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Show A PhilosophicallyIndependent Journal of Opinion Written by Utah's Citizens South Edition Salt Lake City, Utah January31, 1996 Like strings that control a puppet... Positive thoughts, deeds AIDScurerests in handsofscience,logic can heal body of disease Editor’s Note: This article was written in responseto severalletters Citizens received concerning David D. Peterson’s first article, “Progress is more Editor's Note: This article was written in response to David D. Peterson’s first article, “Progress is more important than winning,” Jan. 3. A further explanation of Peterson’s logical approach to an AIDS cureis found to the left. important than winning,”Jan. 3. This article attempts to further explain Peterson’s logical approach to finding a cure for AIDS. By David D. Peterson Midvale The construction of this article is intended to be educational, then progressive and finally directional. It will use educational methodology to “produce progress,’ and then that progress will provide direction to the next level. The next level is usually a new problem that must be solved to better understand the concept. Theidea that progress can be produced may seem strange to some. However, it is far better to produce progress than it is to pro- duce confusion. The unanswered questions concerning AIDS must be considered, and they must be considered now. Trying to run scientific investigation of AIDS without “proper” logic is like building a house with no windows. If you don't know what I mean, build one and see, or shouldI say, build one and fail to see. The scientific community needs logic to succeed, butit fails to see its value. The purpose of this article is not to “knock” scientific effort. Rather, it is to make it aware of its potential. With a careful blendof scientific understanding andlogic,it is possible to define the entire concept of AIDS. Science is the recognized branch of society to deal with AIDS.It is recognized by the government, the AIDS community andsociety in general. It is legally responsible for all matters concerning AIDSresearchin relation to cures. I have no problem with that. That's the way it should be. My concern is its “failure to change,” especially when change is necessary for success. Let me ask you this: What could possibly be wrong with the “AIDS fighters’ learning to use and apply logic to their problem? After all, it is their problem to solve. They accepted responsibility when they accepted public acknowledgment and spenttheir research grants. Eighteenyearsoffailure is long enough. Now,it’s time to combine science and logic and help those people who need it the most — those in the AIDS community. A doctor oncesaid, “The most important person in the world is the one on the operating table.” In relation to AIDS, the most important people in the world are those who have HIV. A doctorhas a responsibility to his patient. The AIDSfighters have a responsibility to those who have AIDS. Responsibility means doing everything possible for success. My question is this: Is everything being done that can be done? Scientific reason says yes, but logic says no, Science and logic go together. If you eliminate one or the other, you eliminate half of your success potential. Thatis the current state of AIDS research. The result is failure. Thesolution to the AIDS problem is to reinstate logic and useit to fill in the blank spaces of AIDS research. It must be remembered that logic is educational, progressive and directional. It does not attempt to prove anything to anybody.Its valueliesinits ability to maintain progress and direction until the problem has been solved or explained. Logic strives for simplicity. It is important that its dictates be simple enough for all to understand andapply. There's an old saying that states, ‘If you do what you've always done, you'll always get what you already have." In relation to AIDSresearch, we already know what we already have. Andif the projections are correct, we already know whatwewill have 10 years from now. So, let’s attempt what happens. Let's use science and logic to define and produceprogress. Our mottois going to be,‘Use scientific methods when necessary, then do the same with logic.” This is important because some questions can only be answered by one or the other. Remember,if weattempt to forget either, we will fail. Theentire definition of AIDS to date has beena scientific achievement using scientific reason However, the AIDSconceptis not complete. There are “gaps” in the concept, and science has not been ableto fill them. It is myintention to use logic to target those gaps and produceprogress. Thefirst target is to determine the nature of HIV, what it is and to do something different and see ByScott L. Beesley Salt Lake City I read with a great deal of interest the article by David D. Peterson, ‘Progress is more important than winning” (Citizens, Jan. 3), Thetitle may have been a slight misnomersince youcan’t progress without winning to the degree that you progress. Thesubtitle, “A cure for AIDS depends on confidence in logic notscientific methods,” could also apply to any ailment or problem in life. Though Peterson's comments were interesting, they mayhavetobeclassified as rhetoric since he didn’t provide a clear plandetailing the steps that logic should take to achieve ailment cures, Since I agreein