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In this day and age when folks play fast and loose defining activism, it's good to read about an unsung hero. Someone who defines activism by doing rather than talking. Refreshing. Congrats to Marty on being a true example of "being" part of the solution.
Peter, I loved this entry. It just goes to show that activism is what the individual makes of it. His 'quiet' activism has done just as well as the 'loud' activism. Marty's description in David's speech, gives me hope that possibly there is a place for my style of activism in this world as well! Many thanks to Marty, and many more to you Peter for bringing his story here! -Jeromy
Delaney truly is one of the great heroes of AIDS activism, going all the way back to 1981. We all have much for which to thank him. Here is a link to a transcript of an excellent interview with him that PBS's Frontline conducted with him in 2004. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/interviews/delaney.html
Peter, These are the kind of posts I hoped to read following your first one. They provide context to the current reality of what being HIV+ means today, the path (with obstacles) that many have traveled to get us here, and a guide through examples (yours or others) of how we can each continue to affect change. What impresses me greatly are the early paragraphs of David's speech about Marty's form of activism. Too many of us get discouraged from being an active participant in shaping our lives and future for fear that our actions might be dismissed (by ourselves or others) as too little, or not of the caliber of what many might deem to be worthy of an activist. What I get from David's speech as he has illustrated through his tribute of Marty is that sometimes it takes a quiet and steady tenaciousness to make significant change that may not be achievable through other more easily recognized (and lauded) forms of activism. Thanks for this (and Please offer thanks to David for his speech and, of course, Marty for his life long actions)
Wow... amazing story... it is unbelievable that many people around the world don't know about the hard work of few individuals. Many people around the world feel hopeless (specially in latin america)but reading the stories you are posting at least give us some hope, and some comfort that eventhough none is doing anything for us over here in other part of the world someone DID something. If you ever meet him personally, tell him my thanks please.
Marcos, Brazil
'History' is told half by winners half by loosers. But these things are only mere versions. Who really makes 'History' are who are in battle such as Marty. It is our moral obligation to join him or, at least, to try having a bit of his courage and disposition. 'Marty' remainds me a word in Portuguese, 'mártir', that means 'hero' or someone whose work or life transforms the status quo.
July 3, 2008