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Growing threat to AIDS: Indifference, ignorance and denial
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 1/7/2005 | Michael N. Westley and Carey Hamilton

Posted on 01/07/2005 1:15:48 PM PST by TChris

The lethal virus hits a new generation

In the public mind, the HIV virus has mutated from a feared killer to an illness easily managed with new medications.

But under the microscope, HIV's rapid mutations defy new drugs and outpace science's attempts to find a cure. That gap is troublesome to Utah activists and doctors, who worry years of medical advances and declining media coverage have left Americans vulnerable to HIV's growing threat.

"There's a younger generation that denies the danger because they weren't around when everyone was dying," says Kristen Ries, a physician at the University of Utah's infectious disease clinic.

Jake, a 27-year-old student in Salt Lake County, was stunned when he tested positive for HIV just after his 23rd birthday.

"I really didn't think anything about [HIV/AIDS]," he said. "I thought it was one of those things in America that had taken care of itself."

(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: aids; gay; gaydisease; grid; hiv; homosexual; homosexualagenda
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Hmmm... Could it be that most people understand the vast majority of cases of this disease are transmitted via preventable lifestyle choices and the balance are fewer in number than many, more troubling and pressing diseases (i.e. cancer and heart disease)

Could THAT be it?

1 posted on 01/07/2005 1:15:48 PM PST by TChris
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To: TChris

Quarantine is the only real threat to AIDS. Other than that it will continue to spread unhindered.


2 posted on 01/07/2005 1:20:02 PM PST by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Vote for true conservatives!)
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To: TChris

Another great headline.

Indifference is a threat TO Aids?


3 posted on 01/07/2005 1:24:03 PM PST by siunevada
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To: TChris
With only a few exceptions, this disease is preventable through behavior.
4 posted on 01/07/2005 1:26:13 PM PST by Proud2BeRight
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To: TChris
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left him ill-prepared to handle the dangers of alcohol and sex, he said."

B.S. Half my family is LDS and they are totally prepared to handle these behaviors. They don't drink and they only have marital sex.

Instead of blaming the church for failing to hold keggers while passing out flavored condoms, maybe a little self-reflection is in order.

5 posted on 01/07/2005 1:26:33 PM PST by Gingersnap
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To: TChris

I propose a new AIDS fighting campaign slogan: KEEP IT ZIPPED!


6 posted on 01/07/2005 1:27:17 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: Gingersnap

Well exactly. Had he listened to the Church, he wouldn't be in this mess.


7 posted on 01/07/2005 1:29:23 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: TChris
In the public mind, the HIV virus has mutated from a feared killer to an illness easily managed with new medications.

I have been thinking this for years. These young men were not around to see the news reports featuring skeletal men, some covered in lesions, dying in hospital rooms. Those of us who are older, remember the pictures, remember what Rock Hudson looked like at the end. This kind of mental image is somewhat of an incentive to try a bit of restraint. With the drug "cocktails" that are now being prescribed, most young, gay men have no idea what AIDs actually looks like.

8 posted on 01/07/2005 1:30:58 PM PST by LibertarianLiz
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To: Gingersnap
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left him ill-prepared to handle the dangers of alcohol and sex, he said."

And the rest of the world, LDS or not, said, "I don't think so, bub."

Maybe he fell asleep during the discussions on these subjects and nobody noticed.

9 posted on 01/07/2005 1:31:50 PM PST by siunevada
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To: Gingersnap
B.S. Half my family is LDS and they are totally prepared to handle these behaviors.

I agree. And just how in the world is it the Church's job to teach this ignorant lad about sexually transmitted diseases anyway? Parents can't legitimately transfer their responsibility for teaching their own children to the Church any more than they can to the state. Sad how many problems of various LDS members are misguidedly laid on the Church.

10 posted on 01/07/2005 1:32:46 PM PST by TChris (Most people's capability for inference is severely overestimated)
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To: LibertarianLiz
---and if they personally had to pay for the tens of thousands of dollars worth of medication a year instead of getting on Medicade, it would help, too---
11 posted on 01/07/2005 1:34:17 PM PST by rellimpank (urban dwellers don' t understand the cultural deprivation of not being raised on a farm)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: TChris
"And just how in the world is it the Church's job to teach this ignorant lad about sexually transmitted diseases anyway?"

