Philosophy

Focusing on the Issues

Lessons from the Mercy Conference
Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher

It is truly unfortunate that the Mercy Conference was not televised for all of the chiropractic profession to watch. If it had been, you would have seen some of the most passionate arguments ever to grace your television. You also would have witnessed these sometimes loud discussions and seen the mutual respect that was always held between participants.

Everyone was there to debate the issues, not each other.

Please read Dr. Joe Keating's article on page 42 of this issue. You will notice that Dr. Keating is in sharp disagreement with the content of my column in the November 6th issue. This may surprise you, but it illustrates a point: Every opinion in the chiropractic profession needs to be stated.

When you consider your own opinion on an issue, you do so many times in contrast with differing opinions. How you disagree with someone else helps you to clarify your own thoughts.

This is exactly the reason why Fred Barge, D.C., and Joseph Keating, Ph.D. have alternating columns in this publication. These two esteemed authors serve as vanishing points for the vast majority of the profession.

The issue is not the opinions expressed in this publication. The most important point is that all opinions are able to be expressed.

Obviously, irresponsible statements which are fraudulent or untrue cannot be published. But in order for Dynamic Chiropractic to be a true forum for the chiropractic profession, you will need to expect to read articles you don't agree with.

And, when you do read an article contrary to your viewpoint, you are encouraged to write a letter of rebuttal.

It is not always possible to make every article totally issue oriented. People and organizations take actions that impact this profession; the names and events must be recounted if the reader is to understand what is happening and how it affects chiropractic. All sides must be presented. An attempt must be made to interview everyone involved, then let the reader form an opinion on the issues at hand.

With this issue, Dynamic Chiropractic will have completed 10 years of service to the chiropractic profession. If you have agreed with everything you read, we have failed. But if you are challenged by the new ideas presented and are well informed, we are doing our job. If you are able to recognize how this affects our profession and you as an individual chiropractor, then we are succeeding.

As always, we look forward to your input. This is your forum: use it to make us the best chiropractic profession we can possibly be.

DMP Jr., B.S., HCD(hc)

June 1994
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