i think that the youth is actually one of the most informed about all the risks.

geting both partners tested is a rare thing to happen, but young ppl use protection more than the older ones that just dont have the information we have.

Another big problem is education. How can u expect a person that doesnt even know how to write their own names to get to understand that they need to use condoms?

It's really, really horrible what happens in poor countries. I mean, it's so difficult to get the information out to the people (like in Africa), it's not like the families living in the villages have televisions, where they can get those AIDS ads that are shown on MTV here in the states. It's so beyond unfortunate...

 

It really sort of makes me sick when people treat this illness like a taboo, or something completely sacriledge. An innocent child who was born to a mother dying of AIDS/HIV and no father, they didn't choose this. And they didn't choose the fact that they now will have no hope but to die a slow death, orphaned on the streets. And some of the sex trades, in places like Madagascar... These young girls make a living selling themselves, have sex in makeshift huts on a cold street. They're too embaressed or terrified to bother going for a check... People treat it like "Oh no, if it happens to you, you must be a bad person!" or something. Withholding life saving medications, or money to help these poor people, that's the real sin here.

 

It's good to see, slowly, that here in America it's getting a bit more positive attention (well, positive as in, not degrading attention to victims who contract it). Awareness is growing, but I'm still skeptical of some of these religious freak groups who think that absinence and preaching JUST that will solve all. Sorry, but kids will have sex anyways. If you talk about the real illness, how to really prevent it, safe sex. Well, then maybe you're doing something positive.

 

 

I don't think I'm making much sense, but yeaaah. Sorry about that :confused: I just feel that this really is a test for our society. Not to find an exact cure, but to learn to accept people who have to live with this. And stop pushing them away.

Exactly...like i said in the beginning, whether it was by ignorance or when it was passed on from one "guilty" to an innocent (i.e...the sex slaves in places like Saudi Arabia or something) then it is NOT their fault...they were LEGALLY sold into slavery and could do nothing about it...and YES people, this is oh so common in many countries...yes, even as you type and read this. It happens. Not everyone with aids is guilty. Sex slaves, rape, a child who gets is at child birth process...these people are innocent and should not be shunned.

 

And if aids keeps getting treated as tabboo, the the problem will still exist!

 

Oh and, an_cat...I understood that...you brought up some great points. :sink:

Something interesting that I think might add to this conversation (and I love the idea of this thread, maiu!!) is a statement made by Tony Campolo, that I transcribed from the One Campaign podcast, that was put out on World AIDS Day. He really speaks from the left AND right, and from a Christian standpoint it's interesting. I hope you read it (and mind you, I did write this out by listening to it, so it's not PERFECT, just keep that in mind).

 

"I'm Tony Campolo, from Eastern University. Every day, 63,000 people die of AIDS. There are 13 million orphans in Africa because of the AIDS crisis. To put it in perspective, by the year 2020 it will be 40 million children unless we do something. I was in Africa not too long ago. I was talking to a mother, and she said 'Pray for me.' I said 'Why? Why should I pray? What do you want me to pray about?'. She said 'Pray that my children die before I do.' I was stunned and then I realised why she was praying this prayer. She had AIDS, her children had AIDS. And she knew that if she died first her children would be on the streets begging, covered with sores, until the day that they died. I've been on the streets of Harari when the truck went through, early in the morning, picking up the corpses of children who had died. Orphaned children. Died because of AIDS. Died because of hunger. Died because of poverty. We can't let that happen. You know, sometimes I hear Christians say stupid things like, 'AIDS is the judgement of God upon people who are sinful.' That's two-thirds of all the 40 million people who are suffering from AIDS today. Two-thirds of them. Are totally victimized by others. So don't give me this stuff, 'It's God's judgement.' The Christian faith requires that we respond to this emergency. Mother Teresa once said, 'Everytime I look into the eyes of someone suffering from AIDS, I have this eery awareness that Jesus is staring back at me.' Consider what it says in 1 John 3:17. If you have this world's goods, if you have the wealth of this world, and you see brothers and sisters who are in desperate need. And you keep what you have while they suffer, how can you say 'I have the love of God in my heart.' Fair question. If you don't love the person in need, please don't say you love God, because the Bible says you're a liar. That's tough, that's tough word. But that's the truth. You're a liar if you do not love God by loving other people.

