Mime-Version: |
1.0 |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Sat, 17 Jun 2006 16:30:22 -0400 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain |
Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
quoted-printable |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Dear all:
I want to reiterate something I have stated before. I have learned the most from those who have
very different views from myself. I feel this needs to be reiterated, because I was sent an email
that I found profoundly disturbing even though it was politely worded.
Some examples:
When I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I had to adapt from being an almost complete
vegetarian to eating things that would make me a sure beat for not flinching at anything they
might offer up on the Survivor show. I learned to eat virtually anything that was offered to me and
realized I would literally starve if I did not. Only one person managed to maintain their
vegetarianism in this culture --- a 6 foot tall guy who was quite fit when he arrived. He returned
home a mere skeleton at 108 pounds because there simply was not enough vegetable sources of
protein and variety in the vegetables to keep him in good health. So, when I first heard about all
the concerns about food allergies whlle breastfeeding, I considered this a first world problem of
the lucky affluent who had the luxury of eating a variety of foods instead of what was available
and thought it was mostly in their heads. Basically, I labeled it first world pain of the sort that I
listened to when the nursery school moms would complain about the trauma of having to remodel
their kitchen cabinets because the recyling and the garbage bags wouldn't fit in the same bin (I kid
you not).
Fortunately, I had someone with a very different viewpoint provide me with wonderful information
that changed my views on the reality of food allergies. That was Lisa Marasco. I'm sure had I
talked to other former Peace Corps volunteers like myself I could have marshalled up a myriad of
people who would have happily supported my former position that food allergies were a first
world myth. Never once did I consider writing her to tell her that she shouldn't post about food
allergies just because, at the time, I thought it was a whole lot of hooey. I read. I learned.
Similarly, I am grateful to Valerie McClain. I'm sure if you search the archives you can read some
exchanges between she and I that show that were had very different visions as to genetically
modified substances in breast milk and patenting of the components of human milk. I worked for
Calgene for about four months because my undergraduate degree was in genetic engineering.
Initially I found the field exciting because I was on the cutting edge. By the time I worked at
Calgene my experience in developing countries made me recognize that finding the perfect crop
plant was a ridiculously simplistic way of curing the world's hunger problems and ignored the root
cause which was the socioeconomic structures that allow for terrible inequities in food
distribution. It was not untll all sorts of Lactnet postings by Valerie McClain that I started to
understand that there are enormous ethical issues involved. Had I just consulted with my former
colleagues that were genetic engineers, they certainly would have supported my mind set of the
time. Never once did I consider emailing her to tell her she should not post on Lactnet because I
disagreed with her positions. I read. I learned.
I even had items of my writing pulled completely out of context in a way that dramatically changed
the intent of what I was said in my full posting. I could have written and told her she should never
post such things again. But who among us has not read part of someone elses posting and
missed some crucial point that changed the context? I merely explained what the intent of my pst
was and asked her to reread it. Even though she completely disagreed with me, I actually
complemented her on some other things that she had posted that I found useful. I did not email
her to say she should stop posting because we disagree on a particular issue. She has a right to
disagree with me and reading her posts educates me about a different opinion.
If someone disagrees with me that is fine. I enjoy such discussions when they are not personal
attacks and can recover even when the discussions get heated enough that they may feel that way
to me. But to suggest that if my opinions differs from yours, I should not post my opinions is
purely and simply censorship. Even if you say it in a sugar coated "nice" way, it basically is telling
someone to shut up because you don't like what they are saying. It smacks of the type of
censorship that is happening in the US right now aroudn such issues as formula. Because the
formula industry doesn't like the fact that we are calling attention to the increased risk of death
and disease they have used high pressure tactics to remove it from US government websites and
threatened employees of the government and even succeeded in getting them fired. While
emailing someone is still a long way away from the same level of censorship, it is but a small step
down the same slippery slope.
Best regards, Susan Burger
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|