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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Tue, 2 May 2000 13:00:41 GMT
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Viewed:
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310 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Ed Jones writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks writes:
> >
> > > Why is AIDS such a big deal?
>
> > Oh, man, you are bringing up a topic that perhaps is more explosive than just
> > about any other in modern american society. I love it.
>
> Geez Larry, instead of answering the question, your first thought is
> to relish the debate.
> >
> > This is not going to make me any friends, but in my opinion the attention • AIDS
> > gets is a testimony to the power of certain special interest groups who want • it
> > to get more attention than other threats to longevity that actually are more
> > serious.
>
> Special Interest groups huh. Need I remind anyone reading this that until
> "certain special interest groups" fought, protested, and demanded AIDS • research
> in the 80s, that the Reagan administration would not even acknowledge its
> existence, let alone fund research. It wasn't until the late 80s before • Reagan
> would even say the word AIDS, not until Rock Hudson was infected.
>
> For 10 years thousands of people died, billions of people were not educated,
> and the disease spread like wildfire. But until someone of note had the
> disease and AIDS Research was started, the religious right and ignorant were
> free to label it a "gay" disease. Let them die in their sin. Meanwhile, the
> disease spread to epidemic proportions in Africa.
>
> I used to be a memeber of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus. Do you know how
> we spent most of our Saturday's in the mid and late 80s - singing memorial
> services for chorus members and friends, sometimes, 2 in one day.
>
> AIDS became of dig deal because the public only heard "gay disease". The gay
> rights activists shifted thier focus, out of self preservation, to AIDS. Not
> until Act-Up did Aids get the publicitiy. Not until Act-Up did Aids Research
> get funded. Not until celebrities started hosting AIDS research funding galas
> was their any money for the research.
>
> The gay Aids activists also forced the FDA to change their policy on the • amount
> of time needed to realease a new drug. The gay Aids activists were also the
> first to develop educational materials about AIDS. They had to do these • things
> to survive!!!
>
> Why is AIDS such a big deal:
>
> 1. Because it is a huge blemish on the US government for their lack of early
> funding for research.
>
> 2. Because a disease mobilized a "special interest group" to take action to
> defend their own lives.
>
> 3. Because a "special interest group" brought chnage to the FDA.
>
> I could go on. But unless you lived through the AIDs 80s, you really don't
> understand the battles that had to take place to survive.
Well said Ed. AIDS is an entity which has changed they way we all live, that is
why it was an issue. Here in the UK it was used as a stick to club gay men too
a few years ago. Typically being gay = AIDS and AIDS = gay. I can remember
sympathetic news items for infected haemophiliacs, and other recipients of
blood products, whist gay men were largely treated like they had died from a
different disease - one they perhaps deserved.
Whilst those days may well be behind us, I think the underlying perceptions
still linger.
Scott A
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Why is AIDS such a big deal?
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| (...) Let's review for a sec, here... when my uncle Gary got it back in 1984, there was a good argument that it wasn't his fault. People at that time didn't know how to go about preventing it. Now, they do. Haemopheliacs are at the mercy of a clean (...) (25 years ago, 2-May-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Why is AIDS such a big deal?
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| (...) Geez Larry, instead of answering the question, your first thought is to relish the debate. (...) it (...) Special Interest groups huh. Need I remind anyone reading this that until "certain special interest groups" fought, protested, and (...) (25 years ago, 2-May-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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