World AIDS Day

When it's good to be Red

Just a quick note to bring to your attention the new Red, which is actually acceptable particullarly if you're Blue. It's a new twist on an old idea, it's not a charity it's a business model, they are just being up front about it. Let's hope they are able to make a difference.

I'm glad that there has been so much focus on AIDS in Africa lately. Americans always seem to feel that if it isn't happening in their backyard it doesn't affect them. The sad truth is today that what happens halfway around the world does have an impact on each and every one of us. It may not be as immediate as something that can be witnessed as it occurs but fact is eventually what is happening in Africa will come-back to haunt us. I am sure there are those that could care less about Africa because of the people there are African and again that vision and appathy is greatly short sighted. Aside from the shear inhumanity of doing nothing is the fact that someday this epidemic will almost certainly reach a size that simply cannot be contained. Their will be no cure, there can only be a vaxcine and what will be the cost to vaxcinate 7 billion people? What will it take to open peoples eyes? What amount of loss will need to be suffered before we are spurned to action and will it be too late?

AIDS Walk 2006

AIDS Walk Detroit 2006

Thank you to everyone that contributed. I met my goal and some.

It was interesting, I've noticed that I no longer have the extreme sense of guilt or sadness that I once had. I remember the first time I volunteered with the walk and watched a mother and father present a panel for the AIDS quilt of their son who had recently died. Oh how I cried. Now I walked through the display and reflected but was not moved. There were fewer and fewer recent deaths as part of the quilt and some panels that were not memorials to individuals at all. Maybe this is a good thing but I cannot help to think that this is just a lull. Someday the virus could mutate to fight off most current medications and the death rate will again be devastating. I believe already that many feel that to be HIV positive is not so bad. No thank you. Between the side affects, the social rejection - predominately from our own community these day - the cost, 'cause these drug are not cheap and the fact that you could still die from it I think I'll pass.

True I sometimes feel like it couldn't happen to me, I've taken some risks in my past, I only number a handful of people personally who are infected, and only one with full blown AIDS, but I do not know anyone personally who has past away because of the disease. Though I have never known a sexual world without this plague I suppose in a way it is like many other things. Everything eventually becomes old news and is no longer page one. While I do not want to read about the doom and gloom of the worst off I think it is worth reminding so that someday this problem may go away.

One can only hope.

Steppin' OUT

Hey gang,

I know, I know long time no read for many of you. Suffice to say things have been busy – or I have been overly distracted lately. Anyway I wanted to remind ya’ll about this year’s AIDS Walk Detroit in Royal Oak on Sunday 17 September. After taking last year off I will again be participating this year and have set a rather ambitious goal of $1000. In past years I’ve come awfully close to that amount and in all I have raised well over $3000 in the past five years. None of this could have been done with out your help though and I’m hoping this year may be no different. If you would like to make a donation this year it is as easy as clicking on the link below.

Whether you choose to give $10 or $100 every dollar will go to helping those affected by HIV/AIDS. Your support is greatly appreciated.

http://www.firstgiving.com/dlight

I hope this letter finds you in great spirits and health, I hope to talk to many of you soon. Let me know how you are doing in your own corner of the universe. Until then…

Know that you're loved,

D

"Peace, it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -Unknown