World AIDS Day

[Pax]

I walked over to a small lunchtime vigil held here on campus.

I still can't believe how long this horrid disease has been destroying lives.

[Aggie_Ama]

I still can't believe how long this horrid disease has been destroying lives.

Long enough that a generation of adults cannot remember there not being AIDS- too long. I was born in 1981, I remember what it was like in the 80's with the fear and the made for tv movies I saw but I do not remember what it was like before then, I was too young.

I will light a candle in honor of my cousin's father who succumbed to it in the 90's. I never met him after he divorced my aunt but care deeply for his son.

[Pax]

Long enough that a generation of adults cannot remember there not being AIDS- too long. I was born in 1981, I remember what it was like in the 80's with the fear and the made for tv movies I saw but I do not remember what it was like before then, I was too young.

I had a part-time job tending bar in a gay bar in the early 80's, when AIDS hit it was the stuff nightmares are made of.

[salsabike]

Yes. We lost so many wonderful people. Still miss them all.

[snapdragen]

Yes. We lost so many wonderful people. Still miss them all.

+ one million

[nancielle]

This is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day observances. I am part of the organizing team for our local observance which will take place tonight.
The numbers in our area are on the rise which shows there is still much work to be done. Was at a conference this morning and one of the speakers did a wonderful, interactive presentation on stereotypes & stigma which I will probably incorporate into the speech that I have to give tonight.

Phill Wilson, founder & executive director of the Black AIDS Institute wrote in an article entitled "Take on the Responsibility", published in HIV Plus magazine (11/04):

"AIDS is everyone's problem, and all of us - positive and negative - need to be a part of the solution. By getting informed, getting tested, getting treated, and most important, getting involved, each of us can rise to the challenge. As someone who has had to deal with that challenge every day for almost two decades, I can tell you that every infection we prevent is cause for celebration."

With "Leadership" being one of the sub-themes for WAD 2008, I think it fits.

<ok, off my soapbox now.>

[Pax]

I'm working at my desk this afternoon, listening to the soundtrack of Rent, seemed appropriate.

[salsabike]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/condi...day/index.html

[Pax]

I watched three different news programs yesterday, not one mentioned it.

[GraysonKelly]

I watched three different news programs yesterday, not one mentioned it.

I know, it's awful. However, my local news paper did a very good article about it yesterday. I saved it but I haven't found it online. If you can figure out to how to get it please let me know. It was the Morgantown, WV Dominion Post. Anyway, I thought it was really good. The main story was supplemented by individual stories about a couple of people in this area and mentioned the candle light vigil held downtown last night. It was great. I was at the vigil and it was inspiring but sad. Great to see so many out and about though. Unfortunately this is WV so there were also some ignorant *^&*$@# out.
Gray