AIDS HIV

by ballistic 26 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  JWinSF

  "They claim that their stand on promiscuity, homosexuality, drug taking and blood transfusions makes them practically 'immune' to the disease."

  Wrong, wrong, wrong:

  Promiscuity does not in itself cause the spread of HIV which can eventually turn into AIDS. Unprotected sex is what transmits it. There is the risk of a condom breaking that could open one to transmission. But, infection can only then happen if one of those involved is HIV positive. One cannot contract HIV from another person if the other person is HIV negative.

  Homosexuality does not in itself cause the spread of HIV as long as those engaged in sexual activities do so in a protected manner. For example, one of my closest friends who's a gay ex-JW and has been actively sexual since the early 80s is still HIV negative. In addition, he had one long-term monogamous relationship with an HIV positive man who died and is in another long-term relationship with his current partner who's HIV positive. My friend still remains HIV negative due to his taking the appropriate precautions of safer sex. I myself am gay and have been sexually active --- at one point very much so, currently only occasionally active --- and am still HIV negative. Also, keep in mind that HIV first exploded on the scene among African black straight people, not gays.

  Drug taking does not in itself cause the spread of HIV. The taking of intravenous drugs using needles that have been used by other HIV positive people causes the spread of HIV.

  Blood transfusions does not in itself cause the spread of HIV. It did in the early period of the disease. That was largely due to the irresponsible behavior of blood banks not taking measures to make the blood supply safer after there was ample evidence that blood could pass the virus. For a better understanding of the subject read the book or the movie made on the book "And the Band Played On."

  John W Wirtanen
• 

  Prisca

  Ballistic,

  I can see your point and I agree with you. Of course, abstinence is the best way of preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS, as is not engaging in sharing needles in drug use or keeping away from use of blood products.

  But in today's world, people are going to find ways of getting on with their lifestyle choices, whilst ignoring the facts. It's human nature to think about today, and not worry about tomorrow.

  The countries with the biggest rates of HIV/AIDS are in Africa. Promiscuity is a way of life, and African men are loathe to use condoms, so there is a huge issue with education versus popular lifestyle choices. I doubt they will ever win the AIDS war.
• 

  cellomould

  The good news is that immunity should develop over the next few generations in countries with high infection rates. But then again, the virus might be able to extend its dormant period.

  I was walking on campus with my girlfriend a while back and bumped into a couple of witnesses who frequently stake out a table to hand out literature. One of the men, an acquaintance, quickly brought up the topic of AIDS. To imply that JWs were safe from such a disease, he used an anectdote from an infected person he met.

  I thought that was rather cruel, but I didn't mention it to him.

  And he continued to talk about it for about 10 minutes!

  I should have said something...oh well. Let them be arrogant.

  cellmould
• 

  blondie

  This topic reminded of some especially crass and unloving principles regarding AIDS that the WTS implemented in a 1994 Awake article.

  *** g94 3/22 14 Helping Those With AIDS ***

  
  Because of the life-threatening nature of AIDS, it is wise to keep in mind some reasonable precautions when welcoming an AIDS sufferer into our personal association or that of the Christian congregation. First, while no general announcement is to be made, we may want to inform one of the elders in the congregation of the situation so that he would be prepared to give a kind and appropriate response to any who may inquire about the matter.

  The prudent AIDS sufferer realizes that others are sensitive about this disease. Therefore, out of respect for the feelings of those who want to be of assistance

  , it would be better for the AIDS victim not to initiate public displays of affection such as hugging and kissing . Even if there is little or no possibility that such gestures could communicate the disease, this restraint will show that the victim is considerate of others, thus engendering similar consideration in return.

  What should a person who knows he or she has AIDS do when he or she wants to become one of Jehovahs Witnesses and

  get baptized ? Out of respect for the feelings of others, it may be wise for them to request a private baptism, although there is no evidence to suggest that AIDS has been transmitted in swimming pools. While many first-century Christians were baptized at large public gatherings, others were baptized in more private settings because of varying circumstances. (Acts 2:38-41; 8:34-38; 9:17, 18) Another alternative would be for the candidate with AIDS to be baptized last.

  Realizing that many have fears of the unknown,

  the person with AIDS should not be quick to take offense if he or she is not invited to private homes right away or if it seems that a parent restricts a child from being in close contact with him or her. And if one of the Congregation Book Studies is held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses, it may be wise for one with AIDS to choose to attend there, rather than in a private home, unless that one has discussed the situation with the householder.

  Another situation in which an innocent person could become infected is by marrying someone who is unknowingly harboring the AIDS virus . The need for caution in such circumstances may be particularly necessary if one or both of the intended marriage partners had been promiscuous or had used needles to abuse drugs prior to coming to an accurate knowledge of Gods Word. Since there is a growing number of people who have asymptomatic HIV infection (that is, no outward symptoms as yet), it would not be improper for an individual or for caring parents to request an AIDS blood test of the prospective mate prior to engagement or marriage. Because of the devastating, fatal nature of this disease, a potential marriage partner should not take offense if that request is made.

  If the test proves to be positive, it would be inappropriate for the infected party to pressure the intended mate to continue the courtship or engagement if the prospective mate now wishes to end the relationship

  . And it would be wise for anyone who previously lived a high-risk life-style, was promiscuous or used drugs intravenously, to choose voluntarily to be tested before beginning a courtship. In this way, hurt feelings could be avoided.

