Arthur Miller & HIV Discrimination

Playwright Arthur Miller was not only a prominent figure in American theater, but also an activist. Using his work and fame to promote social and political activism, Miller most notably criticized the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) for its controversial anti-Communism trials. However, Miller did also support various other causes, including civil rights, human rights, anti-war protests, and HIV/AIDS awareness (Srdjak).

A current even that Miller would be saddened to hear about is the recent refusal of the Milton Hersey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to admit a 13-year-old boy because he is HIV positive, and thus poses a threat to the other student’s health (Martinez). Miller would be saddened about the discrimination against the boy not only because he was involved in the funding of HIV campaigns, but also because of the fact that the school argued the boy would put the other students in “danger.” Being involved in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and with the advancement in the treatment of HIV over the recent years, Miller would know that the boy would pose no threat to the other students, and that there were most likely other reasons behind the refusal to admit the boy. As he did with the many other causes he supported during his lifetime, Miller would use his prominence to criticize the school and support the boy who has now filed a lawsuit.

With his strong support for social and political activism, Miller would call on politicians to make sure that the discrimination against people with HIV is prevented in the future. Often described as an “activist for the common man” (Watson), Miller would support the boy in his lawsuit against the school. With resemblances between the boy’s case and the McCarthy trials, in which in innocent people were accused of crimes due to personal dislike and fear and rejected (Watson), Miller would try to make sure that the boy is not discriminated against because of his unfortunate health condition.

Works Cited

Martinez, Michael. "Student with HIV Sues Private Residential School for Denied Admission." CNN U.S. 01 Dec. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-01/us/us_pennsylvania-hiv-hershey-school_1_hiv-milton-hershey-school-middle-school>.

Srdjak, Ken. "From the Daily: Arthur Miller." The Michigan Daily. 11 Feb. 2005. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. <http://www.michigandaily.com/content/daily-arthur-miller>.

Watson, Jerilyn. "Arthur Miller: 1915-2005:  One of the Greatest American Playwrights of the 20th Century." Voice of America. 28 Nov. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2011. <http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/a-23-2009-11-28-voa5-83144292.html>.