A Place of Safety
I expect simple behaviours here. Friendship, and love.
Any advice should be from the perspective of the person asking, not the person giving!
We have had to make new membership moderated to combat the huge number of spammers who register
















You are here: Home > Forum > A Place of Safety > General Talk > WORLD AIDS DAY
WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39520] Fri, 01 December 2006 02:06 Go to next message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




hi every one serious moment Over 40 million people around the world are living with HIV or AIDS. id like to take this time to think of every one who has died or is or has lived with this dreadful illness


may this post be our small token of remeberance of you all and show our love to those we know personaly and for those we dont may you forever be in our thorts

also i like to thank all the doctors and nurses and medical staff around the world and ais charites who help to ease the suffering

in remberance to my cousin matt i love you kid taken from us in 2002 after recieving bad blood XXX JAC-JAY, DYLL & BRAD and the rest of the family

[Updated on: Fri, 01 December 2006 02:10]




Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39525 is a reply to message #39520] Fri, 01 December 2006 02:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NW is currently offline  NW

On fire!
Location: Worcester, England
Registered: January 2005
Messages: 1560



A beautiful post.

And I sit here and think of the guys I knew who are no longer with us, but also of the devotion and love which their partners lavished on them: both the living and the dead are with us still.

NW



"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
This set me thinking.  [message #39526 is a reply to message #39520] Fri, 01 December 2006 03:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cossie is currently offline  cossie

On fire!
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699



I didn't get involved in the thread about blood donors because I didn't know enough about the subject. I still don't, but hearing about Jac's cousin provokes me into asking the question that has been rattling about in the back of my mind.

I realise that the attitude of the NBS is apparently discriminatory and, as is true of many public institutions, its policy is applied with what sometimes amounts to unfeeling arrogance. What I don't know, and want to know, is the logistic basis for their position.

It's legitimate to demand that information; it's rather less legitimate to argue against the policy unless the information has been demanded but refused.

Now bear in mind that I know very little about the subject; I am merely trying to apply logic to what has been said on the board.

First, if ALL blood is adequately screened for the HIV virus, why would any restriction at all be required? The presumption must be that either -

(a) not all blood is so screened, or
(b) the screening is not sufficiently reliable, or
(c) the cost of fully-reliable screening is prohibitive.

In the United Kingdom, gay males are the largest group of those carrying the HIV virus, followed (at some distance, as I understand it) by drug users sharing needles, patients infected by blood transfusions and 'others'.

I fervently hope that (a) above does not apply. If either (b) or (c) applies, there will be a logistic balance between the benefit - in terms of blood volume - of accepting blood from gay donors and the disadvantages of so doing - in terms of cost or reliability of screening.

It is logically and logistically possible that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. If that is the case, the NBS should produce the statistics validating its policy, and it is those statistics which should be demanded, rather than an outright policy change. Of course, the statistics might well provide hard scientific currency for arguing that the policy SHOULD be changed, but it seems to me that the NBS should be accused of being unduly secretive and potentially medically unjustified in refusing gay donations, rather than being challenged on the 'sexual discrimination' card.

It's obvious that in this kind of situation 'class' exclusions are inevitable; without that, the system would be unworkable. It follows that exclusion should not be seen as a personal insult. I accept, of course, that the rather ham-fisted NBS approach often fails to make that clear, and that, whatever the rights and wrongs, much greater honesty and transparency is essential.

I suspect that the NUS initiative is misdirected, and may cause more harm than good in addressing genuine sexual discrimination. Demanding a reason why is undeniably justified; demanding a change invites opposition on superficial, rather than medical grounds - 'The gay lobby is more interested in pursuing the grail of equality than in the potential risks to which innocent patients might be exposed.' I'm not seriously making that allegation - but the traditional tabloid press might well do so.

And, above all, the primary consideration must always be to protect the patient from the risk of exposure to infected blood, so that needless deaths like that of Jac's cousin do not happen again.



