The
physical health of a nation, even when this health is found demonstrably better
than that of any other nation on the face of the earth, is not of itself a
redeeming virtue, if all other virtues are hard to identify, in the sense that
health alone does not provide any man or any nation with a sufficient
legitimacy of existence, that is, the right to have an existence, the right to
a future. By the same token, we put to death a criminal in perfect health for
the crimes he has committed, thus demonstrating our complete disregard for the
fact that he is in perfect, “superior” health. This is a very delicate,
but wildly intriguing inquiry in the “Look for the acorns!” vein. I am far from
even a hint of suggestion that anybody who cannot convincingly demonstrate to
the judge and jury any accomplishment of his other than being in magnificent
health, ought to be punished. That is silly. But what is not silly is the fact
that a nation that wants legitimacy as a special kind of nation, must
provide some proof of exceptionality, other than her AAA health certificate.
(The
plum to this pudding will be served tomorrow.)
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