Truemors
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Jehovah's Witnesses, we have all seen them on street corners passively passing out the "WatchTower" to pedestrians. They are hard to miss, with their button down suits and permanent smiles, smiles that look as if someone stuck an "Upside Down Coathanger" in their mouth.
Jehovahs have always been at odds against the Government who interfere with their wishes to avoid Blood Transfusions at all costs, even if it means the death of their children. Certainly a moral quandary, where Life is paramount, but Jehovah's place religion "Higher than Life" it seems.
The Governments arguement is that they speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, namely children, as minors may not realise the consequences of their actions beliveing their religion will save them. The cemetary is full of religious believers who felt that Religion over Medicine was their ticket to life.
When Aids reared it's ugly head in the early 1980's , Jehovah Witnesses warned of the impending Apocolypse and smug in their beliefs Aids is transmitted through Blood and Bodily Fluids seem to have court advantage, as their 2,000 year old Ancient Gospel had warned of this plague.
The one positive side in all this are medical advances made in Bloodless Surgery, which due in part to Jehovahs witnesses reluctance to have Blood Transfusions has forced the Medical Community to come up with alternatives, which they have and thus Blood Transfusions for the most part are not necessary.
Perhaps one day, hopefully soon, Jehovah's Witnesses will abandon their ridiculous belief that God opposes blood transfusions.
Until then, it's up to the state to continue to protect minors who need medical treatment from the religious beliefs of their parents and religious leaders.
Every so often, you hear of minors who refuse blood transfusions because they've been led to believe that a practising Jehovah's Witness would never undergo such a procedure. Inevitably, the government steps in and ensures the treatment goes ahead.
The rationale behind the state's involvement is simple and necessary. Saving the lives of children is more important than bowing to the senseless and potentially damaging dictates of religion.
This week, the Supreme Court of Canada heard the case of a former Winnipeg teen who was given a blood transfusion against her will in 2006 when she was 14.
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the teen compared the experience to "being raped and violated." Her reaction is undoubtedly heartfelt, but it underscores the necessity of promoting the best interests of children in such circumstances.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 15:17 on June 27th, 2009
Whoever wrote this is very cruel!! I am a witness!! How dare you talk bad about our beliefs online!!!!!! What we believe we will never change. We believe what we believe because we think its right. If you don't fine. But don't mock us in such a childish way!!!!!
at 15:19 on June 27th, 2009
I agree with Rosalie. I am also a witness. Our beliefs are not ridiculous and its rude for you to say so. And God does oppose blood transfusions!!!!!
at 15:21 on June 27th, 2009
I agree with Rosalie. I am also a witness. How dare you say our beliefs are ridiculous!!!!!! How very rude!!!!! And God does oppose blood transfusions!!!!!
at 16:09 on June 28th, 2009
It is, without a doubt, a touchy subject. Ultimately, all of us are opinionated, and all of us have, in essence, good reasons for our opinions. I could look at the world today, see the senseless violence within individual groups (whether religious or nationalistic) rising against one another and trying so very hard to convince others that they are right. It always seems to come down to that, doesn't it? Right vs wrong. Good vs bad. What civilized people do, and what they don't do. Jesus Christ believed he was the son of God; The Creator of this perfectly designed world we live in. Jesus Christ gave his life because of this belief. Many thought he was lying, many thought he was wrong, or crazy, and many expressed how they felt back then like many do now. And what about all the early Christian congregations, also eagerly dying because of what Jesus Christ taught. There was, quite obviously, something more important than life, a belief more ridiculous now than ever before... We see it in our times now with blood transfusions (although let's try not to be too over-dramatic here, because it happens, yes, the refusal of blood sometimes ends in death, but, for instance, the most recent wars killed more civilians, more children in a single blow) that some are still prepared to give there lives for what they believe, like those earlier Christian congregations, like the witnesses who willingly shared the concentration camps with the Jews. The witnesses in the above comments, they are offended by the almost tongue in cheek and seemingly careless comments, not to mention the cartoon... Mainly because it is a touchy subject, a sad subject. But perhaps, and again we are at this undying t-junction, right vs wrong, but perhaps to say somebody else is wrong in what they believe, they have to be more than human, and we are all aware of that deep down.
As for that cartoon, the only thing funny about it is that only those ignorant about what the witnesses believe will laugh.
In conclusion, for you to fully understand the seriousness involved in the government or supreme courts etc making decisions for you, for your children..., wait until they tell you that you can't go to your church anymore (or, in the case of atheist's, wait until they make a law that you must go to church) or that mourning the death of a loved one is illegal, or you are ordered to never sing another gospel song, or to go against any belief you have for that matter, may it be religious or personal. Of course, as we head deeper into a very wicked world indeed, belief is being murdered day by day, and a person without belief is dead already. That is, not to stick to any belief just because... No, we should never believe just because... But to completely understand why you believe something, and then stick to it.