For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
Re: This set me thinking.  [message #39529 is a reply to message #39526] Fri, 01 December 2006 04:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




he lived in usa cossie the nbs wasnot involved this time



Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
I guessed that might be the case ...  [message #39531 is a reply to message #39529] Fri, 01 December 2006 04:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cossie is currently offline  cossie

On fire!
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699



... but mentioning your cousin made me think, and thinking made me post some thoughts that were already bothering me.

The UK has had its fair share of deaths from transfusion of HIV-infected blood products, so the issue is just as relevant here.



For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
Re: I guessed that might be the case ...  [message #39533 is a reply to message #39531] Fri, 01 December 2006 04:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




yeah i hear from the blood that uk got from bad screening in usa



Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39534 is a reply to message #39525] Fri, 01 December 2006 04:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




please feel free to post ur own dedications & thourts on this post please via useing re: world aids day please



Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39543 is a reply to message #39520] Fri, 01 December 2006 08:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796



This may seem trivial. I have not previously been "brave" enough to wear the insignia that denote - I don't have the right words, oppositon to AIDS seems so wrong, you can't oppose an ailment - support for thise with HIV and AIDS.

I have finally worked up the bravery to seek out and wear the ribbon with pride.

I had an aunt, a much loved aunt, mother of four of my cousins, who died in the 1960s of an "Auto Immune disorder". The family, of course, refuses to associate it with AIDS. She was an early blood transfusion victim, before any screening was available or even "required".



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: This set me thinking.  [message #39548 is a reply to message #39526] Fri, 01 December 2006 12:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NW is currently offline  NW

On fire!
Location: Worcester, England
Registered: January 2005
Messages: 1560



I'm taking this to a new thread to answer.



"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39553 is a reply to message #39543] Fri, 01 December 2006 14:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NW is currently offline  NW

On fire!
Location: Worcester, England
Registered: January 2005
Messages: 1560



timmy, it's not trivial in the least.

It's really great that you feel able to do this, and especially so as many of those who have loved ones living with the virus or who died from its effects (in the Western world, anyway) don't wear the ribbon in case people think they are gay!

HIV/Aids knows no boundaries of age, sex, or sexual orientation - people like you are an excellent antidote to those who persist in seeing the virus as some kind of biblical judgement on gay men.

all power to you!



"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39554 is a reply to message #39553] Fri, 01 December 2006 15:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796



I know this sounds silly, but where the heck do I get one?



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39555 is a reply to message #39554] Fri, 01 December 2006 15:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NW is currently offline  NW

On fire!
Location: Worcester, England
Registered: January 2005
Messages: 1560



There's been a lot of stuff about this in the gay media - very few of the 'usual' outlets (the kind of places that sell poppies, for example) are participating (probably because of the "gay" stigma).

Personally, I've always gone for home-made. Avert (the international AIDS charity) says:
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort, and as a result there is no one official red ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!


from http://www.avert.org/worldaid.htm . To me, home-made is more personal. But for next year, or if you decide to wear the ribbon year-round as many do, try ordering from http://shop.nat.org.uk/

NW



"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39556 is a reply to message #39554] Fri, 01 December 2006 15:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




most gay bars or gay frindly stores have them they may even have them in the street collection points depends where u live are u in uk or usa??



Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39557 is a reply to message #39555] Fri, 01 December 2006 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796



Looks like it will be home made, then



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39558 is a reply to message #39556] Fri, 01 December 2006 16:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796



I've never seen a street collector. Nor an outlet. Bu NW's info is useful



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: WORLD AIDS DAY  [message #39576 is a reply to message #39558] Fri, 01 December 2006 21:24 Go to previous message
jacmar is currently offline  jacmar

Toe is in the water
Location: originally usa (NYC) now ...
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 85




Timmy try http://www.joinred.com or http://joinred.com/products.asp



Jay, I love u. You are my heart and my soul.
You are my other half. The final piece to my puzzle. I am complete when I am with you.
You turn a dark day into a bright sunny day.
You make me giddy with joy.Just from hearing your voice.
Previous Topic: its, snowing
Next Topic: Ok My first Day of real work
Goto Forum: