Resumen

The history of epidemic disease-in which AIDS is the newest and most lethal variable-indicates that there are basically two views when it comes to the ravages of disease. The first is that disease is punishment-a person had to be doing something wrong to be so afflicted; it will never affect "people like us." The second view is that a disease may affect everyone. Clark delves into the issues, showing that HIV is a primarily heterosexual disease that was introduced into this country through the male homosexual and IV-drug communities only by means of a historical accident. Clark concludes that we have the mechanisms available to effectively control the disease if we have the political will and social courage to face and alter our ideas about social and moral responsibility. (Resumen extraído del libro)