven’t told her that my mom was an English teacher for 35 years too…might be too hard for her to take.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 am
I’m totally jealous you were in a technical writing class all day. Do they give you handouts or whatever you’ll share with me?
Oh…and where’s my mac & cheese?
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 am
They should just give the kids garlic…
I don’t know if one can prepare ‘pink’ kids for a world that only acknowledges and respects and belongs to ‘blue’ people. Life is not a place of equilibrium.
I remember a kid in my grade school that used to wear his sister’s dresses. He’d sneak them in his school bag and put them on once he got there. The family just disappeared one day - I’d imagine they couldn’t take the humiliation of their seven year old identifying with girls. On a similar note, us whiteys have a hard time understanding minority issues… but the question follows ‘do we really need to understand?’ It’s nice being in the Villa and not out in the fields. Although having an ‘economic morality’ demands equal purchasing power for everyone - black, white, hispanic, asian transgender, no-gender and gender benders - we should try and get a law passed that says ‘as long as they dont’t tell fairies or confused fairies should be allowed to buy whatever they want…
Have you ever looked into the Native American history of transgenders. Most American Indians have now adopted European ethics but I guess before the puritanical ideologies set in, cross-dressers were spiritual-go-betweens for most tribes and were revered.
The world needs Big Gay Al’s Rainbow Farm - did you ever see those episodes of South Park? They really made me laugh.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Keith,
I don’t have to sort out or fully understand transgender issues to accept and appreciate their struggles - nor do I have a problem with transgendered human beings. My issue is treating children with drugs at a very young age NOT that the child is transgendered.
I don’t know much about the Native American history of transgenders, but it’ll be interesting to check out.
I did so those episodes of South Park - Most episodes of South Park make me giggle.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:17 am
It’s just strange that we always view something different as a problem instead of the problem being the way in which we view something… and I think this is where we agree that the idea of drugs being a solution is not a solution. That’s why garlic cures… as does Tequila.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:18 am
I say ‘we’ as in ‘Americans’ - myself included.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
And I think it’s strange that someone would paint an entire group of people with a very broad brush.
Yes, we do agree that the idea of drugs being a solution, isn’t.
But it’s never a good idea to make blanket statements.
And Tequila could be classified as a drug when used as such which pretty much negates your position.
You going to send me an email or what?
