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Wow, superstrong insights, superb writing, and how lucky you are to be in a place to express it so eloquently and do something about it. Keep in mind though that the US, while assisting poor countries, is also withdrawing funds from evidence-based prevention programs unless they switch to preaching abstinence, in other words the US foriegn aid is extremely conditional and cynical (do you reckon Bush cares about abortions and extra-marital sex, or the "axis of evil" for that matter? Because I for one don't believe he and his crew give a rat's behind. It's all about the votes/money). Great to read you anyway!!!!
Hey Regan, You made a good point when you mentioned Oprah building a new school in South Africa when young girls in her own country need the same help! I feel the same way about Magic Johnson and his partnerhip with Abbott, I'm not sure if he's aware about the drug pricing and how it affects people here in our own country and also people in developing countries. Nice Blog ;=]
Dear Regan: I couldn't agree with you more. You took all my thoughts & feelings about HIV/AIDS, domestic issues as responding to our national health & environmental crises, etc. to bed. I applaud your steadfast devotion to educating and addressing a virus that NO ONE on this planet asked for and those of us who are positive definitely never wanted. Best for a productive & healthy 2007! David
You know Regan, the shitty part is that with knowledge, comes obligation. It is comforting to see and know that you, and other fine young people, are now stepping up to the "plate of Activism" and taking the reins of a work that should have never stopped! My heart is sad for the situations that you have so generously shared here, but at the same time, there is a certain peace that things will be OK for those of us who are tired and making the decision to cut back our work and take care of ourselves. We need the rest badly, and it feels good to see you and others here taking control. Thanks from a very old and tired activist! In Love and Thanks, Tim.
Robert Sheriff
Hi Regan, I just had to say that I agree with everything you had to say 100%. I am truly P'd off at the way the government has responded to every crisis that has confronted this administration. MISTER Bush's responses have been towards a self-serving viewpoint since his inaugeration. It was pointed out during one of his campaign speeches, when he blurted out a durogatory remark , not knowing the mike was still on. I can't remember the remark, but it showed that he felt he was above all of it. He states that this country is in a health crisis. Wow! Who knocked that into his head? He could've fooled us with the way he spends money overseas on HIV/AIDS when there are those of us whom are still waiting to receive assistance residing here. He talks of letting foreign workers into the country(because they comprise a nessecary part of the labor force), then turns around and starts erecting a fence between the U.S. and Mexico. I am highly opinionated on both issues but, his actions are of a loose canon firing off in every direction to no effect. We must legally remove this president and start working on this country's health before we can be a strong nation again. While we definitely need to keep in mind that we are a nation of this world, we cannot afford to send money overseas until we have a cure. Or, at least some form of affordable health care that even the poorest of us could afford. Look at the development of penicillin, for example, until that was invented many people around the world died from simple infections. We did not go spending our money to aid other nations to the exclusion of our own healthcare. Granted, that Africa is in dire straits with HIV, but if we are to avoid becoming burdened with this virus the same way, we must keep taking care of our own health first. Africa is a great place to study the virus, but like you said, there are places in the U.S. that rival some of Africa's infection rate. Until a cure is found, this virus will continue to be a great burden on any and every country involved. The president once stated that this country was addicted to oil. That may be true, but that addiction we have the cure for, and are able to do something about that(if they would just pull their heads out of their arses). This president is knowingly creating another addiction that future presidents will have to contend with. We are a nation ill and he is saying that we have meds that can control the virus being enough. Merely controlling this virus is not enough. Names reporting won't solve anything. There are always those that will slip under the radar and keep the infection rate going. We are creating tycoons of pharmacuetical owners is just about all we are doing. By letting HIV take a backseat in this country, we are effectively saying to the drug companies that it is OK to just come up with a solution that keeps us on their meds so that we can live long, costly and addicted lives. I long for the days when you took a pill once or even a few times and the infection was wiped out. I want to get back to being able to when and how I wanted. Not having to worry that this minimum wage part-time job is going to put me over what I'm allowed to make, causing me to lose my only way of acquiring meds. Being able to work in the job that I am trained to do, and which happens to be what I like to do(hurray on the latter part). Most of us now, thanks to what meds we have, can lead very productive lives if we could obtain the meds without it bankrupting us. Well, enough for now. Just wanted to say I agree 100% Regan.
April 5, 2007