The organisations
that were set up before us did not receive unanimous support
and, in most cases, they split up for reasons of personal egos
and incompatibility. It is now time to ignore these differences
of opinion, the schoolyard quarrels, the attempts to seize power,
all the animosities of days gone by and to unite at last, properly
and permanently, like adults and responsible professional people.
We need union at national and European level based on irreproachable
criteria and solid, long-lasting foundations.
It is time to reach permanent agreement. It is said we learn
from our past mistakes when laying the foundations for our
future. So let’s build together and move together, once
and for all. We have wasted far too much time and energy,
building and demolishing, assembling and dividing. Let’s
think positive. Let’s use our past mistakes and build
true, effective cohesion between practitioners exercising
in the areas of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
Life means movement and dynamism. Things have to move on,
but on bases in which everybody can find an anchorage point.
Luckily, diversity exists – but there are also things
in common. Let’s use what we have in common to organise
our fine profession, this communion of traditional thought.
For thousands of years, billions of humans have studied and
used extraordinary, exciting, efficient knowledge. Today,
even if it seems incredible to us, it still has to prove its
worth and become more organised if the profession is to be
recognised.
The monopolies of our modern world are well organised in
Western countries and protected by laws that favour them.
Divisions between professionals allow them to continue to
dictate their laws. Only massive national and European UNION
can lend weight to a request for regulations.
We must create quality through a minimum core curriculum,
the testing of knowledge in common examinations, advanced
courses to improve our skills, serious ethical and professional
criteria, adequate professional liability insurance, legal
protection etc. All this requires common sense, work, time,
patience and friendship but it must be done together, in a
spirit of tolerance towards differences and without any animosity,
fear, ulterior motives, jealousy, discouragement or anything
else that would hinder real effective union.
The work that has been done thus far has already met with
some outstanding successes. Now that we are on the right track,
we should not stop – we still have a long way to go.
But if our daily lives emphasise all that is TRUE and CLEAN,
we shall reap the rewards. Be brave and determined, my friends.
The door is ajar. Good ideas are always welcome. And the involvement
of all is necessary, in an orderly measured manner. Even if
we are all independent spirits in our profession, nothing
prevents us from standing shoulder-to-shoulder in our dealings
with the authorities. Singly, we are nothing. So inform those
who do not yet know it that the profession is organising itself.
This is part of our duty and it is essential before we can
claim any rights.
