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After Mass today I spoke with some men who were new. I saw one of them in mass and he looked like something was odd about him -- druggie, alcholic, or a mental patient. He also looked somewhat like an older "cholo".

After mass I intro myself to him and he intro's his young friends. All 3 live in a drug rehab center (halfway house?) for addicts less than two blocks away. (BTW, I attend St. John the Evangelist Parish in Stamford Ct.)

We talk and I happen to mention how I saw herion addicts shoot up in jail -- and share needles. I mention the risk of AIDS and the older man tells me he has been HIV positive for 20 years -- he got it through sharing needles.

He also tells me that he has had two children in the mean time -- both HIV free. His wife is HIV free. He says he doesn't take any medicine. He looks worn out, but not from AIDS/HIV but from drugs. (I've seen plenty of druggies and they all have this beaten worn down aged look.)

Now, this doesn't mean anything, since I can't tell if he's telling the truth. He could be telling partial truths. That seems to be the weakest link in the the HIV/AIDS debate -- how to tell if someone is telling you the truth. He could indeed be positive, but he could be lying about how long. He could be lying about his kids, etc. Who knows.

However, it was a very intersting meeting. It doesn't disprove that HIV causes AIDS. It doesn't prove it either on the other hand. Can some people's immune system survive HIV, and not get full blown AIDS? Could he have had a false positive? Did his HIV mutate to a "harmless" form?

I am still convinced that HIV is directly related to AIDS. I myself wouldn't chance a HIV infection on the belief that it's not related. Better safe than sorry. This guy may be the exception to the rule.