U.S. apologizes for STD experiments in Guatemala
This was done in the late 1940's…but still…I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
at least we apologised and it was done with the full cooperation of the ruleing government.
No, that doesn't make it right or fair but it lessens the evil of it somewhat.
I still find it ammusing when someone waxes nostalgic about the "good" old days. They didn't seem all that good. Native indians haveing their children kidnapped and forced to be reeducated as servants, blacks not being allowed to vote or enter where they will. Women rights were nonexistant. Homosexuals were locked up in mental institutions.
Some how the "good" old days just don't seem like a place I would wanna be.
The most we can do now is whats being done,realise our mistakes as a nation, apologise and move on never to repeat the mistakes.
"The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution."
-- Hannah Arendt
"The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution."
-- Hannah Arendt
HA!!
Good point.
And what do we do?
We get the President to APOLOGIZE.
Not compensate. Not go out and contract an STD himself. Just APOLOGIZE.
...
*sigh* I love my country.
But mostly because I can't afford to move.
I don't think the current president was alive during the time period this was being done...I don't think many of the people on the boards were.
Yes, forcing the current president to contract an STD as some kind of amends does not sit well. I understand you just think more should be done than an apology.
At this point all we can do is apologize and help the country with it SDT problems, and finish the 64 year long study of course. Ya we are sorry we preformed a scientific study of STD on them and all but this is Science.
That is my conspiracy theory take, really Every country with a interested in research as done awful things in the name of science, this dose not make it right, I think Ethics before Science. I am glad that we are trying to make amends for what we did even tho 64 years have pasted.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Question is, what experiments is the US government doing today?
The US government introduced high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and is now introducing genetically modified organsims into our food. This has been turning Americans into an obese nation for quite some time. If the statistics that one-third of Americans are obese are true, that puts the number at about 100 million Americans.
Staggering.
On the other hand, the government also forces people to get vaccines, virtually eliminating diseases that used to kill millions. It subsidizes food, ensuring that Americans, who may not eat well, do get to eat. It provides defense and roads, ensures that children have health care and are not forced to work as slave labor to power our economy.
Yes, the US government has done evil, vile things but these things do not negate the good it has done, and vice versa. Let's keep things in perspective.
It isn't the fist time this happened.
Tuskegee Experiment.
Let's keep things in perspective.
I believe this is adding some perspective. It is not like they teach in highschool all the bad things our government did.
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Food companies introduced high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweetners, the government did not. Consumers introduced it into their mouths of their own accord.
Opinion statement:
Yes, consumers are partially to blame.
But with the complete flooding of the market with HFCS products, it is very difficult - and in some places impossible - to find HFCS free products while maintaining a standard, or even HFCS aware, diet.
The reason I feel this happened is that quite some time ago, the US subsidised corn growers to continue growing past the point where corn was really needed.
When this happened, it resulted in a surplus.
The surplus grew. The corn refiners made HFCS. Et voila, HFCS market flooding.
I am no expert. I cannot speak on the virtues or hazards of HFCS. But I know that it's everywhere. It's in food that didn't even HAVE sugar before HFCS gained prevalence.
Yes, we should be more aware. We should 'vote with our dollars'. But I feel it's time for big business to own up to what's come before. I think it's time to RUN LONG TERM STUDIES before pushing a product to market.
Now, this is NOT a new phenomenon. In the early 20th century, when radioactives were first discovered, we put THEM in EVERYTHING. Drinking water, children's toys, prescription medicines.
In the 19th century, it was OPIUM. They put that in everything from beverages to cough syrup for kids.
Tobacco, Asbestos, Thalidamide, Lead. The list goes on and on and on.
Long term consumer impact research is not just a good idea, it's ... well ... gorram important!
Now, one might say that we should always look before we leap. Some might say that by looking, we'd never leap. And leaping is, I will grant as true, important to development.
