Dear Marion,

It's too late to start a letter, and yet I don't want to
go to bed without having thanked you for your two e-mails;
the first with the thoughtful notice about the NPR discussion
concerning end stage renal disease (ESRD is the acronym) as
a domestic experiment in "socialized medicine", and the second
with your trenchant inquiry concerning my interpretation of
National Socialism.

With respect to the medical scene, I reiterate my experience
that the physician's relationship to the patient is inescapably
individual and is severely constrained by the institutionalization
of medicine.  Some weeks or months ago, we exchanged ideas about
this interesting topic, which I am not adverse to revisting,
if you like.

My opinion about National Socialism is perhaps so radical as to
make you uncomfortable. To my mind, National Socialism is an
extreme display of the essence of human society, of a cruelty
and brutality which is so painful and threatening that we go
to great lengths to conceal it from ourselves. But we cannot
escape, because it lives within us and is integral to all
society; ours is no exception. I would be surprised if you
wanted me to explain my gloomy view of the dismal reality.
Tonight, fortunately, it's too late to start.

I very much hope that you continue to feel well.
Maybe I'll write more eloquently tomorrow.

Jochen