March 2004

Watch out! We're a dangerous bunch

by Dr. Terry A. Rondberg

Last month, I was given a rather interesting distinction. I was labeled "the most dangerous man in the chiropracTIC sect."

The person who gave me that title didn't mean it as a compliment. The rest of his lengthy tome attacked me, the World Chiropractic Alliance, The Chiropractic Journal, Chiropractic Benefit Services, and everything I am or ever have been associated with. The writer ‑‑ who won the American Chiropractic Association's "Outstanding Service to the Chiropractic Community" award in 2002 ‑‑ e‑mailed the diatribe to everyone on his mailing list (primarily, I assume, ACA members). I guess he figured I'd be outraged or insulted.

But I revel in the title. Dangerous? Hell, yes!

After all, being "dangerous" IS a compliment when used by those who oppose you and your political or moral positions.

J. Edgar Hoover once called Martin Luther King, Jr. the "most dangerous man in the America." The book titled, "The Most Dangerous Man in America" is about ‑‑ of all people ‑‑ Benjamin Franklin. (The British, I'm sure, had reason to call him that!) Mother Jones was labeled the "most dangerous woman in America" by those who wanted to stop her labor reforms, and Hitler called the 5'2" British Queen Mother "the most dangerous woman in Europe" because she was able to rally her nation to stand strong during his attacks.

It's also what many people called B.J. and D.D. Palmer. In fact, there's a great story about the time the Illinois Medical Journal branded B.J. "the most dangerous man in Iowa OUT of a prison cell." He immediately had his photo taken outside the gates of the nearest penitentiary and proudly wore the mantle of "most dangerous man" to promote his talks.

So, obviously, I'm in good company.

If I do my job right, I am dangerous to those who want chiropractic to become a form of medical therapy. H.L. Mencken said, "The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself... Almost inevitably, he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable."

That pretty much applies to chiropractic as well, especially when one organization tries to set itself up as the profession's "government."

But before all this flattery (unintentional as it was) goes to my head, I need to remember that none of the truly "dangerous" individuals stood alone. What made them effective and powerful enough to be dangerous were all the people who stood shoulder to shoulder with them. Each was a symbol of the principles they all stood for.

The Queen Mother was "dangerous" to Hitler because she was a reflection of the pride, strength and resiliency of the British people. Hitler wouldn't have feared her had she been the only dangerous person in Britain. But, in fact, Britain as a nation was a danger to him because, although peace loving, it refused to allow a tyrant to take over the world.

Of course, I am not comparing any person or organization in chiropractic to the evil Hitler and his party. That would minimize the horror of Nazism and elevate the person or organization to a level of power they ‑‑ thankfully ‑‑ do not possess. But the principle is the same.

I am "dangerous" because all those who see chiropractic as a unique, non‑medical profession are equally dangerous. We are powerful because, as a group, we refuse to allow our opponents to take over the profession. We have a clear vision of chiropractic bringing subluxation correction to millions of people around the globe, helping men, women and children live fuller and healthier lives. We dream of a time when veterans can see a chiropractor without a medical referral, of a profession where schools are free to choose their own mission, of a world where doctors aren't harassed because they refuse to buy into the medical‑pharmaceutical model.

Dreaming doesn't make us weak ‑‑ it makes us strong. "The dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible," said T.E. Lawrence and I agree with him (although I add women to that quote ‑‑ the women in the WCA are just as "dangerous" as the men).

It's interesting also that being dangerous actually implies power. How can a group be dangerous if they aren't powerful enough to pose a threat? That's the inconsistency that plagued my attacker's recent harangue. He kept saying that I ‑‑ and by association, the subluxation‑based chiropractic community ‑‑ was "dangerous" but tried to argue that we were also so small and ineffective that we should either be dismissed as irrelevant or squashed like an annoying gnat.

You can't have it both ways. We are dangerous AND effective ‑‑ a truly scary combination for those who want chiropractors to pose as medical doctors who practice full‑body diagnosis and treatment of disease.

And we're proud of it! As you can see on the next page, there are a lot of dangerous people in this profession. When I announced my "most dangerous man" award, I received more than 1,000 responses from around the world.

I'm glad they're all my friends and colleagues. They would make formidable enemies. Which may be a good thing for others to keep in mind.