Dear Doctor,
When people differ with my opinion about something, I feel strongly that they are as entitled to their position as I am to mine. As such, I regard the comments of Dr. JC Smith in his recent ecolumn "Boycott Evil Vendors -- Killer Subluxations or Killer Chiropractors" completely within his rights to publish. It is an editorial column, espousing his point of view, as I use my editorial column to promote my own perspectives. To me, this is the essence of free speech -- he can say what he likes. Yet there is an unwritten etiquette to differing with someone in print, all too often forgotten among chiropractic journalists.
It seems that he took exception to some of my remarks about Dr. Tedd Koren -- no, actually he called them "incredibly stupid." Then, he used a heartbreaking story about an unfortunate patient to somehow justify boycotting anyone who differed with his viewpoint, including as diverse chiropractic entities as the ICA, The Masters Circle, CLA, Don Harrison, Life University, and The Chiropractic Journal, instead recommending the ACA and WFC. He even went so far as to state "Don't attend Dennis Perman's seminar...his endorsement of Koren...fuels dissension among our troops."
I wonder if Dr. Smith realizes the degree of support The Masters Circle has thrown behind causes he holds dear -- maybe he should ask the ACA leadership about it. Warning people away from The Masters Circle damages his interests -- and other interests we support, not related to political ties, but rather based on the value to our profession's future. It is this freedom from imposed ideology that allows us to clearly see all sides, and work toward unifying the varying factions, to benefit the patient.
And as far as my positions creating dissension, is he kidding? I've been working toward unity for years, but not a purified, one-size-fits-all, my-way-is-right-and-your-way-is-wrong kind of unity -- I'm talking about the real stuff, which allows the Tedd Korens and the JC Smiths and everyone in between the right to be heard, without some bully trying to get people not to investigate for themselves. Put the messages out, and let the people decide -- that is the American way, and it's worked well so far. If they're really so bad, the marketplace will prove it, as it always does.
I respect anyone's right to express an opinion, and when it differs from mine, I reserve the right to say so. If JC Smith's facts about The Masters Circle's support of ACA causes and about me being some kind of disunifying agent in the profession are inaccurate, I wonder what else he is mistaken about, regardless of his passion? I realize that some of his writing is tongue-in-cheek, but I think it's over the line to call me evil and stupid and to attack a vast array of chiropractic luminaries who happen to disagree with his positions. I can't think of anyone in chiropractic I agree with all the time, and I agree with almost everyone sometimes. It isn't as black and white as Dr. Smith would have us think, to stop supporting everything except what he likes -- there's too much overlap, and it would hurt everyone.
Rather, on this point I take the exact opposite position -- I relish the diversity in chiropractic, and the pioneering spirit that makes us so unique. I say, don't boycott anything! Try everything, and decide for yourself what works for you. That is the adventure of humanity, and in microcosm, of chiropractic practice -- freedom of choice. Please exercise it, and live your own dream, not someone else's.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
PS Please join us at our third quarter seminar in Chicago 7/16-17, in SF 8/6-7, and in NJ 8/27-28. To register, please visit themasterscircle.com, or just call 800-451-4514. Thank you!
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