The Complacency Of HIV/AIDS In The American Mind

So I am either fighting of thrush or strep throat, or both. My tongue is coated and my throat is raw and my energy level is down. I need to jump threw some hoops for the state before I can see a doctor. Being a little irritable when not feeling well I find myself wanting to do another heavy posting.

Why doesn't the media, entertainment industry, and politicians wake up and see that there is already a serious epidemic in our own back yard. I am sick and tired of hearing about the "potential avian bird flu." I am sick and tired about hearing about breast cancer with a whole month dedicated to breast cancer. I am sick and tired of hearing about AIDS in Africa. I so sick and tired hearing about Katrina victims who are homeless which now brings me to my point today.

How many of you knew that the victims of Katrina could not, or had a hard time receiving their Meds after Katrina. HIV/AIDS has become the forgotten disease of America. The government has cut back on funding for preventive education and research. The standards for disability are outrageous. You may feel like shit but if your numbers look good on paper you are denied, denied, denied!!

It just feels to me the above fore mention are the current fads of the American public right now. I am not trying to be unjust to the hardships of having breast cancer. The epidemic in Africa is a serious problem. The Katrina victims do need help but damn it America the coffees brewing and no one here in America is smelling it and the SUPER VIRUS is going to show it's ugly head again like it did in New York City in the beginning of 2005 .

Cut The Shit Joe who I love to read pimped my story about finding out when I was positive. I love Joe dearly and he wrote "I 've known Mikey was positive from the moment I stumbled across his site-as he bravely and unabashedly has it listed on his side bar of his main page." I did this for a number of reasons. First I want people to know that this is me. Second I feel HIV/AIDS still has such a stigma around it the general population in America that they are afraid to discuss HIV. How many times have you seen entertainers wear red ribbons now at award shows, film premiers, and other publicized social event? Well the only person I have seen in a world televised event was George Clooney mentioning AIDS at the Academy awards.

When has Oprah, Ellen, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly, all the morning news show, the nightly news shows had a segment on HIV? Where is the AIDS quilt stored at that was so grandioso displayed in central park, that hasn't been displayed in years? I'll tell you, not fucking lately. If HIV/AIDS is now listed as a "Chronic Disease" and not terminal then why the hell did not one, not two, but three of my roommates die from it last year.

My story is only one of many horror stories in the world about HIV/AIDS. I do not want to become the new Jerry's Kids Poster Child for HIV but more people need to open up about their HIV status. We need to start putting faces to people that are living with AIDS in America instead of other countries. Let Americans start thinking about people with HIV who are their next door neighbors. Wake up America, wake up!!