  Blondie
• 

  SYN

  The situation here in Africa is getting worse by the day.

  In some of the coastal regions there are no longer any graves left in the graveyards, and the Government has begun mass-burials of people, and the trend is accelerating rapidly, because the more people there are that are HIV+, the more people become HIV+. People are striving to educate the populace at large about the danger of this disease, but even their best efforts are now little more than damage control as this virus wreaks it's havoc on our fragile country.

  Already our economy is being affected by the amount of people who are falling sick from this disease, and the situation will not improve in the immediate future.

  It is not uncommon for 2/3 of people in some villages here to be HIV+. Another thing which is very bad too is that there is now a myth circulating that you can cure yourself of the HIV virus by literally abusing a child - I cannot go into details on this site, but you should all know what I am talking about.

  Within the next decade Zula and Xhosa villages which are now bustling with people and babies and kids will become ghost-like and empty as their inhabitants die en-masse.

  What is compounding the problem is that for many people here it would be considered an insult for a woman to ask a man to use plastic (if you get my drift) - thus the transmission rate of the virus accelerates once more. Already hospitals are being overwhelmed with dying people, and the cities are gaining more and more AIDS orphans every day, doomed to live for six or seven years before they too die.

  Not a very nice time to be living in, that's for sure.
• 

  Mary

  Why don't we, the free world, send millions of CONDOMS to Africa??!! I'm not joking here. If they used condoms, not only would it help protect them from HIV and AIDS, but it would cut down dramatically on all the unwanted kids that are born over there. Kids that are either born with AIDS, or born into such squallor conditions that they'd be better off dead.

  Sending food and clothing is fine, but until these people, many who are half dead themselves, quit having unprotected sex and breeding like rabbits, both AIDS and the population explosion over there is only going to get worse.

  This of course, would involve educating them as to the benefits of using condoms. I realize that it might be easier said than done, as I assume most men over there wouldn't be thrilled with having to wear condoms every time they had sex.

  However, when you're faced with the alternative, it's a pretty small request.

  Edited by - Mary on 19 November 2002 12:6:33
• 

  SYN

  Hi Mary.

  The problem here is more elementary than that - there is plenty of plastic to go around. Hell, they hand it out at street corners these days for all to take.

  What is happening is that traditionally the women here have very little say in what goes on in the bedroom, as this is seen as grave disrespect - thus they get very little opportunity to ask their men to use plastic, and the mind-set is that "flesh-to-flesh" is better.

  This is what has given us our AIDS problem.

  You'd have to live here to know what I mean - trust me when I say that the traditional African culture which accounts for most of the population of Africa has very, very different views on sexuality to that of the Western world!
• 

  Black Sheep

  Can anyone here enlighten me? I have had some doubts about the HIV/AIDS thing for quite a while.

  Let's get one myth out of the road for a start. JWinSF said "Also, keep in mind that HIV first exploded on the scene among African black straight people, not gays."

  AIDS was first identified as GRID. It only appeared in promiscous, receptive, male homosexuals (bottoms) and fisties. It did not appear in gay men who were exclusively Tops. This would make HIV the first virus that was only communicable in one direction. It is worthy of note that these first cases of GRID occured a few months after the new benzene based lubricants and hot lubricants were advertised in gay magazines. Benzenes have been identified as the cause of other immune deficiency syndromes, SMON in Japan, TOS in Madrid, American Pellagra. Benzenes used in sexual lubricants would be absorbed through the anal wall, bypassing the liver, straight into the bloodstream several times faster that if you ate the stuff. To the best of my knowledge, the possibility of a GRID/benzene link has never been researched.

  WHO suggests that it takes about 1000 sexual acts, on average, for male to female transmission to occur in the West. Why 1000? That's a helluva lot of sex. Just how dangerous is this virus?

  Here is another little ripper I found. Annual death rates in Masaka, Uganda.

  1948, "a minimum of twenty-five to thirty per thousand." 1959, 21/1000. 1991, 16/1000. 1994, 14.1/1000 and that was in the middle of an AIDS epidemic. What is going on here? Why is it that, as AIDS increases, death rates fall? I read an article by a UK doctor who expressed surprise that two groups of around ten HIV+ South Africans who went to him in the UK for treatment all tested negative in the UK. He treated them for their diseases and they all went home quite happy.

  And then there is the problem of Long Term Non Progressors, people who tested HIV+ many years ago and have not developed AIDS. OK, it can be argued that they have some type of natural resistance (BTW. most of these LTNPs have avoided using anti-retrovirals.), but why are others getting an AIDS like syndrome while still testing negative?

  The most common sense bit I have ever seen in an Awake on the subject was a comment by an HIV+ woman's young son. It went something like this. "It's not the virus that's making you sick, Mum. It's all those pills you are taking." She was taking about 20 pills a day.

  Can anyone name an anti-retroviral drug that does not affect health and/or the immune system?
• 

  Joyzabel

  First may I say welcome to the board, Black Sheep.

  If you haven't noticed with other threads, around here we want facts only. Not spouted opinions or hearsay. Been there, done that with the WTBTS

  j2bf
• 

  Black Sheep

  Thanks for your welcome Joy.

  I'll consider myself severly reprimanded and won't quote any hearsay in future.

  So what qualifies something as a fact for you lot? Do you want the sources for all data/research? or is consensus of opinion good enough for you?