But still, how many products have gone to mass marketing only to be recalled for killing, maiming, sterilizing or otherwise causing harm?
That's my whole statement about HFCS, and thank you for listening. This is, again, my opinion. Nothing less, nothing more.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Let's keep things in perspective.I believe this is adding some perspective. It is not like they teach in highschool all the bad things our government did.
Very true. However, whenever you point out something terrible an entity has done, you get people voicing the opinion that because it did this thing, then it has never ever done anything worthwhile, nor is it capable of such things. The mindset boggles mine, but I see it happen a lot on messageboards.
Edit: also, you should have had American History with Barbara Ruff. It was a very nice introduction to the terrible things governments have done. She's part of the reason I love history.
Let's keep things in perspective.I believe this is adding some perspective. It is not like they teach in highschool all the bad things our government did.
I agree. It is also saying something, that this administration, did not just let it lie under the rug and 'maned' up to it and apologized.
In the long run it does two possible things. Gives people who already distrust us one more reason not too. Gives those willing to trust us another reason to if nothing else trust this particular admin.
Let us hope, and pray our Government, and others as well, have learned this lesson and learned it well, so such tragedies never happen again.
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Yes, forcing the current president to contract an STD as some kind of amends does not sit well. I understand you just think more should be done than an apology.
NOTICE: TO ALL US CITIZENS
In order to prove that String Theory invalidates Religion and Evolution, All US Citizens have been deliberately exposed to Hawking Radiation in order to generate the largest possible Test pool outcome.If at any time any of you feel that you are experiencing symptoms beyond the limit of the test criteria, you will need to drink a glass of your own Urine three times a day for the rest of your life. If excess symptoms do not alleviate themselves within the first three years of Urine consumption please notify your nearest Particle Physicist.
Doctor Smith
Department of Human Experimentation
Guatemala
NOTICE: TO ALL US CITIZENS
Do you want us to take you seriously?
And now, folks want the name changed from High Fructose Corn Syrup to "Corn Sugar." And Monsanto, among others, wants others to stop putting "No Growth Hormones" on their product, as this "unfairly stigmatizes" growth hormones. Sigh.
As far as the STD tests: I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but sometimes it is really, really hard to figure out what people were thinking. Has the world really changed so much in just over half a century, or were there just some really jerks in control at the time?
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On the other hand, the government also forces people to get vaccines, virtually eliminating diseases that used to kill millions.
Should I point out that I have always been very skeptical of the grandiose claims of what vaccines have done?
Because when billions of dollars of pharmaceutical money is on the line it isn't hard to find scientists willing to sell out to make a buck.
I realize what I am saying will sound like nonsense to most people, even though if I change the word from "vaccine" to "tobacco" suddenly everything I say becomes reasonable to everyone.
Put down the tinfoil hat and step away from the thread...
How do you explain the virtual extinction of diseases that were heavily vaccinated against (Polio, smallpox), and the fact that a vaccinated individual will not contract a disease when exposed to it after vaccination (Hep A/B, chickenpox, rabies for animals, etc.)?
The whole "vaccines are the evil work of big government and big pharma" is ridiculous and intellectualy dishonest coming from anyone who has brain capacity beyond the brain stem.
Anti-vaccine folks are getting kids killed each and every time they spread their lies, and it needs to stop.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Put down the tinfoil hat and step away from the thread...
How do you explain the virtual extinction of diseases that were heavily vaccinated against (Polio, smallpox), and the fact that a vaccinated individual will not contract a disease when exposed to it after vaccination (Hep A/B, chickenpox, rabies for animals, etc.)?
The whole "vaccines are the evil work of big government and big pharma" is ridiculous and intellectualy dishonest coming from anyone who has brain capacity beyond the brain stem.
Anti-vaccine folks are getting kids killed each and every time they spread their lies, and it needs to stop.
Amen.
