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Natural Awakenings Naples and Fort Myers

Letter from Publisher

Looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July this month brings to mind the great risks and inconveniences our forefathers and other patriots endured to win our nation’s freedoms. They went to great lengths to establish America’s unprecedented Declaration of Independence.

John Adams, as one example, traveled long, risky distances by horse and ship just to engage in conversations on the behalf of future generations like us. I wonder if I would ever rise to that level of commitment to right present-day injustices. I likewise ponder, “Where is this selfless human spirit evident in our political system today? Could someone with the high ideals and integrity of someone like John Adams or Thomas Jefferson even be elected?” Our greatest statesmen are reluctant to run the gauntlet of the current perils of political machinery and media bashing.

Televised political debates and mainstream media reports have become more entertainment than thoughtful conversation. Imagine how much further along we would be if their intent were to unify and inspire the basic goodness of human beings to greater heights, rather than fear-based divisiveness, discord and fear.

Even such sacred trusts as our food and healthcare systems have been hijacked for self-interested profit at untold cost to the public. We thus have little reason to trust research and sources bought and paid for to this end.  

Increasingly, I count on independent media sources to provide me the “real news” on important issues, to report on objective research and identify trustworthy sources that, like our forefathers, have the common good in mind.

This was the impetus that inspired my decision 22 years ago to launch the first edition of Natural Awakenings. Today, through our 97 franchise publications across the country, readers can count on receiving truthful information on critical issues like genetically modified (GMO) foods, fracking and natural healthcare alternatives, all empowering them to make better choices for themselves and the planet. This month, Linda Sechrist explores this more in-depth in our feature article, “Real News that Matters: Independent Media Tell Us the Truth."

I’m grateful for the increasing availability of a range of good, independent media outlets. Together, we work to offset mainstream media’s tendency to give us just one side of a story and to help readers make more educated decisions, enabling them to better sift through often conflicting information to separate fact from fiction—truth from propaganda. I routinely query, “Who is funding the study and what’s their motive?”

Thank goodness we can readily communicate without having to travel by horseback to rally support. The next time you have the opportunity to take action on an important issue, let our country’s founders inspire you. We are still fighting for our freedoms today in many essential ways.

Let’s celebrate our right to live the life we imagine a benevolent universe intended and be guided by the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Thank you for supporting this free, independent publication as together we work to create a better vision of what’s possible for our world.

May The Force be with you,

Sharon Bruckman, Publisher