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Monday, January 17, 2011

Marin Luther King Day: Chiropractic, Racism Tolerance

Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of judging people "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." I propose that we consider judging a doctor, or a whole health care system, by results and by risk/benefit ratio, rather than by "the color" of their professional designation or their general societal acceptance, or lack thereof.

Is lack of reason involved, to the point of hatred? You betcha! Just look at the recent vicious attacks upon myself and Chiropractic in the pages of the Pacific Sun. Some people are afraid to come here, to get well, because of the hatred that their spouse has for Chiropractic. I've seen the blind hatred in the court system, in which judges automatically consider whatever a chiropractor does to be nonsense, if not out-and-out sleazy.

In the old days, before the licensure of Chiropractic, many chiropractors did time in jail for "practicing medicine without a license." No basis in law or reason. This was blind, racist-like hatred. Before Chiropractic became legal here in California in 1922 (by the initiative process, NOT the legislature), more chiropractors were jailed here than anywhere else. In my native New York, Chiropractic only became legal in 1965. Many of my older professors did time in jail. Jus so you really know how this fits exactly into the racism thing, country clubs in New York had signs, "No N[word], Jews or chiropractors." I would have been a two-time loser! Oh, well. I don't play golf, anyway.

Even these days, here in mellow Marin, what some people say to me, or to my wife about me (maybe to you when you bring up Chiropractic, trying to help people), is despicable. I am here to help people. I am here to change lives and save lives.

To those who "don't believe in you chiropractors," who really hate chiropractors and Chiropractic, THINK! Get some tolerance. Let reason enter the "health care" part of your brain. Go to my website. Read, think, and act accordingly. Tolerance may save your life someday.

What do you think?

Don Harte, D.C.
Corte Madera Straight Chiropractor

PS: The first chiropractic patient, Harvey Lillard, was African-American. He was totally deaf for seventeen years. Dr. DD Palmer adjusted him, and he was able to hear the trolley cars on Brady Street, in Davenport, Iowa. September 18th, 1895.

1 comment:

  1. An insighful comment on a virulent phenomena...you are to be congratulated! Anyone with experience with straight chiropractic immediately recognizes the absolute ignorance and appalling prejudice expressed in our society against an art designed to increase human health and well-being. Shame on them, and congratulations to you for shining the light.
    C. Jackson
    Mill Valley, CA

    ReplyDelete

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