Bill Frist--Humanitarian?
by Timothy Hopkins, SUNY Cortland, November 25, 2007
Those of you who read any of my articles last semester are aware of my left leaning political agenda. I can’t recall any article I wrote that didn’t bash the right wing. Yet as I sat reading the NY Times searching for ideas for my next article, I was rudely interrupted by a student sitting next to me in library. “Can you believe what Frist is doing? Isn’t he just the best?” I was never a Bill Frist fan, but while reading an article about his ambitions, it was hard not to be. “I wouldn’t say he’s the best” I said “but he’s really doing some good stuff for third world nations.”
In case you’re wondering, Bill Frist announced that he will contribute to the Save the Children campaign in attempts to rid developing countries of child death. Like Carter and Clinton before him, Frist wants to bring these problems to the American people, and do everything in his rich power to save these children from AIDS and other epidemics. He’s even trying to get Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Fred D. Reagan, I mean Thompson involved with his efforts. He’s even agreed that this is a bipartisan issue, and needn’t separate the two main parties in Washington. So, having said all this, what problems do I anticipate this having?
Well for one, the campaign has proposed spending $600 million next year and $1.6 billion by 2011. Notwithstanding the inflation that will occur between now and 2011, $1.6 billion is A LOT of money, and may be viewed as dollars that should be spent on Iraq—considering we’ll still be there in ’11. These thoughts may assuage those in favor of financing humanitarian campaigns for developing countries.
The article also omitted the widespread lack of morphine, and other pain-relieving drugs derived from opium, that most developing countries don’t have access to. No, Bill Frist can’t save every dying child in third world nations, but he can relieve their pain by bringing opium derivatives to their countries. Having just watched a dear friend of the family die a painless death in his last few hours due to the morphine, I have a sense of how important it is to those who are terminally ill. I am hopeful that Bill Frist will take this into consideration, but it doesn’t seem likely that he will.
Let’s not forget about our issues with health care, or lack thereof. Why are we spending so much on the wellbeing of developing countries when we can’t even take care of our own? Bill Frist could be viewed as “in over his head” considering the problems we have here. “Wow Bill, we have sh*tty health care here, but you feel like developing countries are more important than us, eh?”
It’s hard for me to read an article about money and a Republican and not smell a scandal. I read the Frist article as cynically as I could, but could only come up with one conclusion—he’s really trying to help these dying children. Frist truly and honestly cares about their wellbeing. It’s like a breath of fresh air to read about a Republican who gives money away, and doesn’t swindle people out of their hard-earned cash.
So, Bill Frist, I commend you in your courageous efforts to rid developing countries of disease and famine. I also commend you for not trying to be a celebrity by not running for President, a smart move, and decided to look out for the welfare of others instead of yourself. If Jesus really is a Republican, then you must be his favorite.
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