1. This deadly religious resistance to vaccinations

Comment #97357 by coquese on December 12, 2007 at 12:12 am

In answer to Slyer's post regarding smallpox:

"Do we still get vaccinated for it? I don't know."

The CDC has millions of smallpox vaccination doses on hand from the 1970s, but the average person is no longer vaccinated for it, unless they fall into a high risk group (such as military personnel in some cases). The argument for not destroying our smallpox store in the US is that Russia (and Iraq and North Korea) are known to have their own supplies (in differing degrees of weaponization). Interestingly, North Korea has carried out a smallpox vaccination program in recent years.

Our national herd immunity in the US is about 18%. There are contraindications for smallpox vaccination because complications can occur. But as with any vaccine, when legitimate contraindications are not present, there is risk involved for both the individual and other contacts in opting not to be vaccinated.

2. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #93492 by coquese on December 3, 2007 at 9:20 am

Islam means submission (to the will of Allah). The root of the word Islam, s-l-m, is the same root in the word salaam, meaning peace. They share the same root; the concepts of peace and submission are meant to be related.

People do commonly believe Islam means peace, so I think she was right to address that claim directly, whether or not it's completely accurate.