And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts - Article Example

Shilts’ book is the first thorough study of medical, cultural and political aspects of the disease, written with vivid imagery and scale that is worthy of the novel.First of all, it is necessary to mention that And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic consists of sequential matter-of-fact summaries, which describes the disease in many details. The author, not being a physician, described the symptoms of a mysterious illness, later served as a valuable material for studying.

Shilts mentioned that none single disease did not ask so many serious issues to researchers in such a short time.The topic of the AIDS epidemic addressed in the book shows that government indifference was very cruel because there was not enough money for further researches on the disease and it was the main reason why it took away so many lives. It is impossible to argue the fact that scientists were incompetence in this question, but political apathy towards the problem helped to continue the spread of this awful disease and as a result of AIDS really was allowed to happen.

It is necessary to note that being a part of the gay community the author was diagnosed with AIDS and died from its various complications in 1994. This fact gives readers an opportunity to say that the political and social significance of the book will continue to disturb people for many decades.Discussing ethical issues it is possible to mention that the book does not only describe the disease, but it teaches people to be more patient to each other. AIDS is not just an illness, but it is a true social indicator of public health.

Analyzing the book by Randy Shilts in critical aspect it seems that there were paid not enough attention to the fact that people need to remember that their health is in their own hands and there is no time to find a person or organization that is guilty, but it is time to develop the strategy that will help to overcome disease. To summarize, it is possible to note that our society has seen great changes in what is known about HIV and AIDS, and to what extent the problem is significant for society over more than twenty years.

The understanding of the problem has changed ignorance and blind fear of the unknown disease; humanity has reached a partial victory of science over the virus, and common sense over the hysteria. Thus, we should remember that the author of the book is dead but his legacy still works and helps readers to plunge into the problem with more details, because only knowledge about past mistakes could protect people from a new one.