The article deals with the appearance of AIDS in 1980s London and the attitude of both gay and heterosexuals to the disease as it gradually swept through London and other major cities.
I would be very grateful for comments from Christians, atheists, agnostics and other people of faith on what you think of the piece and aslo what your thoughts are re AIDS and faith.
here is the link to the short piece:
http://meanderingtrevor.blogspot.com/2007/10/looking-back-we-never-forgot-how-to.html
2007-10-28 06:46:21 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
PS In the article when I mentioned I was talking to a gay guy in 'Heaven' it is, in fact a gay nightclub in London.
Not the other heaven: LOL
2007-10-28 07:13:30 · update #1
I have supported the fight against AIDS since the very beginning. I always ask people who say AIDS is a punishment from God, what God had against Ryan White and all the other hemophiliacs who were infected with AIDS.
Great article, BTW. I am truly sorry for your losses.
2007-10-28 07:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A well-written and touching piece! As a nurse who worked through the 80's and 90's, I remember what it was like in the hospitals. First there was a trickle of patients, then a flood. And the ignorance in hospitals was just as bad as in the lay population. At one point, I asked if people would mind if I volunteered to take all the PWA's(that's what we called them at the time - People With AIDS) and one staff member said he'd build a statue to me! I wasn't a martyr, I just knew that it was impossible to catch it from casual contact and felt that my lack of fear would let the patients get better care, and I like to think they did. That was when we had 3 or 4 patients a week. A couple of years later, we were up to 7 or 8 and I couldn't handle the load any more, so the others had to start pitching in. Fortunately, by then, people weren't nearly as afraid as they had been so it was OK.
What bothers me now is the lack of knowledge in minorities, which is similar to the lack back in the mid-80's in the gay community. That is where the highest new infection rates are. I wish some famous minority leaders would get involved with trying to spread the word, but the ones I've interacted with are all still denying that it happens in their community!
Anyway, thanks for the walk down memory lane!
2007-10-29 04:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by mommanuke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That article was really great. Kudos to you on writing it. Education about the disease is the key to beating it. Gays are not the only people getting AIDS. Caution and precaution mean everything. If you live a promiscuous lifestyle or not, if you are gay or not, you can get this disease. Even married people get it if the partners are not faithful and you can even get it in a hospital or dentist's office. There's absolutely nothing about AIDS that is from a vengeful god. No one mentions God when the subject of hepatitis, meningitis, mononucleosis, or herpes comes up. Blind faith and ignorance are the enemies of AIDS. I am an atheist, so I know there's no god behind this.
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AD
2007-10-28 07:07:34 · answer #3 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That was a well written and sad article, and I'm very sorry for your loss. It shows great insight as well as personal strength that during such a hard time, you were still able to enjoy life (dancing). Props to you for both writing and posting this. I have to admit that I never knew it was like that (having been born in the year that you spoke about) and thank you for the knowledge.
2007-10-28 07:03:26 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Excellent piece! You really do know how to write, I'm looking forward to seeing that article published. I'm not gay, but I'm entirely in favor of homosexual freedoms and I can appreciate a good piece of writing as well as the next man. Good work.
2007-10-28 07:43:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good article. I am sorry for your lose. I cannot abide those who think as that one woman. Also, to arrest gays for that...that's like getting some hot young cop chicks going around straight clubs and seducing straight guys, then arresting them. Sickening. A.I.D.S. wasn't caused by homosexuality, it's just easier to get by anal sex, which straight couples do as well. I'm sorry for your lose and there's no real correlation between faith and A.I.D.S. only bigotry and hatred, which is saddening really.
2007-10-28 06:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
HIV is man made virus. god has nothing to do with it. some people are scared to death of it to the point of not having sex. some guys want to get it cause society has screwed them up so much. religious nuts think its gods wrath. it all boils down to this. if your partner ISNT infected you WONT GET IT. if your partner is infected you have to decide if you want to use protection or avoid sex with that person. you can be afraid for the rest of your life (which is how the religious nuts want to you live your life) or you can stop being afraid of it and live your life. HIV is extremely hard to acquire from oral sex. Blood and semen have to be infected and mix for someone to get it. Dont give in to fear.
2007-10-28 06:54:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I've discovered the cure for aids - STOP SCREWING AROUND. You reap what you sow.
2007-10-28 08:39:27 · answer #8 · answered by Steve Amato 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