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HOMEGROWN HERO
Ira G, I just want to share my thoughts on how powerful your actions are [First Person, March 28: "
"]! Saving KBAC and keeping it "homegrown" sets a precedent that we really can do anything if we put forth the efforts. Can you say awesome role model?
Thank you for giving the community a voice and a big lesson to "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has" (Margaret Mead). Kudos!
Darlene Fortier
aka Queen Darlene
Santa Fe
A DAILY BATTLE
I am writing in response to Kelly Gneiting's letter [March 28: "
"]. I am a Dine mixed breed living in Albuquerque. My roots and people are from where he currently resides and works. I find it infuriating and sad that Kelly would take it upon himself, a privileged white male, to call the article "Indian Blood" a "disservice to your readers." Working against ignorance/oppression is a battle many people fight on a daily basis.
Most work simply by living in a culture full of people who don't validate a history full of REAL victims, like those in the article, and indigenous people across the globe. His response merely solidifies my understanding that he is the enemy in such battles. The white patriarchal construct that this country is founded on, and those who enforce it, through legislation, religion, systemic racism and attitudes/letters such as Kelly's, are destructive, irresponsible and worth fighting against; a real enemy indeed.
I am not surprised he was told to leave the reservation. I wouldn't want my grandma serving him mutton stew, or offering him shelter, a custom she was always quick to share with even perfect strangers, white or not.
Val/Vince Natonabah Jones
Albuquerque
LOST CHANCE
"
"-the cover story by David Alire Garcia [March 28]-was a lost opportunity. It is all too easy to be critical of Scientology, but the Second Chance Program is void of Scientology. It is only the detox protocol and behavior modification part of the Narconon program. The Second Chance protocol is used by the New York Fire Department and others who worked at Ground Zero after the disaster of 9.11. Like meth addicts, Ground Zero workers have been abandoned by our society and have no viable options.
Second Chance is a secular program that uses protocol based on the protocol developed by LR Hubbard and is not part of the Church of Scientology. Given that there are no other viable detox programs, it is a disservice to trash it because you don't like the guy who came up with the protocol.
I met with Kent McGregor, previously the director of substance abuse for New Mexico and later a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities certifier, who is also very impressed with the Second Chance Program. Why? Because it works and returns people to functional lives. No other programs can say that.
K Paul Stoller, MD, FAAP
Santa Fe
IT'S IN THE BRAIN
As a physician specializing in addictive disorders, I was interested in the report on the Second Chance Program. I must report that the detox program is neither new (I used a very similar program in the '80s while running the CareUnit San Diego hospital), nor does it most likely work as L Ron Hubbard said by "removing toxins from the fatty tissues."
Drug addicts and alcoholics suffer from one common biochemical disruption-a marked decrease in the production of endorphins and enkephalins. These are chemicals that resemble opiate drugs and are manufactured in the brain. A lack of endorphins and enkephalins leads to marked dysphoria ("feeling bad"). In the '80s we had patients run and do aerobics and also use a hot tub (we had no sauna) as these increased the production of these natural chemicals. We also used many vitamins to help replace the endorphins/enkephalins as well as chemicals depleted by the use of cocaine and methamphetamine.
As far as confrontational therapy, well, that's not Hubbard's invention either. Programs like Synanon have used it for years.
Charles Maynard, DO
Santa Fe
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