Paul's face grew serious. 'I think whenever a people has enormous resources, it is easy for them to call themselves democratic. I think of myself more as a physician than an American. We belong to the nation of those who care for the sick. Americans are lazy democrats, and it is my belief, as someone who shares the same nationality as {a Russian doctor}, I think the rich can always call themselves democratic, but the sick people are not among the rich {...} I'm very proud to be an American. I have many opportunities because I'm American. I can travel freely through the world, I can start projects, but that's called privilege, not democracy.
In the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains," Dr. Paul Farmer expresses a critical view of democracy in relation to wealth and privilege. He believes that people with vast resources may easily define themselves as democratic but miss the point of true democracy, which should focus on the well-being of all, especially the sick and less fortunate. Farmer identifies more with being a healer than simply an American, illustrating a commitment to global health rather than a nationalistic perspective.
Farmer is proud of the opportunities his American identity provides, such as freedom to travel and the ability to initiate projects. However, he emphasizes that these advantages are a form of privilege rather than an inherent right of democracy. His perspective suggests that real progress comes from addressing the needs of the underserved, rather than from the comfortable position of wealth, challenging the common perception of what democracy means in a society where inequalities exist.
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Other quotes in Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
