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Hippocrates Lives! Death to Hypocrisy! (Ronald Hilton, USA, 12/18/99 8:29 am)

Two Nobel Prize ceremonies took place almost simultaneously. In Stockholm, Gunther Grass, formally dressed with a white tie, accepted the prize (and the cash) in a glittering ceremony. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity! Meanwhile, in Oslo, in a modest ceremony, a modest representative of Médecins sans Frontières accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. It warmed my heart, and Hippocrates would be pleased that his tradition lives on in a world obsessed with money and fame. Incidentally, many of these idealists are products of the turbulent sixties who had the dream of creating a better world. All the publicity went to those who were wrecking, not helping.
     Popular heroes are the likes of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, but have you heard of Pedro José Greer? He is a reincarnation of Albert Schweitzer (who also won the Nobel Peace Prize), but fatter and more humorous. He has described his life and beliefs in two books. A Cuban refugee, he tells the story of two Indians sitting on Plymouth Rock watching the "Mayflower" arrive. One says to the other "Look! boat people!" He is profoundly Christian, and he spends his life in Miami helping the sick and distressed poor. Of course, that is not the way to become rich and famous.
     Hollywood is our empire of evil, and I was amazed to learn that it plans to make a movie about him. He has touched the hearts of thousands. One question now is: Who will play the part of him? One thing is certain, it won't be the real McCoy (who incidentally was a prize fighter, who grew rich bashing people, not healing them without thought of gain).
     The word "hypocrite" originally meant a mimic, an actor. Many of them are but sounding bronze or tinkling cymbals. No one could make that charge against physicians and nurses. With few exceptions, they are sincerely devoted to healing. It is a noble profession. May they all enjoy a well-deserved Christmas.

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