I never cease to be amazed at the strong opinions that I encounter when I bring up mercury, whether it be from amalgams or vaccines, from people who know nothing more about it than the propaganda they've heard on TV. I have learned to be tactical about it in order to get through people's programming and preconceived ideas. I make statements like these, each in their proper context:
Talking to a salesperson in a store that has just asked if they can help me..."Um, no thanks. I'm just looking. Oh, geez, oh yea. Have you heard about this thing everyone's talking about that there's mercury in silver fillings and vaccines and it's making people sick?"I usually get a great response to this because I'm not expressiong my opinion. I'm actually asking someone else about their experience but have managed to stuff a statement in there without offending anyone.
Talking to a server in a restaurant when they say someone they know or their child has become ill or has behavorial problems..."Wow. Have you heard that all these doctors are saying that mercury in dental fillings and vaccines is causing autism and all of these behavorial disorders like ADD and ADHD, and how they're saying that mainstream medicine is covering it up to avoid taking responsibility?"This works great because, again, you're not stating your own opinion, and because the listener will see it as an opportunity to voice they own opinion. Plus, everyone understands how people try to avoid responsibilty for things they've done, besides, coverups are almost a fad today, so you could even say you're being stylish.
I have learned, when speaking to friends and family about these things, to not speak my opinion but rather to simply voice the opinions of others that they may respect, like
Dr. Culter for example. You put them in a bit of a trap because if they argue with the opinion of a doctor in public, they will be viewed as arrogant, perhaps.
Finally, in speaking to dentists..."The day after I had my mercury fillings replaced I felt better than I ever had in my entire life. Also, I had 17 ailments that I had all my life that suddenly went away. Plus, my shyness and fear of public speaking were gone the following year for the first time ever."In this case, you have not said anything the dentist can argue about. You're simply relating your personal experiences. If they respond by saying, "maybe your problems were caused by something else", you could respond by saying:
"Hmmm. That would be quite a coincidence that all 17 things went away at the same time."If they respond by saying that the ADA says that science has shown that mercury is safe, you can reply:
"The ADA also said that they have no responsibility for the damage caused by harmful substances used in dentistry because they don't install it."This should get the attention of the dentist because they have just been put in the firing line, not by you, but by the ADA; the organization that claims to be a dentist's advocate.
Here's the quote from the ADA:
"The American Dental Association (ADA) owes no legal duty of care to protect the public from allegedly dangerous products used by dentists. The ADA did not manufacture, design, supply or install the mercury-containing amalgams. The ADA does not control those who do. The ADA's only alleged involvement in the product was to provide information regarding its use. Dissemination of information relating to the practice of dentistry does not create a duty of care to protect the public from potential injury."The Superior Court of the State of California
Case No. 718228, Demurrer (October 22, 1992)
I've actually done each one of these things and It's amazing how shifting perspective a little makes a huge difference in the response you get. We just have to keep telling them, one-by-one.
