Posted on 06/01/2006 3:32:03 PM PDT by LouAvul
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Clasping purple irises, calling out names and clapping to a gospel beat, San Francisco paid tribute Thursday to the thousands of residents who died from AIDS in the last 25 years and honored the thousands more still living with the HIV virus. About 200 people gathered in a performing arts center to hear elected officials, AIDS activists and long-term survivors of the disease reflect on the epidemic that was formally identified on June 5, 1981.
That was the date the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a paper about a mysterious illness that had been diagnosed in five gay men in Los Angeles. But few U.S. cities were as closely associated with the epidemic's worst years as San Francisco, which, as of last month, reported 17,988 AIDS deaths, or 22 percent of California's total.
........
The event's tone, though, was mostly celebratory. Before inviting the audience to stand up and shout out "a welcome" to the spirits of the dead, the Rev. Yvette A. Flunder of City of Refuge United Church of Christ reminded the audience to take pride in the model treatment services and prevention programs the city provided.
"This is a praise party," Flunder said. "This is a thank you celebration and a thank God celebration."
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
I lived in Kal up until a few months ago, and I remember how some of the San Fran homosexuals envied the attention AIDS brought to those who got infected.
Sickening.
What would the statue look like?
How does oe "honor" ANYONE who happened to get a disease?
Did they do something heroic or above the call of duty to GET this disease???
So when will they get around to lepers? or perhaps a bigger killer ... like malaria?
Just got on their knees,.... or hands and knees...
I don't think you really want to know the answer to that! :-)
I just moved back to LA after spending about 2 years up there, and it really is a world of its own.
Instead of concentrating on a 100% preventable disease (in adults), why not spend time and energy on something like cancer which can strike anyone.
"the Rev. Yvette A. Flunder of City of Refuge United Church of Christ reminded the audience to take pride in the model treatment services and prevention programs the city provided.
"This is a praise party," Flunder said. "This is a thank you celebration and a thank God celebration.""
WOW.... you just wonder, did she go in as a heritic or did she devolve into one?
What exactly is "heroic" about AIDS?
Come on ev'rybody we've got quilting to do....
Activities that cause heart disease or cancer don't undermine Western Civilization.
Well actually some have. Look up the term "bug chasers" it is all about homosexuals that seek out sex with infected aids patients so that the sex is more exciting and risky.
There was a newspaper article about something called "bug hunting" or some such.
It was a homo who engaged in high risk activity because they envied the attention of those dying of AIDS.
The homo's (no, they are not "gay", they highjacked that word) are mentally ill. Don't believe me? google for "bug chasers". Now THAT is some sickening sh!t
Right. I forget sometimes.
hahhaha!
ya beat me with your post...kudo's.
Yeah, they are called "bug hunters": lunatic queers determined to push every limit of high risk sexual activity, since it is so sexy. The idiot Republican taxpayers have to foot the bill to pay for their ineviable disability, Medicaid, Medicare, ad nauseum.
Why is this deserving of honor?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.