Whiskey Wednesday

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day, and now more than ever the disease truly is a world issue. Over the past 20 plus years AIDS has progressed from a gay man’s disease to a devastating global pandemic that threatens to wipe out entire generations of some cultures.

I feel fortunate to have largely escaped the wrath of HIV/AIDS. I don’t have it. Very few of my friends or acquaintances have it. And no one close to me has died of AIDS. If I were five or ten years older, this likely would not be the case.

Still there is no cure, no vaccine. The disease continues to mutate, raising the threat that ever more virulent, drug resistant strains will develop. In the US, infection rates, while remaining relatively low, are once again on the rise. In Africa and much of the developing world, infection rates and AIDS related deaths have reached disastrous levels. Millions upon millions of Africans have HIV/AIDS, perhaps as much as 40 percent of the population of some countries. Most of these people will never receive treatment.

One of my favorite obnoxious bitches, comedian Kathy Griffin, recently caused a bit of stir when she attended an event wearing a shirt emblazoned with the phrase “WE ALL HAVE AIDS.” I say, well put. We are not all infected, but we all own the disease and it affects each of us.

Today would be a great time to give a small gift to your favorite AIDS related charity: Tulsa CARES and HOPE Testing Clinic are two great local organizations. Also visit Bristol-Myers Squibb’s “Light to Unite” campaign website and light a candle. They’ll give one dollar to AIDS research – up to $100,000 – for each person who participates.

posted by ThomG @ 2:32:00 PM