And now, folks want the name changed from High Fructose Corn Syrup to "Corn Sugar." And Monsanto, among others, wants others to stop putting "No Growth Hormones" on their product, as this "unfairly stigmatizes" growth hormones. Sigh.
As far as the STD tests: I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but sometimes it is really, really hard to figure out what people were thinking. Has the world really changed so much in just over half a century, or were there just some really jerks in control at the time?
In my best and honest opinon the simple answer is YES, the world has changed "that" much in the past 50-60 yrs. It has changed because of the better ability to express ourselves with technology. Think about the way we communicate at this very momment. I'm in norfolk,VA but I express ideas with people all over the world about a shared hobby like gameing. Even phone systems didn't allow for the level of communication we have now thanks to the internet.
During the 60's it was racial equality, the 70's were womens liberation, the 80's gay rights, and so on even today. Back then the lines of communication were much less advanced and look at what was accomplished.The world is changeing because we as a planet are better able to communicate and realise were not that diffrent despite ideology or geography.
My fathers brother spent just 6 short months in jail because he bought a new gun and wanted to test it out, so instead of going to a fireing range or shooting some cans he instead shot and killed a african american man that was just walking by. My uncle didn't know him, the man was no threat to my uncle but he was there and was shot because the predominate thought in south florida at the time was a black man was worth less than a dog. My other uncle the judge of the case gave his brother 6 months in jail for fireing a gun inside city limits. The man DIED but the only charge that could be pinned on his murderer was violating a city ordinance on public safety.
Today that would cause national news and possibly even a world wide out cry for justice back then it was a minor court case that was never appealed.
I could go on but I think my answer was complete. The world has changed THAT much and thank goodness for it. I can't say I'm pleased with ALL the changes but from what I have seen we are headed in the right direction towards a truly better country and possibly a better world.
...scary story of the 'good old days'
Wow. Just, wow. Makes you wonder what we're doing now that 60 years from now will be a no-brainer for awfulness.
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My fathers brother spent just 6 short months in jail because he bought a new gun and wanted to test it out, so instead of going to a fireing range or shooting some cans he instead shot and killed a african american man that was just walking by. My uncle didn't know him, the man was no threat to my uncle but he was there and was shot because the predominate thought in south florida at the time was a black man was worth less than a dog. My other uncle the judge of the case gave his brother 6 months in jail for fireing a gun inside city limits. The man DIED but the only charge that could be pinned on his murderer was violating a city ordinance on public safety.
*blink*
WTF was wrong with people?!?!
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NOTICE: TO ALL US CITIZENS
In order to prove that String Theory invalidates Religion and Evolution, All US Citizens have been deliberately exposed to Hawking Radiation in order to generate the largest possible Test pool outcome.If at any time any of you feel that you are experiencing symptoms beyond the limit of the test criteria, you will need to drink a glass of your own Urine three times a day for the rest of your life. If excess symptoms do not alleviate themselves within the first three years of Urine consumption please notify your nearest Particle Physicist.
Doctor Smith
Department of Human Experimentation
Guatemala
Awesome! Maybe I'll get a cool mutation!
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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...scary story of the 'good old days'Wow. Just, wow. Makes you wonder what we're doing now that 60 years from now will be a no-brainer for awfulness.
Ooo! I'll start!
Listening to Jenny McCarthy for autism advice.
Banning human rights for gays.
Fighting poorly thought out wars in foreign countries.
Watching Twilight.
Supporting the Tea Party Movement.
Mullets. Still.
Reality television.
Anything I'm forgetting?
Listening to Jenny McCarthy for autism advice.
I did not know she ever gave autism advice. I can not hear her over the sound of her boobs.
Just drink your own pee like a good poodle.NOTICE: TO ALL US CITIZENS...Do you want us to take you seriously?
{farts gamma rays on the dingo}
Listening to Jenny McCarthy for autism advice.I did not know she ever gave autism advice. I can not hear her over the sound of her boobs.
Those knobs are turned all the way to 11.