Too Universal...

 

I mostly post about my little corner of the world.  However, this piece is about people living across the globe.  Each bit is about someone who's been HIV+ longer than I have.  It's their tales across the globe, but 1 thing remains the same, the stigma.  

Stigma changes, comes in waves, alters tactics, but it never goes away.  I understnad the idea that education can lessen the matter, but can it?  It's been decades & the world has all the info it needs, but still the stigmatization rages, from lies & discrimiantion to legal penalization & prosecution.  Fighting stigma is a fight that can never be won.  It's time to choose better battles.

Cya...

Concerns...

 

I saw a few articles today over important topics.  Each piece concerned what some might consider less developed countries.  They presented their cases why we should be concerned, if not outraged, over the lack of action concerning HIV in these areas.  

We should be concerned with people not receiving HIV care.  However, I can't be overly involved in a situation half a world away.  I can't be concerned when there are places in our country, as economically depressed.   Places where little help comes, because this is the US.  Places where conservative, religion zealots denounce & reject federal monies to fight AIDS, because of their beliefs.

While I'm sympathetic to people in other lands dealing with HIV.  I'm more concerned with what's nearly right on my doorstep.  I have to wonder how long it will keep its distance.  How long before it's a direct threat to me.  Those people in far off lands are an abstract.  Actions in southern states like Tennessee are a reality.  Memphis is just over 300 miles away.  These other places are 1,000's of miles away across oceans.

Stop telling me how well I have it.  Stop telling me to focus on issues around the world, when danger is so much closer.  Don't ask me to sacrifice my well being for people across the world.  I won't do it.

Cya...