principle that logic can providea cure for any ailment, I will attempt to dete) he key steps that I think logic should take to makethis possible. If we can assumethata “creator” of the human anatomycreated it to function at its optimum level of performance by positive ideals and principles, then we mayalso be able to assumethat the systemsof the bodycancreateall the elements necessary to keep it healthy and strong by positive ideals and principles. This suggests that the human anatomy represents a perfect biological laboratory, chemistry laboratory, physics laboratory and every other entity necessary to instantly provide it with whatever it needs to operateat its peak efficiency. All of its needs could be fulfilled andsatisfied by the immediate synchronization of a computer-like system of the brain whenthere is adequate powerofpositivism in the body. All the biological, chemical, physical, emotional and spiritual requirements of the laws of the body can befulfilled andsatisfied by positive thoughts, comments and deeds expressed to a ‘‘creator” throughourfellowman.That seems like elementary logic to meif the human anatomy was created to function atits best by positive ideals andprinciples. It also seems logicalthatif the body could function best in this manner, then it could be endowed with theabilities and capacities to create the powersofpositive ideals andprinciples. We knowfora fact that the mindcanthinkpositive thoughts, that the tongue can make them audible and that the other members of the body canhelpit to create positive deeds, Notonly that, but the systems of the body can create positive powers from inanimate objects like golden calves, a rabbit's foot, a lucky charm,a new hairdo, new clothes, new furniture,cars, boats or anythingelse that can create goodfeelingsin this life. When we makeplacebos and give them powerto stimulatepositivism in our lives, then they can causethe healing powers of the body to temporarily neutralize ailments that may invadeit. Scientists have proven by double-blind studies that high percentages of placebo pills taken by participants could have the same effect as real medicine when theparticipants thought they weretaking the medicines. If placebos could not generate healing effects of positivism in the body, whatdid primitive people do to survive ailments when their medicine men and witch doctors didn't have anyscientific and technological education in health preservation methods? It seems logical to assume thata lot of placebo positivism could be generated by their chants and cos- tumed dances. However,the problem with placebopositivism is thatit’s invariably generated for personal benefits. People seldom, if ever, worship goldencalves, carry a rabbit's foot, wear a lucky charm or buy new things for themselvesto serve the needs of others. To main- tain the euphoric effect of placebo positivism in one’slife, one Continued on page 2 Continued onpage 3 AIDSresearch has comea long way, but sure curestill eludes scientists Editor’s Note: This article was written in re- ®The discovery of the methods of transmission sponse to David D. Peterson’s first article, “Pro- from personto person(transfer of bodilyfluids) ® The discovery of howto prevent the spread of HIVinfection between persons; © The discoveryof the different types and strains gress is more important than winning,” Jan. 3. A further explanation of Peterson’s logical approach to an AIDS cure is found above. of HIV; By Violet L. Archer Salt Lake City Thavebeenintrigued bythe quality of some of the items foundin Citizens. Most are well worth reading, but I mustprotest the article by David D. Peterson on a cure for AIDS (‘Progress is more important than winning,” Jan. 3). The article was an intemperate, illogical diatribe against medical research involving AIDS. It reflected frustration that a “magic bullet” has not been found to cure the disease, as well as ignoranceof progress that has been made. It contended that beyond discovering the HIVvirus, the research had failed and should be abandoned and thatit should be re-oriented toward the immune system. Muchprogress has been made to date, including: @ The discoveryof the cause of the disease (HIV virus); CRUBeeere Te) But:we ‘have-a warin plz those whose, tommenta inour hearts “a ing a vaccine to prevent HIVinfection (some are nearlyreadyfortrial); and ©The discovery of manydetails about how HIV multiplies and acts in the body(such as hiding within cells so it is protected). Since noneofthese items represents a “cure,” Peterson seems to dismiss themasall worthless. Never mind that in the history of medicine, a medical ‘cure” has never been found for anyviral disease. Most have been conquered, not by“curing,” but by Continued on page 2 ie >and one-of thése-100-percenUcottonch Santas) is published in Citi They-re-made in the US 7 © The discoverythat the main target of HIVis the immunesystem. It kills by destroyingspecific cells in this system; © The discoveryof tests for HIVinfection; ©The discovery of drugs that lengthen and improvethe quality of life for many AIDSpatients; © Thefact that progress has been made in develop- a LORS, and available.in burgundy and deip green: “Phe only way: to get.one is b standings up for what you beheve in the pa rier iaeacet antes information, call Citizens at 237-2924) ov write 10 13% South Main Street, alt Lake City, UT 84111 a peta | |
