Feeling Pensive

I've been having a lot of negative dreams lately. One involved me hearing news of a friendish fellow dying during a surgery. I had one about my dad and him telling me something I'd not want to hear, though a part of me expects it very much. I had one where I found myself sent into the past to a part of my life which i regretted somewhat, and the first thing I thought to myself during the dream was: 'If this was not a dream, then imagine the possibilities'. However, I found myself unable to do anything but fail during that time.

In the old days, I imagine that when parents found their child had some excess or oddity of behaviour, they would do one of two things.

1) Cope adaptively and try to curb their behaviour through trial and error.
2) Beat the shit out of them until they stopped.

Today, I think we have named many of these behaviours which we perceive to be damaging or radically different from the norm. They have specific symptoms or specific roots genetically or environmentally. Scientists and doctors reacted to the specific symptoms with specific treatments.

Compared to 20 years ago, the option of beating odd behaviour out of kids is now considered barbaric, shallow, ineffective, and a method of convenience. Perhaps this is all very rightly said. With the disappearance of method 2), there is now method 3).

3) Apply tranquilizers for hyperactivity. Consume pills to restore bodily chemical imbalances.

As much as I can see, the world today places great value on precision, focused efforts, efficiency, and the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. We're finding more and more answers to the old problems and it must be admitted that in some ways, these treatments are much more convenient when compared to facing the task of disciplining a hyperactive child 55 times a day, though I dare not assert that parents choose these solutions based on how convenient it would be to them.

I guess I can't say anything concrete about the matter because:

1) I am not a parent.
2) I know very few details about complex medical treatments and procedures, nor about their effects on the patient.

I think at this point I've written a lot of something that has very little actual meaning or substance. I guess it's just to express a vague feeling of being startled at the collective confidence we are gaining in scientific answers to age old behavioral or medical problems. And then I feel stupid for having such a viewpoint because I've never had any serious medical problems to contend with. Would I really choose faith in God and everyday perseverance and regulation when presented with the second option of a surgery or pill that HAS visible and predictable effects?

http://blog.sciam.com/index.php?title=title_5&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

http://ashleytreatment.spaces.live.com/blog/

I think that the 'Pillow Angel' story is incredibly interesting. There are a lot of issues to consider and every sort of person imaginable has come forth to offer their opinions about it due to it's controversial nature and unprecedented contents. My initial feeling was one of distaste, but after reading more, I feel mixed. To sum it up:

I first disliked the idea of this Ashley's parents calling her a 'Pillow Angel'. I thought it symbolized their arrogance for their being unperturbed by the choice that they had made. Then I imagined for a moment that I was a parent who was unable to nickname my child 'Sunshine', for she would not smile or play for hours outdoors. I could not call her 'Mumblemuffin' because the sound of the word wouldn't make her giggle. Perhaps it is not so bad.



On a shorter note, I joined a church camp planning group today. Really felt... a lot of things during that short session. I guess I could learn a great many things from going into this thing that is so very much out of my comfort zone, although there is really too much I don't understand. I feel like a fish out of water there, and my ego acts up constantly.

With God, friendships, or hardships... I wonder if i will ever be able to close my eyes and walk.