Why is AIDS Such A Political Issue?

[Prometheus]

OK - I get it. Having aids blows. There are a bunch of conspiracy nuts who think it's a government conspiracy. But I still don't get why it's such a political issue. Every week there are two or three political cartoons in big newspapers showing what a problem it is in Africa. Allright, so AIDS is killing a bunch of people in Africa. It's not like starvation and civil war isn't torching them up just as quickly. Does someone expect the US to save them from thier disease or something. If we want to save Africans, sending them food would be a lot easier then making an add campaign out of AIDS.

I'm serious. I really want to know it anyone has insight. Obviously I am not concerned anough about this issue. What am I missing?

[mathurin]

actually teaching them to grow food is a better idea, give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish....

handouts are a short term

[ihaQ]

Because it's a continuation of the western secular/catholic condom issue. JP2 did a pretty good job at fucking the African welfare.

[oranged]

Quote by: Prometheus OK - I get it. Having aids blows. There are a bunch of conspiracy nuts who think it's a government conspiracy. But I still don't get why it's such a political issue. Every week there are two or three political cartoons in big newspapers showing what a problem it is in Africa. Allright, so AIDS is killing a bunch of people in Africa. It's not like starvation and civil war isn't torching them up just as quickly. Does someone expect the US to save them from thier disease or something. If we want to save Africans, sending them food would be a lot easier then making an add campaign out of AIDS. I'm serious. I really want to know it anyone has insight. Obviously I am not concerned anough about this issue. What am I missing?

Most people think that can of civil war and starvation can't spread to America, but aids can. I'd say that's probably why everyone is so concerned. It's spreads so easily.

[tivodan1116]

Ummm AIDS most certainly does NOT "spread easily"... In terms of diseases which can be considered communicable, it is one of the most difficult to transmit. Think about it... If you've had sex with 10 people in your lifetime and never used intravenous drugs, there are 10 people out of the literally millions you've come within walking distance of who could have given you AIDS. AIDS does not transmit through casual contact. Even in open wounds it dies very quickly when exposed to air.

And therein lies my opposition to government money being spent on the issue. It's along the same lines of government spending money to help people quit smoking or drinking. It's government holding your hand while you are making what are supposed to be personal choices. There are diseases that people get through no fault of their own (Parkinson's, ALS, many types of cancer, Alzheimer's) that kill many more people than AIDS/HIV. I say, work on the most serious, dangerous problems first.

The thing that irks me the most are the "it could happen to you" people. Umm, no, it couldn't happen to me. I am in a faithful marriage and don't use intravenous drugs. Explain how I am going to contract HIV.

I am all for charities and the hard work they do to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, even if there are more important causes they could be working on. I just don't want my tax money to be spent to prevent/cure something that could be completely eliminated through some common sense and good behavior.

[PatrickHenry]

You didn't really ask your question very well Prometheus.

Are you asking why AIDS in Africa affects us here in the US?

or are you asking why can't we use standard epidemic control measures on AIDS in the US and the rest of the world? (unPC)

[Mr.Vicchio]

AIDS is a guilt industry disease. If you don't go out of your way as a politician to support every effort to stop "the threat of AIDS" then you are plastered by the Gay lobby namely, as a uncaring, hateful homophobe. If you don't help Africa your hit with racist claims or insinuations....


AIDS became a publicity weapon in the 1980's when it was a "gay disease" in the publics minds.

The sad part is, 95% of those that acquire HIV do so through thier own actions. Yet we treat them like victims. How fucked up is that?

[Matt W]

Not really 'fucked up' as such, Mr.V. Just common sense. Blaming them makes no sense, and does nothing to help the situation.

[Mr.Vicchio]

Socity blames smokers for lung cancer. People can be fired for smoking, states sue to tobacco companies to compensate for the medical costs...

9 times out of 10 Lung cancer "victims" and AIDS "victims" suffer for the same reasons. Thier own behavior.

I say it's time we stop letting the guilt card be played out and start by being honest. Remove the Victim label that covers HIV/AIDS.

(BTW yes I know there are REAL victims, spouses who aquire the disease because thier significant other cheated, babies born HIV positive and blood transfusions... but that's a SMALL minority of HIV infections)

[Matt W]

Yet we still treat and feel sorry for cancer victims. Labelling victims of disease as such is common sense - 'specially in Africa, where the majority of new cases are kids that are born HIV +.

