Remember who your friends are

[spence]

It's a completly different problem than STD's in the Western World. People there have no concept of what HIV even is.

I think you could make an isolationist point, if you really didn't believe that HIV around the world had no impact on Americans...but I would think most would agree it does.

This doesn't even include the compassionate aspects of aid, just self interest...

-spence

[Swimmer]

1st, I think we should drop the Cuban thing and established relations with them again. If we did that then eventually Cuba couldn't help but becaome a democracy. They all travel back and forth to here through the other Carribean Islands anyways.

2nd. The condom solution in Africa is silly. When all you have is your body and the pleasure it provides and nothing else no one here has any right to deny them the simple pleasure thier body provides. Throwing money at such an important problem is silly also but thats the liberal democratic way of life.

3rd. I think the residents of the continent of Africa do know what aids is. They see their bretheren die evey day from the disease. Do they have a deep understanding of what a slide looks like in the hemetology department of a hospital that is tainted with aids, probably not. Do they understand how virulent the pink and red hues are on that slide affect thier immune system, doubt it? Can they read and write about it as they sit in the sweltering sub-saharan heat, no? But to say they dont have any understanding is shallow at best and patronizing to the black man at its worst. They watch thiers babies, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers die from a disease that I'm sure they have conjured up thier own words for.

[Swimmer]

Sorry about the spelling in the previous post.

[spence]

Swimmer, go read what relief workers write about HIV in Africa. Yes, people see their families and friends die from AIDS, but the relationship between HIV and preventative measures are overcome by ignorance and (worse) cultural stigmas.

This has been lessened in some areas, not by "throwing money" at the problem, but by funding real people on the ground to do the messy work.

If we all think we should take care of Americans first...great, let's do it...but to be honest the wealth gap in this country is getting wider, not more narrow.

-spence

[Skip N]

Yes Spence and I love a good debate even if the ocasianal F bomb is dropped...Usually by me

[spence]

Originally Posted by Skip N

Yes Spence and I love a good debate even if the ocasianal F bomb is dropped...Usually by me

Actually Skip, for it to be considered a debate you'd have to offer some counterpoints





-spence