Isaac Asimov died of AIDS related complications.
Would it have mattered if it had been acknowledged that one of the most public faces of rational inquiry, speculative fiction, playful disbelief and popular science had died of AIDS, back then?
I don't know.
Seems like it might have.
Crow's Eye: Maintaining a commitment to Pointless Acrimony™ and Hate Filled Invective™! Also available in corvid mischief and traditional sly dog's mistrust.
It seems that he wished to reveal this information, but unfortunately bowed to pressure from his physicians. If such a well-regarded individual could have revealed that he was HIV positive, it could possibly have inspired sounder policies regarding the disease. When "those people" are suffering, society tends to blame the victim, when a famous, "blameless" person is suffering, people can muster some sympathy.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of yet another reason why Saint Ronnie's reputation and his actual existence are mirror opposites.
ReplyDelete~
Didn't really help when Arthur Ashe revealed he was HIV positive because of a blood transfusion (although he didn't reveal his condition till the 90's). But black black black....
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this either.
ReplyDeleteShoot, I thought he was still with us.
ReplyDeleteI need to get out more.