A Prompt for a Reflection
A Prompt for a Reflection
“Regard for power implies disregard for those without power…”
Two of my favorite pieces of writing are my children’s essays in response to the famous University of Chicago supplemental essay questions that are part of the application for undergraduate admission.1
My son answered: “So where is Waldo, really?”
My daughter answered: “In 2015, the city of Melbourne, Australia created a "tree-mail" service, in which all of the trees in the city received an email address so that residents could report any tree-related issues. As an unexpected result, people began to email their favorite trees sweet and occasionally humorous letters. Imagine this has been expanded to any object (tree or otherwise) in the world, and share with us the letter you’d send to your favorite.”
Part of me always wanted to be a humanities professor.2 So, here is my chance. My May 31st Friday Reflection (#40 for those keeping track) was inspired by the quotation from Robert Caro’s epic biography of Robert Moses:
“Regard for power implies disregard for those without power…”
Here’s my idea. If you are feeling inspired (and have the time) write an essay, having to do with this quotation, that has some relation to medicine. Get it to me by 5/30/24 (sensiblemedicine2022@gmail.com), before mine goes up on the 31st. I will post a few of my favorites. Keep it under 1200 words.
As an extra incentive, there is a Sensible Medicine T-shirt in it for those who get “published.” They’re very cool t-shirts. (Maybe include your size and whether you want men’s or woman’s cut with you submission. They run small).
(Photo by Aaron Burden)
I am, admittedly, crazy biased here.
Art history or classics.
The idea that "Regard for power implies disregard for those without power" is essentially a character issue. Typically, oppressors conceal their intentions until after they have attained a position of power.
The disturbing thing about those who support oppressors is their eagerness to embrace dogma. (The literal meaning of dogma in ancient Greek was "something that seems true.")
That said, never underestimate the ability of an individual or organization to gain widespread support for a screwy idea that supposedly explains how the real world works or promises betterment for the human condition. A case in point is the diet/heart hypothesis; the idea that saturated fats clog arteries. (web search- Glen D. Lawrence saturated fat) After it was proposed, that idea was vigorously promoted by the American Heart Association and quickly became enshrined in textbooks and embalmed in the minds of academics and their students. This particular development brings to mind a poster marketed by Despair Inc. which reads, "PEER REVIEW A rigorous process through which often dubious ideas gain broad scientific consensus before becoming unquestionable dogma." (web search - Barrio consensus science)
Comment found in Black Beauty by Anna Sewall: "Don't you know that ignorance is the worst thing in the World next to wickedness. And Heaven alone knows which causes the most mischief."
Medicine, for all of the good it does, consists of treatments for disease. I, for one, am grateful for those treatments because, out of ignorance, my body has sustained considerable damage through the years. Once I figured out what I was doing wrong and corrected my mistakes, I was able to become metabolically healthy. In retrospect, had I known to limit my intake of linoleic acid earlier in life, I could have saved myself considerable discomfort, inconvenience, and expense.
So, in terms of translating research into practical usefulness this is the basic problem.
(2011) "Eicosanoids are major players in the pathogenesis of several common diseases, with either overproduction or imbalance (e.g. between thromboxanes and prostacyclins) often leading to worsening of disease symptoms. Both the total rate of eicosanoid production and the balance between eicosanoids with opposite effects are strongly dependent on dietary factors, such as the daily intakes of various eicosanoid precursor fatty acids, and also on the intakes of several antioxidant nutrients including selenium and sulphur amino acids. Even though the underlying biochemical mechanisms have been thoroughly studied for more than 30 years, neither the agricultural sector nor medical practitioners have shown much interest in making practical use of the abundant high-quality research data now available. (web search - Anna Haug Animal Products)
(1996) "Excessive signaling of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites has been associated with various chronic degenerative or autoimmune diseases, and intervention with the metabolism of AA is widely employed therapeutically in these afflictions. In essence, AA is the most biologically active unsaturated fatty acid in higher animals. Its concentration in membranes and its magnitude of effects depend on its amount, or that of its precursors and analogues, in the diet. The tendency of the field of nutrition to ignore the role of dietary AA will optimistically be reversed in the future." The article also said, "The underlying rationale for this symposium is that dietary AA is perhaps the single most important nutritional determinant in regulating AA levels in Americans. This may ultimately account in part for the striking differences in chronic diseases between strict vegetarians and the bulk of the omnivorous population." (web search - Biological Effects of Arachidonic Acid: Introduction)
Regard for power implies disregard for those without power
At first blush, the statement has merit. But from an evolutionary standpoint, hierarchy within “lower“ animals is absolutely necessary. Amongst wolves, lions, and primates the superior leader is required. Whether male or female the good of the group is paramount, otherwise the subjugated members would battle ultimately to their group’s detriment. Survival of the species is more important than the individual members.
In humans, presumably the highest order of evolution this is manifest in bosses and leaders. They work for the betterment of the organization as well as the rank and file. Without a decision maker, who hopefully graciously accepts input from those “without his/her” higher authority, the amalgam of a multitude of ideas would result in little accomplishment. This hierarchy is a necessary benefit and is dependent upon the individual leader(s). In no way does this inherently denigrate the worker’s value, respect,or contribution(s). Respect for the leader in no way diminishes the importance of the rank and file. They are dependent upon each other. Ben Hourani MD, MBA – extra large