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Rumors, Rumors, Rumors!
by Dawn Irons
If there is anything I have learned with my three years of involvement with the Lyme community, it is that rumors run rampant!
Within the first three issues of my newspaper hitting the public stands, the whispers began.
“Be careful about that Public Health Alert. She is nothing more than a mouth-piece for Pat Smith.”
“Be careful about that Public Health Alert. She is involved with those wack-jobs who always make Lymies look crazy.”
Does anyone see the comical irony in that?
I am well aware of the various “camps” and “schools of thought” that make up the Lyme community. But with those two main communities, within the larger Lyme community, BOTH camps have accused me of being on the other team!
I’m sorry, but my Lyme- infected brain is just not that complex. I am a pretty simple person. I am an open book. I find it much easier to tell the truth because I could never keep up with all the details of a lie-- I’d be found out for certain! Simplicity is my life motto.
Now here is what I have learned about the two camps in the Lyme community:
1. People either love or hate the National Lyme Disease Association. There seem to be few who can keep a balanced view and see the good in both camps.
2. The other camp is made up of independent patient activists. These people have strong political in-roads and amazing networking skill among the
LLMDs.
The PHA exists to serve the Lyme community by publishing news that is of benefit to the community as a whole.
Just because I publish a front page cover article on Pat Smith and her legislative efforts does not mean that I am a “mouth-piece” for Pat Smith.
I have never met Pat, but I am quite certain that she is a skilled public speaker and can more than adequately speak for herself. I just felt the Lyme community would be encouraged by the legislative efforts and to see how things are progressing.
When the University of Texas in San Antonio opened their new bio-warfare lab and began studying Lyme disease as a bio-terroristic warfare agent, and I reported it, does not mean I am in bed with the wack-jobs and conspiracy theorists!
The University of Texas is the one who issued the press release. I just printed the facts as they were given to me from the university.
My job as editor of this newspaper is to be fair and balanced in reporting of all things Lyme related.
I am not so concerned as to which camp the story is coming from, but my interest lies in how it relates to the Lyme community and that it is verifiable and factual.
Now don’t get me wrong...I have stumbled onto some real wack-jobs out there!
You will never see me print a story about how space aliens brought Lyme to earth via alien abductions. It’s not going to happen! Not on my watch!!
I am interested in reputable and irrefutable news that affects the Lyme community either for good or bad. We need to be aware and alert!
The PHA is not a “National Enquirer” type of gossip rag. Don’t come looking to the PHA for the latest dirt or scandal. I simply aim to bring a fair and balanced approach to the Lyme community and the news that effects them.
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