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Thank you Scott for your great observations. As a Ryan White Network employee I met so many amazing people with an inner strength that I can never aspire to possess. Although the networks are being dismantled no one can dissolve my belief that these strong, positive individuals can man the helm of their own destinies and help to refocus public policy through education, advocacy and sheer determination.
Beautiful Scott! We can hope that your words will stimulate others to take up action, unite and work towards a common cause. Have faith, change can be rough, but sometime, just sometimes it brings about beautiful things. Thank you for your energy, effort and dedication.
November 21, 2010 1:37 AM Great job Scott!! I like what you said about the protest, the facts and last years AIDS Watch. I agree, the protest should have been directed at the ones that have not supported us. I was invited to the unveiling of the new stratedgy, it was one of the most exciting days of my life. I met a wonderful woman from LA, the Magic Johnson foundation too and knew others there too that have joined our group for Advocacy in DC and Albany. I took some great pictures, ate some great food and listened as the President gave his speech. I also remember when Charles King decided he needed to ruin it by opening his mouth. I remember his stupid comments too over the speaker system during C2EA, that is another story, but this crap seems to follow him wherever he goes, because he does not have the brain to think before speaking. The President handled it very well though at the White House, but you know it is sad that that moment of his mouth yelling out really sticks in our memories. If it was not such a big deal, then we wouldn't all be discussing it still. I have advocated for years too and we have learned that its not about you as an individual, it is about the good of all, so instead of enjoying the moment, the dumb ass once again opened his mouth and put a blemish on the entire HIV community there.I can't believe that an organizations leader thinks he has the right to speak for everyone, when they really don't. I have seen who is at AIDS Watch and advocacy days and are in the trenches trying to help others and not just get another comment in the paper. I know people like Scott that know how to conduct themsleves professionally and I am very proud to work with them every year during AIDS Watch. I will not forget my experience at the White House,I felt very honored to be invited there that day, I hope I can go back someday, I do also hope that people like Charles King are not invited back at the same time,that I truly mean. It is somewhat like the drunk relative that the family wishes that they would just not come to family functions anymore. There is a time and place for everything, yes this is still the USA,yes everyone has the right to speak up,but at least have somewhat of a professional brain and think about others around you before blurting out crap!! But do it on your own dime not on the dime of people that scraped by to be able to attend. But too the President deserves more respect then that and those of us that spent our own hard earned money to be there deserve that respect as well. I have never had anyone act that way in ten years plus of doing this work. Scott couldnt be more right, when our Dem's were in office during President Clintons term and now with our current President, we do need more done, nothing is perfect and we are short on help for meds and care, but think about when our Republican officials were in office, nothing got done at all basically, we never even had an Office of National AIDS policy or AIDS Czar. We do need to ask for more, we do need to beat the bushes in many new ways. We are not alone on shortages, anyone can tell you that, no one is happy about the money lost for funding. But how about we come together like we did ten years ago to fight for our right to care and medications, I think the mass numbers of us would be helpful once again. A group of us years ago were told be a Congressional Aid that we were probably the one of the most powerful advocacy groups, but I doubt that can be said now. We dont get the huge numbers anymore to advocate. Instead we get people shouting crap in the East Room of the White House lol, I would think just being invited said something in itself, the President and ONAP get it and are trying, maybe we need more, but at least they are trying. We need to advocate, we need to maybe shout at times, but do it when it will truly make a difference and help, not like the drunk relative that nobody wants at family functions anymore.
Linda Glassman
As usual, Scott, you have put things so beautifully. I, too, mourn the loss of the Ryan White Networks, because I know how valuable they are. My hope is that there is another way for persons living with HIV/AIDS and providers to keep working collaboratively, and positively, together. I have always been so grateful for people like you in the Capital Region who can represent persons living with HIV/AIDS in a rational, intelligent, respectful (but still firm!) manner. I think that the only way that we can ask people to listen to us is to first show that we are listening to them, and you've exemplified that. Charles S would be so proud of you, Scott! Please keep on being the wonderful spokesman that you are. Times are hard and they are going to get harder, but as you said, you've not only survived, but thrived, through some truly horrible times in your life--it is people like you who have the life experience to help gude us through these next few years. All the best--Linda
November 26, 2010