Who, exactly, is "we"?
I agree that in many parts of the US, educational programs are available to highten the public's awareness of HIV and AIDS. However, the implications of a chimp epidemic (working under the assumption that it is true) ARE STILL pretty scary.
Take into account the following:
1. Not every community in the US has a proactive approach about education and AIDS. Example: until very recently, the school system where I live refused to allow any teacher in a school to mention the following words: sex, HIV, AIDS, STD, etc. In many places, the poplular belief is that it is a subject not to be addressed publicly. Not much being done here to stop the spread of the disease, and this is a military seaport city I am talking about.
2. AIDS is pandemic. The HIV virus is not limited to this country, and there are many, many countries that do not have effective educational programs in place.
3. Culture. Even where people are educated about the risks of contracting HIV or AIDS from certain behaviors, the numbers of new cases every year still rises. In many of these places, people (women in particular) do not have the choice to use a condom or say no to a partner who does have the disease. There have even been countries that done almost everything possible to prevent the spread of the disease (Thabo Mbecki, South Africa, 2000).
Very scary.
And the sobering statistics are that at the end of 2001, there wer 40 million people living with HIV or AIDS. Approximately 5 million of those people were infected in 2001. And, at the end of 2001, approximately 14 million children were orphaned, having lost one or both parents to AIDS. And the numbers are still growing...
Very scary, indeed.
Any chance that "place of public performance" might include press conferences? I've heard more Nokia rings on CNN Breaking News than I have in movie theatres.
Symbols are worth whatever value you attach to them.
The purchase of the diamond engagement ring is a symbol of the commitment you are making. If you don't believe that it represents your commitment (for many justifiable reasons), find something that does. If your girlfriend understands you, she'll appreciate the thought you've put into finding a substitute that truly represents what you feel.
And if you don't subscribe to the symbol theory, remember that it is you choosing to purchase a gift for someone you love. Both the giver and receiver should find pleasure in it.
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Who, exactly, is "we"? I agree that in many parts of the US, educational programs are available to highten the public's awareness of HIV and AIDS. However, the implications of a chimp epidemic (working under the assumption that it is true) ARE STILL pretty scary. Take into account the following: 1. Not every community in the US has a proactive approach about education and AIDS. Example: until very recently, the school system where I live refused to allow any teacher in a school to mention the following words: sex, HIV, AIDS, STD, etc. In many places, the poplular belief is that it is a subject not to be addressed publicly. Not much being done here to stop the spread of the disease, and this is a military seaport city I am talking about. 2. AIDS is pandemic. The HIV virus is not limited to this country, and there are many, many countries that do not have effective educational programs in place. 3. Culture. Even where people are educated about the risks of contracting HIV or AIDS from certain behaviors, the numbers of new cases every year still rises. In many of these places, people (women in particular) do not have the choice to use a condom or say no to a partner who does have the disease. There have even been countries that done almost everything possible to prevent the spread of the disease (Thabo Mbecki, South Africa, 2000). Very scary. And the sobering statistics are that at the end of 2001, there wer 40 million people living with HIV or AIDS. Approximately 5 million of those people were infected in 2001. And, at the end of 2001, approximately 14 million children were orphaned, having lost one or both parents to AIDS. And the numbers are still growing... Very scary, indeed.
Any chance that "place of public performance" might include press conferences? I've heard more Nokia rings on CNN Breaking News than I have in movie theatres.
Symbols are worth whatever value you attach to them. The purchase of the diamond engagement ring is a symbol of the commitment you are making. If you don't believe that it represents your commitment (for many justifiable reasons), find something that does. If your girlfriend understands you, she'll appreciate the thought you've put into finding a substitute that truly represents what you feel. And if you don't subscribe to the symbol theory, remember that it is you choosing to purchase a gift for someone you love. Both the giver and receiver should find pleasure in it.