So what can you do today? The first step is to join the One Campaign. The One Campaign is an effort to rally Americans with one voice, and one goal. To fight global AIDS and poverty. To join the One Campaign go to http://www.theonecampaign.org. I'll give you that again, http://www.theonecampaign.org and sign the declaration today, commit yourself to respond to this crisis. Do it. Do it now. This is a time of desperate need, as well as a time of incredible opportunity. If ever we in America are going to show that we care for the people of Africa, this is the time to do it. And there's hope. If we respond, we can turn this thing around. I know we can. This is the time for us to be one. Be one in the spirit. To be one in the Lord. To be one with our African friends, so that together we might create a better tomorrow."

Thank you :stunned:

 

That was really hard to read, because it was so sad. I don't want to sound whiny or anything. But I totally understood that (and from the Christian perspective as well).

Is it so hard for people to open their minds and NOT see that as a punishment from God? ( I mean, seeing as you might<<<<NOT YOU AN_CAT...in general, have that very view) ?

 

Why would a God, who IS the epitome of love, cause such a thing? It is am imperfection caused by our fore fore fore ....fathers. (this is all my opinion ya'll, so don't read too much into it).

 

Oh my...this is a great topic.

maiu, thanks for this important topic.i agree with you all that the problem is misinformation.and i'm with you Ren.also some people (especially children) still think that it is dangerous to touch a person with hiv virus.i heard news abt this topic in tvs:parents do not want a pupil with hiv, in their child's class. thats totally because of misinformed people...

I'm back

 

I think that the lack of information is from both sides, I mean, there are people who'd never touch an HIV/AIDS infected person to not get infected themselves, but now there are many many people thinking AIDS can be cured with the AZT coctail, so they don't care about protecting themselves or their partners. And of course,those who don't get access to the right information and end up infecting a lot of people besides them. It makes me really sad.

Ren is absolutely right, comunication is the key. Sometimes I'm amazed by kids my own age that don't realize what a danger having unprotected sex represents, that's when I'm grateful to my parents for having such an open relationship with me and make me so well informed (either giving the info themselves or giving me a mind of my own to look it up myself)

I'm back again but no new replies :(

I agree with you.....it's a really serious problem...............

And I think the film "Philadelphia" with tom Hanks shows this really clearly!

 

I think one problem in Africa is the influence of the church...but it is not the main problem!

I don't like it if the church is blamed for the big disease in Africa!

I think there's a bunch of reasons for the spreading of the disease, and the church is one of them (not the biggest one,but it is one). There are billions of catholics or christians that follow everything the church says, so if tha vatican rejects condoms, all those people will do the same thing. I'm not against abstinence, but a strong mind and will to do it, and most people don't have them and like having sex.

I haven;t really read every single thing in this thread so there may be some points that have been discussed.

 

In regard to AIDS there are a lot of factors why it spreads. One is that in many countries there is not enough education. If someone gets a condom but can't read the directions, then what good is it? Also there are lots of urban myths about AIDs and some people don't know they have it until it is too late.

 

Regarding the church and AIDs, the church should definitely help make a push to prevent AIDs and maybe back away from some of its beliefs about condoms. If a person follows Christianity and understands itm they should not be sleeping around in the first place.

absolutely agree with you

 

that's why it's so necesary to continue all the education projects that have started

a little show'n'tell at school could save a lot of people

 

talking in my own experience, I had a sexual education class at school when I was 11 and it helped a lot. When i was a freshmen in highschool (i was 12 or 13)

the class tutor showed everyone how to use a condom, and probably not many of us knew it.

 

Now there's a huge debate here,because there's a lot of people who want to establish regular sexual education classes in public schools. I totally agree with it, all kids shoud have the basic knowledge about their own bodies, so there shoud be clases for every grade (adapting the contents for each).

i'm back again

it's late and i'm back again :P

Welcome back :D

thanks, but no new replies :cry:

People are practising what they learned here! :rolleyes:

 

I hope so!

:lol:

 

good to know i encourage people to have sex...safe sex

That would explain why reillo isnt here :stunned:

 

haha

i hope so, he'll have a reason to be happy :P

Well ,young people just need an excuse to have sex!

 

Any excuse!

 

Like,How are you ? and that kind of stuffs! :lol:

'how are you?' do you use that excuse a lot?? you must not be putting in practice what i've tough you then... :lol:

I am Alfredo!

Nice to meet you!

Y la verdad es que no esperaba conocerte en un tema como este! :rolleyes:

 

Y yo practicare lo que me enseñaste despues!

mientras sean mas mejor

y is this thread called aids?