Overcoming Censorship and Division
About a year ago I received an email from DORA - the Department of Regulatory Agencies responsible for overseeing my naturopathic medical license in the state of Colorado (actually, they don’t like the word “license” here, they prefer “registration”). Generally DORA emails contain generic and useless information and are directly dumped into the trash folder. This one arrived in my inbox demanding attention.
The email I received was regarding an “anonymous complaint” made against me for spreading “harmful disinformation” via my instagram account. The complaint sited a small handful of posts including:
1) a reminder of the process once known as informed consent, explaining risks and benefits for medical procedures (such as a Covid shot)
2) facts (via wikipedia) around the nature of Coronaviruses and how they are well established causes of the “common cold”
When I received this email outlining the complaint I experienced a perfect swirl of two emotions move through me.
“Whoa, cool! I’m being attacked for sharing good old fashioned narrative-threatening facts.”
”Um… shit. I’m being attacked for sharing good old fashioned narrative-threatening facts.”
Fast forward a month or so and the completely baseless complaint was dismissed with the help of a lawyer who responded to the nonsense on my behalf, defending me from disciplinary action against my license. Nothing that I have ever done has in anyway called into question my ability to safely and appropriately care for patients, the number one thing that my license (or registration?) is intended to ensure. However, the bureaucratic bullies at DORA insisted that the complaint would be “kept on file” should any future social media posts further “endanger society.”
First Amendment? Freedom of Speech? Self Expression?
Meh. Those Bill of Rights are just a little fictional story. They don’t really matter in a post-covid world. What’s more dangerous than an invisible virus with an infection fatality rate of 0.035% for those under 60? Empowering health information, of course!
Sarcasm isn’t my strength.
I recount this story as I reflect on the state of my personal and professional expression in the year following that anonymous complaint. I always considered myself to be strong and confident in terms of my willingness to share truth at the risk of being ridiculed. For instance, my professional work with nutrition and lifestyle medicine is completely contrary to what’s on trend in the world of “alternative” or “functional medicine” - I’ve been mocked publicly on a few occasions. Nevertheless, when it came to the covid craziness and medical freedom shenanigans I’ve bit my tongue and censored myself in the last year.
I care now as much as ever when it comes to calling out corruption and holding the line for health freedom (and personal sovereignty in general). It is very important to normalize and publicize sharing perspective and facts that we are told are “fringe ideas” or “conspiracy theories.”
I fell prey to self-censorship in the precise manner they have intended. Yes, I do believe there is enough evidence to suggest a cabal of global elite is pulling the sociopolitical strings of censorship, with the ultimate goal of enacting a technocratic biosecurity surveillance regime. I’d recommend this book to learn more about that.
I also kept my mouth shut because I didn’t in any way want to contribute to the divisive energy in the world. Simple personal preferences have become akin to religious ideology. This is not a natural phenomenon. This toxic division has been force fed through media narratives, a divide and conquer agenda set into motion by power-hungry psychos.
As loving and compassionate beings we must be critical of that which is not in the resonance with truth, love, and sovereignty. Love is saying “No” to lies, corruption, and divisive rhetoric.
I used to feel that such a contrarian stance was perpetuating the divide, but now I see things differently. Sure, criticism and intolerance can come from a place of hatred and disrespect, creating that feeling of further separation. Criticism can also come from a place of good with intention for constructive progress and appreciation for common ground.
We don’t evolve without confronting the resistance we feel around difficult conversations and topics. I believe we all have uniquely purposeful roles to fulfill in the evolution of society and consciousness. Some express and inspire through written word, others through action, and some through simple grounded presence. When things appear dark, it’s only a reminder of the light that we have to bring into the unknown, illuminating social shadows to find the peace that is already here.