ILLNESSES

There's a disturbing trend in our country. It has to do with hysteria about the "illness du jour". Today it happens to be the measles. Next week - who knows.

I'm going to relate a story to both of my readers. It's true and factual, every word of it. I'm relating this story at this point in time because all of the instigators to whom I herein refer are no longer living and, therefore, cannot be prosecuted.

Let's rewind the clock to the early 1950's. The moms in our neighborhood were a very close-knit and smart group of women who often consulted among themselves regarding child upbringing and other marital-parental issues. One issue that reared its head from time to time was that of illnesses. Back then there were "the big four": measles, German measles, mumps and chicken pox. The women decided that it was a good idea, however miserable, to let their collective group of children get these diseases when the opportunity arose and "get it over with" when the kids were very young.

Inevitably, one of the toddlers in the group would get one of "the big four". Phones would start ringing in the neighborhood and arrangements would be made to have a small party for the kids. All of us kids would be assembled in a room and did what kids do - played, grabbed at each other, laughed, hugged and interacted.

Within a week, all of us had contracted the illness in question.

This scenario repeated itself with the inevitable appearance of the next of "the big four". Not surprisingly, I remember neither the children's parties nor the illnesses which were the result of them. All I know is that, through the collective wisdom of these remarkable moms, we acquired an early immunity to these illnesses at a very early age and were spared the discomfort of them in our later years.

I often wonder what would happen today if the authorities discovered that a group of moms were collectively conspiring to needlessly expose their children to the harmful effects of dangerous illnesses. There would certainly be inquiries and investigations involving Departments of Health, physicians and nurses, child welfare and law enforcement. The U.S. Constitution would certainly be invoked. The Supreme Court would weigh in on the matter. Liberal politicians would say that it is a case of individual freedom; conservatives would cite opposition on religious grounds.

Today, whether or not there is any merit to the arguments generated by those involved, they lack the foresight and wisdom of the remarkable, pragmatic, caring and wise women of our simple neighborhood.


Readers, enjoy your day.