Dr. Bosshardt - I just read a very similar post by you, but on Sensible Medicine's substack. As I'm not a paying member there, I could not submit a comment, but will do so here, despite being a non-paying new member here.
Excellent post, BTW! And, you are absolutely correct (in the SM post) - the ACS, and every other institution and organization that caves to this damaging & divisive ideology, "...has ceased to be a legitimate professional organization... and has degenerated into just another institution captured by the DEI/antiracism/CRT ideologues. My ban is as clear proof of this as one could ask for." 100%. My profession, the Geosciences, and twice-over alma mater, the Colorado School of Mines, has caved, too. But, I understand the origin of this, and who and what are really pushing this ideology. It goes above such groups and institutions, it goes above NGOs, it goes above governments. You understand a great deal more than many of your colleagues, but you're not yet there as to understanding it's true origins and purposes. You'll get there, though - I have no doubt. You have courage, and have crossed the most important lines of all - you are not afraid to question, and to question in public.
I have some questions for you to consider. Why do you wish to be readmitted to the ACS? Is it to get a hearing, which was your right as a member and wrongly denied you? And/or to try to help ACS change this damaging & divisive direction? If they took such a drastic action as kicking you out, do you really believe they'll allow you back in? And, allow you to make any changes to their structure and/or functionality? Where do you think the extremely damaging & divisive DIE (as Jordan Peterson refers to DEI) and such really come from? What do you think are the true goals of these damaging & divisive ideologies?
I ask these questions not just for your situation, but also for many others, who are wondering what can be done about this, like perhaps many of your colleagues, who are "treading water" and pretending to go along with it, but are NOT for it. Not just to ease and relieve the needless tension and damaging expectations, but also to hopefully salvage these institutions and organizations, and hopefully restore them to what they started out as, and were for so long.
I also have a suggestion for you to consider. What about starting a NEW organization with the same intentions and goals as the (original) ACS??? You are NOT alone in being kicked out, or remaining "in" by the skin of your teeth, with an organization that has taken a radical turn for the worse, like the ACS has. MANY (if not all) institutions and organizations have been infiltrated and turned inside out by radicals and radical ideologies. There may be enough folks that have been "sidelined" or at the least disgusted beyond measure by now, that you can form a new group which will absolutely live up to the goals the ACS used to. Do you think that might "fly", as they say???
If you can't fight 'em, or join 'em, start your own...? There are many folks out here on the "sidelines" who are starting new groups, organizations, and institutions. You'd be in good company. Welcome to the "resistance"! God bless!
Thank you for the kind words. I believe you can subscribe to Sensible Medicine for free and view my article. In case you cannot, let me know and I will send you the text. I want to reassure you that I am very aware that my battle with the ACS goes beyond a simple clash of ideas and/or opinions. I believe that we are in an existential battle, not to put it too dramatically, between good and evil. Whereas the intentions of the ACS leaders in adopting DEI/antiracism may be good, I do not totally believe that. I believe that many, of not most of the leadership and members of the ACS are clueless as to what is happening, allowing the takeover of the ACS by committed social justice warriors with an agenda to transform our entire society, not just the ACS. I think the actions by the leadership amount to virtue-signaling to get critical race theory ideologues off their back rather than a true commitment to true diversity, equity, and inclusion, as opposed to DEI as espoused by the true believers. Put another way, I am convinced we are in a battle for the soul of America, not just the ACS and this is a spiritual battle. I am not a racist and know of no surgeon who is. To claim this is despicable and my ban for objecting to this is proof that the ACS has been taken over.
To be clear, I am still, according to the leadership, a Fellow in good standing in the ACS, my ban notwithstanding. I seek reinstatement of my privileges on principle and want access to inform my fellow surgeons what is going on (which just might get me banned again!) before I leave the ACS. I stay for the present because I want to have that option. I want my "day in court" so-to-speak to stand up to the leadership and force them to defend their actions.
As to starting a new organization, I would not take any option off the table. I am in my final year of practice before I retire next year and will have more time to pursue advocacy and push back even harder against leftist policies and actions.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to post such a thoughful comment.
