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From April 2002 NASW NEWS International DetailsIf NASW needs to offer nonmilitary alternatives for dealing with terrorism, as was reported ["Profession Has Global Role," March], what specific and effective nonmilitary alternatives are we offering? When we think of terrorism these days, most people think of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. So, what's our plan? What are we willing to offer al Qaeda in gestures of friendship and conciliation? Do we say that while social workers believe in equal rights for women in our country, in an effort to be culturally sensitive we will overlook the treatment of women in fundamentalist Islamic countries? While most thinking people recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian issue is extremely complex and both sides have valid points, al Qaeda adherents appear to justify killing all Jews anywhere, including journalists such as Daniel Pearl. So, do we overlook these actions in the interest of our desire for nonmilitary alternatives? If, as NASW President Terry Mizrahi said, social work is to be "a visible and respected force" internationally, we need to be specific. As they say, the devil is in the details, so most social workers await the specifics. All sane people and people of good will would like to see nonviolent and nonmilitary solutions to all terrorism, but what is the official social work plan to accomplish this laudable goal? John A. Riolo, Ph.D. Sept. 11 RootsAre the root causes of ongoing and refractory worldwide terrorism simply an amalgam of envy of U.S. wealth, religious extremism, hatred for our multicultural and often secularist lifestyle and antipathy to democratic principles ["Letters," January]? History tells us otherwise. What are some of the facts about the United States' role in the overthrows of democratically elected regimes, such as those of Mossadegh in Iran, Allende in Chile? In supporting military regimes in El Salvador and Nicaragua that protected U.S. economic ventures but tortured and executed tens of thousands of their own people? In poisoning the environment from our bases in locations such as Vieques? How many civilian deaths have resulted from 10 years of sanctions against Iraq? From U.S.-supported Israeli occupation of Palestinian areas? How many people of color outside the United States are victims of U.S policies? What are their typical annual incomes? Asking these questions does not mean that we are denying responsibility of other states and leaders for complicity in terror. If we fail to examine the question, "Why do they hate us?" how can we have any confidence that our political stances are really supporting justice, democracy and freedom from terror? Harriette Johnson A Magellanless LifeI wanted to let my fellow clinicians know about my experience when I finally terminated my provider contract with Magellan Behavioral Health, Inc., effective Sept. 1, 2001. I did nothing else to obtain other contracts (beyond the handful I already had on board), nor did I advertise in any way or make any other changes to my practice. I simply terminated Magellan and proceeded seeing clients and managing my business as I had in the previous seven years. As of Sept. 1, the time I had to spend with administrative tasks (i.e., repeated requests for authorizations and payments, countless hours waiting on telephone lines, etc.) diminished dramatically -- and my professional stress level reached a low I hadn't experienced in years. But the result that I felt morally obligated to share with my fellow clinicians is something I never anticipated: in the last quarter of 2001, my gross income increased by more than 18 percent. Magellan no longer has any power over my life—thank goodness. Kathy Terry, LCSW If the Technique FitsThank you for publishing "Therapy Technique May Not Matter Much" [March]. As a social worker for more than 20 years in various settings, I have come to believe that it is the practitioner-client relationship rather than practitioner technique that accounts for most of the therapeutic effect. Also, I am convinced that therapy workshops sell the presenter's charismatic personality rather than the presenter's technique—which is why the techniques often don't seem to work as well as the workshop promised. The important lesson is that clinical social workers should master techniques that are congruent with their own personality characteristics, and MSW programs should emphasize the old maxim, "Know thyself," in order to find a good fit between student attributes and technique. Carolyn Geduld, LCSW Letters PolicyLetters are published as space permits and may be edited for clarity and length. Submissions may not necessarily be published or responded to; receipt is not acknowledged. Unsigned letters, form letters and ccs to third parties are not published. Mail to: Managing Editor, NASW News, 750 First St., N.E., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002. E-mail—plain (ascii) text only—to: naswnews@naswdc.org Back to NASW NEWS Contents
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