No more attacks
To the WCA and Dr. Rondberg: Thank you for all that you do for
principled chiropractic. We sorely need allies and like-minded people
working for and preserving our rights to practice chiropracTIC, the way it
was founded, to detect and correct subluxations.
However, I must comment on your repetitive and never-ending assault on
the ACA and pointing fingers at the "wrong-doers" and
medipractic supporters and affiliations.
By doing so, you lose credibility with the "fencesitters" in
our profession and lower yourselves.
Your influence is great, but there are A LOT of fencesitters in this
profession. From the new grads, still disillusioned by the
"system" of chiropractic education that prepares them to pass
boards, but fails to share the power of an adjustment, to the
"seasoned" doctors juggling going cash or doing "something
else" because insurance companies beat them up like Tyson in his
prime.
We do not need to hear how separate we are and fuel the fire, we need
to focus on unity. You can just as easily report on the actions and
behaviors of the ACA and the like (off the mark though they are) without
having to resort to mudslinging and playing the emotional card.
State the facts and leave it alone. Give people credit for having
common sense and seeing things as they are. Use the printed word to build
our numbers and share the "wonders of chiropractic" rather than
point fingers. Remember, when one finger is pointing out, three are
pointing back. Have a great day and thank you again.
'Nuff said
Dr. Dondee Nettles
via e-mail
(From Dr. Rondberg: I'm not quite sure which articles in The
Chiropractic Journal you interpreted as attacks. We always stick to
facts -- except, of course, in the opinion columns -- and try to explain
the issues as carefully and completely as possible.
I honestly can't recall when we have "attacked" the ACA. In
fact, we have tried to be supportive of them whenever we find ourselves in
agreement with their actions.
For instance, I donated $10,000 to the HCFA legal fund started by the
ACA -- at the time, the largest single personal contribution. In March of
this year, I noted in the Journal that "The ACA has done an
admirable job with the lawsuit ..."
Earlier this year, when we reported on the V.A. bill, TCJ noted:
"The bill was first introduced by the American Chiropractic
Association (ACA), which faced opposition from medical groups and some
veterans associations that feared the provision would raise health care
costs. The ACA successfully coordinated a massive grassroots campaign to
counter the opposition and won widespread acceptance of the proposal in
Congress."
The WCA joined the National chiropractic Leadership Forum in order to
find common ground with the ACA and work with them in unity.
In return, however, the ACA has continued to criticize and attack us.
In just the past few months, they have repeatedly accused us -- and the
International Chiropractors Association -- of breaking a so-called
"promise" to support the ACA's slate of nominees for the VA
Committee.
They labeled us a "fringe group" -- not the first time
they've used that epithet -- and blamed us for Dr. Charles DuVall's
appointment to the VA committee.
In addition, they attacked us because our International Board of
Governors voted to provide assistance in state issues, even if the
dominant -- usually ACA-led -- group opposed our involvement. The ACA went
so far as to demand that we rescind the Board's resolution!
Time and time again, the ACA has attacked, criticized, and ridiculed
the WCA and its leaders, often with articles published in Dynamic
Chiropractic. We have responded with what I think is tremendous
restraint but we can't be expected to remain silent while the ACA
continues its onslaught.
The World chiropractic Alliance was founded under the banner of
"Live and Let Live." Back in 1989, in announcing the start of
the organization, I stated: "The WCA wants to take the profession
past its adolescence of sibling rivalry to an adulthood of mutual respect
and support. We can make much more progress than we have in the past by
promoting each other in the future." (TCJ, November 1989).
We have tried to live those words ever since, despite the fact that we
came under attack almost as soon as they were uttered.
It's easy to perceive the situation in two ways, just as people look at
the world situation today and see the U.S. as the aggressor or the victim,
depending on their own point of view.
I realize many doctors read only the Journal. But those who read
other publications, particularly Dynamic Chiropractic are acutely
aware that the attacks often originate from the ACA and its allies. Our
responses are the only way we have to explain our positions to the
profession.
I will, however, add that I do not worry overly about losing support
from "fence sitters." In fact, the only way to get them off the
fence and into the wider community of involved chiropractors is to stand
up for what we believe and to speak our mind when we see something we
think hurts chiropractic. If they're going to interpret that as an
"attack," I doubt if they're going to be comfortable in the WCA!
The WCA is many things, but no one has ever accused it of being
complacent or shy about voicing opinions on chiropractic issues. That's
the only way we are going to be able to continue, as you so eloquently put
it, "working for and preserving our rights to practice chiropractic,
the way it was founded, to detect and correct subluxations.")
