Subject:
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Re: Why is AIDS such a big deal?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 1 May 2000 17:20:05 GMT
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Viewed:
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257 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks writes:
> Hi all,
>
> The feature story at cnn.com right now is that the "AIDS pandemic [has been]
> declared [a] threat to U.S.
> national security." I've wondered about the cultural significance of AIDS and
> the related syndromes for about
> a decade, but haven't come up with any particularly good explanations. So my
> question is this:
>
> Why is AIDS such a big deal?
>
> There are plenty of seemingly more important health risks. Why does AIDS get
> so much attention? Does the
> media attention reflect the monetary attention? What gets more research
> grants? AIDS or cancer? I (think I)
> hear more about AIDS in the news, but I'm sure Cancer kills more people.
AIDS is a communicable disease, and is on a fairly steep climb as far as death
toll goes. Some statistics(1): South Africa estimates 1 in 10 adult males
have HIV. There are 7 African countries where AIDS is responsible for 20% or
better of the death toll. Here in the western world, it's not such a big
deal, and is more of a social concern than a actual medical crisis or
anything. The purported reasoning behind the decision is disruption of global
economies, able-bodied-worker shortages, and other obscure pandemic-related
issues, but I certainly haven't seen any indication that AIDS will be more
than a hiccup to western society - kind of like maleria, starvation, leprosy
and other 3rd-world afflications with commercials meant to make us feel
guilty. (pardon my cynicism)
IMHO, the US gov't declaring it a threat to national security is political
grandstanding and poppycock.
James
http://www.shades-of-night.com/lego/
I'm getting paid for this --> alladvantage.com
Sign up via me, the reference $$ go to fund Lugnet.
1:Numbers pulled from memory, so accuracy may be wavy.
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Why is AIDS such a big deal?
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| Hi all, The feature story at cnn.com right now is that the "AIDS pandemic [has been] declared [a] threat to U.S. national security." I've wondered about the cultural significance of AIDS and the related syndromes for about a decade, but haven't come (...) (25 years ago, 30-Apr-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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