L E T T E R S . . .

From: Lou McKenzie
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 9:31 AM
To: Chattanooga Outlook <rphilips@mindspring.com> 
Subject: Editorial

I am delighted to find local news and interviews concerning Chattanooga's alternative movement. The April 4-10 issue on Healing Energy by Virato was very informative. In '98 I experienced an illness that was life threatening. My illness forced me to go to Atlanta to seek the kind of alternative treatments I felt I needed. It was at that time that I began to try to influence the merging of traditional and complimentary treatments in Chattanooga. What I discovered was that there are many alternative practitioners, but finding a medical doctor that practiced traditional AND several of the different alternative modalities was the problem. It's my opinion, when treating with alternative, there's not any one complimentary treatment that will do it all. They have to be used in conjunction with other
complimentary treatments or along with traditional treatments. Almost all of our medical doctors are specialized. So this concept is against all the training, and philosophy they have built their careers on. The pharmaceutical companies have a tremendous influence on doctors and how we as patients are treated. I agree with Virato's assessment of where the money comes from for research, grants, etc., and the monumental task at hand in changing this tradition. Any traditional doctor using complimentary techniques/herbs must use what he/she knows is scientifically proven. Since there is no money for research, proven herbs/treatments are not plentiful. 

The Virato article on The Paradigm Shift, in March 7-13, gave me hope. Knowing that there are groups, i.e., C.A.H.S., and C.A.T.A., and OMAR, to nurture this transition gives us all a means of participating. I don't have any facts to base my opinion on, but I feel like there are many practitioners (both traditional and alternative) in our area that are "in the closet" so to speak. The hospitals, and mainstream medical professionals put many obstacles in the way of this transition. My experience of Chattanooga is this...change is long in coming, but when it finally does take place, it is rooted well, and proceeds without the side effects that come when change happens too fast. Thank you for your effort in creating change in our area. I look forward to reading more articles on these issues. 

Peace, Lou McKenzie
P.O. Box 32
Sale Creek, TN 37373

Dear Editor,

Kudos to your paper for the stimulating and thought provoking rhetoric of your Chattanooga Spirit columnist, Virato. I was blown away by his May 2 column addressing sexuality. He addresses the topic of human sexuality with such elegance. His line, "Lust and love are not enemies waging battle against each other. They indeed cry for union," is so poignantly true. 

While I despise pornography, where human flesh is peddled like raw flesh, I am in favor of a "lust for life" we seem to have lost here in Chattanooga. As Virato says, "We must get our minds, hearts and love out of the gutter."

I look forward to continued stimulation from this excellent contributor to Outlook.

Very truly yours,
Candice Ross,
Chattanooga

Dear Editor:

I still don't understand why you have not gotten rid of Chattanooga Spirit. He is condescending, perverted, and outright insane.

Andrea Henry

Subject: Love. Abundant Thanks for your clarity.
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 22:49:27 -0700
From: "matthew young" <mry_sbcc@hotmail.com> 
To: virato@mindspring.com 

Love,
Dearest thanks to you Swami Virato. Your message regarding the American 
president is wise and desperately needed in these tense, and so needlessly 
fearful times. This June 21, the solstice will be eclipsed by the moon. The
sun on his mightiest day will stare face to face, into the yin heart of the world, our blessed moon, Africa and the Mediterranean will be able view it in  total. Here in 2001 to see the moon and sun dicourse so on the highest day 
of the year moves me to believe that powerful directions are being chosen. 

The light of love in your heart and those jewels you help to polish , will 
bring beauty to the being of any great forces considering our human race 
during this time. again, grateful thanks.

Love.
Matt Young