The rabid Republican fringe, usually called “the right,” is now being
renamed “the wrong” by me. Words are important and we could all benefit by rethinking the usual terminology and using more accurate terminology.
The “wrong” is always screaming about something, lately screaming that medical treatment for transgender children is “child abuse.” Really?
At the same time, “the wrong” is screaming about “parental rights” regarding what concepts their children are taught in school — they don’t want kids to learn anything about sex, gender, racism, or the Holocaust.
What is “the wrong’s” solution? To make teaching certain educational and scientific concepts illegal under the rubic of “parental rights,” and to make giving appropriate health care to transgender kids illegal. That is child abuse.
Somehow, parents have the “right” to deny their children the benefits of education, but not the right to choose medical treatment for their children. Medical treatment is about health. it is blatant child abuse to deny parents their right to give their children appropriate health care.
The right to health is relevant to all states: every state has ratified at least one international human rights treaty recognizing the right to health. Moreover, states have committed themselves to protecting this right through international declarations, domestic legislation and policies, and at international conferences.
“The Wrong” has been around for too long. You would think that after all this time they would have figured out how to make their propaganda consistent. But that would be asking a lot. Maybe they need to go back to school to learn basic logic. that is, if their parents allow it.
Jeannette Muzima
Northampton