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 17:26:15 GMT
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Viewed:
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304 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?
Quote from Reuters news story:
"In seven countries in sub-Saharan African, 20 percent or more of adults were
infected with the virus that causes AIDS, and would die within the next few
years, leaving some 40 million children orphaned, Thurman said. Throughout the
region, infant mortality was expected to double and child mortality to triple."
Asia (India in particular) has also been hit hard. AIDS is taking out young
adults, unlike most forms of cancer or heart disease, with most of their
productive life ahead of them.
Hopefully, this answers most of the other questions you pose (ka-snip).
>
> Any light or opinions? Is AIDS getting more than a fair share of the
> attention? Is Clinton off his rocker to
> declare it a threat to national security?
>
> Chris
In this country, AIDS carries a lot of political baggage (right and left) that
obscures where we should place AIDS research on the priority list. As to it
being a threat to national security, well, only obliquely. Losing 20% of your
adult population that normally would have plenty of productive live ahead of
them could well destabalize already shakey governments. That's certainly a
concern. Clinton is grandstanding - perhaps he feels it is warranted or is
trying to mollify foreign diplomats (or acquired something from one of his
indiscretions).
Bruce
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Why is AIDS such a big deal?
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| (...) and (...) triple." (...) With all of the stats just presented above, on must ask the obvious question "How is it spreading so darn quickly?" How did 20% of tha male population in that African nation become infected? Are they so sexually (...) (25 years ago, 3-May-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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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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