[Prometheus]

Quote by: PatrickHenry You didn't really ask your question very well Prometheus. Are you asking why AIDS in Africa affects us here in the US? or are you asking why can't we use standard epidemic control measures on AIDS in the US and the rest of the world? (unPC)

I understand the biology and control methods of AIDS just fine. I was just trying to figure out why everyone cares about it more then cancer or something. AIDS seems to have more celebrity spokespeople them any other disease.

Don't you remember back in '93 when MJ starded "educating" teens about AIDS? Even though it is one of the rarest venerial diseases in the US.

[Prometheus]

Quote by: oranged Most people think that can of civil war and starvation can't spread to America, but aids can. I'd say that's probably why everyone is so concerned. It's spreads so easily.

I don't think that's it. Aside from the fact that it's hard to spread, it's not like we are worried about it "leaking" over the boarder because there's so much of it over there. We have it in the US. If it's going to reach epidemic proportions here, it will do it independantly of Africa.

[Osborn F Enready]

I thought the question was WHY is AIDS such a POLITICAL ISSUE?

In my opinion AIDS is political because it is yet another thing to focus the attention away from the real problems in this country, by making our problems seem trivial compared to the poor and diseased in Africa.

I feel for those in need, as well as I am for CHARITABLE AID, but I am not for this being a national political issue, or a sieve of American tax money for foreign aid.

[belverron]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio AIDS is a guilt industry disease. If you don't go out of your way as a politician to support every effort to stop "the threat of AIDS" then you are plastered by the Gay lobby namely, as a uncaring, hateful homophobe. If you don't help Africa your hit with racist claims or insinuations.... AIDS became a publicity weapon in the 1980's when it was a "gay disease" in the publics minds. The sad part is, 95% of those that acquire HIV do so through thier own actions. Yet we treat them like victims. How fucked up is that?

I largely agree, Vicchio. They are usually victims, however, even if it is of their own actions. We just need to be careful not to make them martyrs. Now, here are the ones that aren't victims.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...on=6.0.12.1069

[YourTokah]

AIDS is "such a political issue" because it's easier for westernized cultures to discuss in the media than the torture, kilings, starvation, etc. of other, less fortunate cultures. Although the media rarely comes out and says it, this is true because members of westernized cultures tend to view AIDS as a horrible illness, yes, but one that you contract through pure stupidity. At this point, it is fair to assume that nearly 75% of the world's population over the age of 13 knows how AIDS in transmitted. If you get AIDS, it's because you stupidly didn't use a condom or shared someone's needle, most of the time. Occasionally, it's tragic, such as infected blood transfusions or some psycho sticking people with a needle at gas stations.
We make AIDS such an issue in part because it's easier to blame AIDS for the massive death toll and orphaned children in Africa, rather than blaming the Africans themselves. How harsh would it seem to say, as a comparatively well-off American citizen, that the Africans that are dying en masse have no one to blame but themselves? While it may be true, it isn't the fashionable attitude to have in the westernized press.
It's easier, also, to talk about AIDS, which seems so easy an epidemic to halt, than to talk about the murder and starvation of millions of people in Africa (and around the world, for that matter), because murder doesn't seem to be something that the average citizen could do anything about and therefore they don't want to know about it (ignorance is bliss), and starvation is one of thsoe problems that thousands of people Do fight to combat, but it's such a large problem and so continuous, so ongoing in spite of efforts to halt it, that the press and the viewing/listening public tend to think of starvation/world hunger as an issue that's already been beat to death, an issue that used to be trendy, but now it's trendier to talk about AIDS.

It's easy to say "Let's stop the AIDS epidemic" when you're, in fact, a little apathetic about it, because you believe that it cannot affect you. In all likelihood, if you take the precautions you know you Should, it Won't affect you. So it's easy to say, "Oh, those poor, poor, people, look at them all getting sick and dying, let's take pity on them, let's find someone to blame, let's make sure that this latest hot-button issue works for us and our own personal cause in some way."

On that note, does anyone think that this extremem interest and politicization of the AIDS epidemic has anything to do with the ever-increasing recognition, acceptance, and celebrity-like power of the American homosexual?