Dr. Bosshardt - I just read a very similar post by you, but on Sensible Medicine's substack. As I'm not a paying member there, I could not submit a comment, but will do so here, despite being a non-paying new member here.
Excellent post, BTW! And, you are absolutely correct (in the SM post) - the ACS, and every other institution and organization that caves to this damaging & divisive ideology, "...has ceased to be a legitimate professional organization... and has degenerated into just another institution captured by the DEI/antiracism/CRT ideologues. My ban is as clear proof of this as one could ask for." 100%. My profession, the Geosciences, and twice-over alma mater, the Colorado School of Mines, has caved, too. But, I understand the origin of this, and who and what are really pushing this ideology. It goes above such groups and institutions, it goes above NGOs, it goes above governments. You understand a great deal more than many of your colleagues, but you're not yet there as to understanding it's true origins and purposes. You'll get there, though - I have no doubt. You have courage, and have crossed the most important lines of all - you are not afraid to question, and to question in public.
I have some questions for you to consider. Why do you wish to be readmitted to the ACS? Is it to get a hearing, which was your right as a member and wrongly denied you? And/or to try to help ACS change this damaging & divisive direction? If they took such a drastic action as kicking you out, do you really believe they'll allow you back in? And, allow you to make any changes to their structure and/or functionality? Where do you think the extremely damaging & divisive DIE (as Jordan Peterson refers to DEI) and such really come from? What do you think are the true goals of these damaging & divisive ideologies?
I ask these questions not just for your situation, but also for many others, who are wondering what can be done about this, like perhaps many of your colleagues, who are "treading water" and pretending to go along with it, but are NOT for it. Not just to ease and relieve the needless tension and damaging expectations, but also to hopefully salvage these institutions and organizations, and hopefully restore them to what they started out as, and were for so long.
I also have a suggestion for you to consider. What about starting a NEW organization with the same intentions and goals as the (original) ACS??? You are NOT alone in being kicked out, or remaining "in" by the skin of your teeth, with an organization that has taken a radical turn for the worse, like the ACS has. MANY (if not all) institutions and organizations have been infiltrated and turned inside out by radicals and radical ideologies. There may be enough folks that have been "sidelined" or at the least disgusted beyond measure by now, that you can form a new group which will absolutely live up to the goals the ACS used to. Do you think that might "fly", as they say???
If you can't fight 'em, or join 'em, start your own...? There are many folks out here on the "sidelines" who are starting new groups, organizations, and institutions. You'd be in good company. Welcome to the "resistance"! God bless!
Grrlrocks,
Thank you for the kind words. I believe you can subscribe to Sensible Medicine for free and view my article. In case you cannot, let me know and I will send you the text. I want to reassure you that I am very aware that my battle with the ACS goes beyond a simple clash of ideas and/or opinions. I believe that we are in an existential battle, not to put it too dramatically, between good and evil. Whereas the intentions of the ACS leaders in adopting DEI/antiracism may be good, I do not totally believe that. I believe that many, of not most of the leadership and members of the ACS are clueless as to what is happening, allowing the takeover of the ACS by committed social justice warriors with an agenda to transform our entire society, not just the ACS. I think the actions by the leadership amount to virtue-signaling to get critical race theory ideologues off their back rather than a true commitment to true diversity, equity, and inclusion, as opposed to DEI as espoused by the true believers. Put another way, I am convinced we are in a battle for the soul of America, not just the ACS and this is a spiritual battle. I am not a racist and know of no surgeon who is. To claim this is despicable and my ban for objecting to this is proof that the ACS has been taken over.
To be clear, I am still, according to the leadership, a Fellow in good standing in the ACS, my ban notwithstanding. I seek reinstatement of my privileges on principle and want access to inform my fellow surgeons what is going on (which just might get me banned again!) before I leave the ACS. I stay for the present because I want to have that option. I want my "day in court" so-to-speak to stand up to the leadership and force them to defend their actions.
As to starting a new organization, I would not take any option off the table. I am in my final year of practice before I retire next year and will have more time to pursue advocacy and push back even harder against leftist policies and actions.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to post such a thoughful comment.
Regards,
Rick