“One measure of human moral progress-amid and despite the savageries we visit upon each other-is how we treat the innocent in our care. ” Charles Krauthammer
Dr. Krauthammer writes for for The Washington Post and his essays are “a kind of exotic indulgence” to use his own phrase. He uses words the way Andrea Bocelli uses songs, or B.B. King used a guitar- all masters of their craft.
Most of his pieces are serious and somber, understandable considering that he tackles such dark subjects as terrorism, war, government corruption, and social injustice. But occasionally he takes a lighter approach to subjects which are important on a different level.
Such is this piece in which he predicts the demise of meat-eating, most likely for economic reasons. But medical studies do suggest vegetarian diets are healthier, may lower the risk of colon cancer, and may promote weight loss better than other diets.
Will we stop eating meat?
This article may make you laugh, applaud, growl, or just dismiss the whole thing as irrelevant. But might we all agree on one point?
“One measure of human moral progress-amid and despite the savageries we visit upon each other-is how we treat the innocent in our care. ”
the need to protect the public’s health and the rights of the individual may not always coincide.These arguments could apply to situations other than Ebola infection. They include other infectious diseases as well as tobacco use, alcohol and drug use and abuse, motor vehicle safety, mental health , vaccine avoidance, gun ownership, and sexually transmitted diseases.
This post was updated August 2, 2021
To call the late Dr. Charles Krauthammer an opinion writer is a vast understatement. a Pulitzer Prize winner, he wrote a popular column for the Washington Post . He died from intestinal cancer in 2018.
With wit and wisdom he addressed a wide variety of headlining topics, as well as those more mundane, including politics, economics,education, relationships and lifestyle. His previous background as a practicing psychiatrist qualified him to comment on medical issues with insight and experience.
Ebola (and COVID-19) vs. civil liberties
In this 2014 article about the Ebola virus epidemic and civil liberties, he addressed the conflict created by the introduction of the Ebola virus into the United States. He argues that the need to protect the public’s health and the rights of the individual may not always coincide.
These arguments could apply to situations other than Ebola infection. They include other infectious diseases as well as tobacco use, alcohol and drug use and abuse, motor vehicle safety, mental health, vaccine avoidance, gun ownership, and sexually transmitted diseases.
As a physician, I find it fascinating and amazing that Dr. Krauthammer completed medical school and residency after and despite sustaining a spinal cord injury which caused quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down, preventing use of his arms and legs).
He discusses this, and pays tribute to a medical school professor who helped make it possible in his book
a both a memoir and a collection of his essays. His success causes one to question how exactly should we define “disability”?
You will find Dr. Krauthammer on The Washington Post. You may not always agree with him, but I think you will appreciate his creative use of words to express his well thought opinions.
“One measure of human moral progress-amid and despite the savageries we visit upon each other-is how we treat the innocent in our care. ” Charles Krauthammer
exploring the HEART of public health
Dr. Aletha
Use these links to share the heart of health wherever you connect.