Exactly. No church has the responsibility to teach it's members how "sin safely".

13 posted on 01/07/2005 1:35:59 PM PST by Gingersnap
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To: TChris
Hmmm... Could it be that most people understand the vast majority of cases of this disease are transmitted via preventable lifestyle choices and the balance are fewer in number than many, more troubling and pressing diseases (i.e. cancer and heart disease)

Could THAT be it?

You know what I would like to see? I would like to see a conversation here between men who were sexually active between the ages of puberty and marriage. I am interested in how your parents could have made you -- a young guy with raging hormones -- fear AIDS enough to prevent you from having sex with girls who were "easy."

Nita
Mother of some handsome, young boys who most likely have raging hormones if they're normal like everyone else. :-)

14 posted on 01/07/2005 1:37:24 PM PST by Nita Nupress
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To: All
I mean, honestly, have you been around these young girls nowadays? Talk about 'forward"... Don't get me started.
15 posted on 01/07/2005 1:41:44 PM PST by Nita Nupress
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To: Nita Nupress
I would like to see a conversation here between men who were sexually active between the ages of puberty and marriage. I am interested in how your parents could have made you -- a young guy with raging hormones -- fear AIDS enough to prevent you from having sex with girls who were "easy."

It's not just about being scared enough about AIDS to avoid premarital sex. If a child (boy OR girl) is not taught by repeated verbal and exemplary means by his/her parents that premarital sex is WRONG, for various reasons, then the raging hormones will, in all likelihood, win the battle. I am one who was able to wait, and there are lots more like me out there. (You'll just have to trust that I didn't wait due to lack of opportunity)

Teach your boys that premarital sex is wrong, dangerous for multiple reasons (disease, pregnancy, emotionally, etc.) and worth waiting for. They will live safer, happier lives for it. People who wait for a committed marriage before sex have repeatedly expressed greater satisfaction in their marriages AND their sex lives when polled.

16 posted on 01/07/2005 1:45:41 PM PST by TChris (Most people's capability for inference is severely overestimated)
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To: Nita Nupress
I mean, honestly, have you been around these young girls nowadays? Talk about 'forward"... Don't get me started.

Yes, I have. You're right too; they didn't make girls that way when I was a teen. :-/

However, the young men are stronger too. I have worked closely with many of them and they really are able to resist when they are taught to and taught why. Particularly, teens take their cues from their parents about obeying rules. If they are given an inch in the parents' example, they will take a mile in their own behavior.

17 posted on 01/07/2005 1:49:18 PM PST by TChris (Most people's capability for inference is severely overestimated)
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To: Nita Nupress
I mean, honestly, have you been around these young girls nowadays? Talk about 'forward"... Don't get me started.

This nitwit didn't get his problem from women. Had he been having unprotected sex with young women, he probably wouldn't be spouting off such drivel, nor would he have AIDS.

18 posted on 01/07/2005 1:49:35 PM PST by Bon mots
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To: LibertarianLiz
With the drug "cocktails" that are now being prescribed, most young, gay men have no idea what AIDs actually looks like.

And it sure seems like no one wants them to know, especially their homosexual activist 'friends'.

19 posted on 01/07/2005 1:52:02 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: TChris
If a child (boy OR girl) is not taught by repeated verbal and exemplary means by his/her parents that premarital sex is WRONG, for various reasons, then the raging hormones will, in all likelihood, win the battle.

I wish I knew the statistics on that phrase "in all likelihood." I don't think I agree with that. It's not worth debating, though. It's beside the point in my case, as they're out of the house now anyway and I don't make it my business anymore. They've already been "taught by repeated verbal and exemplary means" so all I can do is hold my breath.

I'm just glad I no longer have to answer those phone calls from all those girls!

20 posted on 01/07/2005 1:57:13 PM PST by Nita Nupress
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