Alijam3150's Blog

I was fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving in New York City, thanks to a wonderful friend who was out of town, and lent us her apartment in Brooklyn. We walked all over, saw the sights, and went to see Billy Elliot on Broadway. I saw the movie last year, and we really wanted to go and see a play – so this was our choice. It was really interesting – the stage play puts much more emphasis on the politics of  the Thatcher years in Britain, and her resounding defeat of the labour unions in the 1980′s. It brought back many memories for me – of a society that was angry, of frustration, economic hardship, aggression and pride fighting for space. thee were poignant moments, hilarious comments, dark struggles and the beauty of the ballet. It was a time of hardship, solidarity for the working class and deep rifts and divisions in the coal mining families that are still rife today.

Britain has changed so much since then – I’m not sure if it’s for the better – the whole nature  and composition of society has altered.  I’ve spent the last twenty years living outside of my country, and feel very much like a stranger looking in, with the right accent and passport.  Going to see Billy Elliot took me back to a very different country, and back to many forgotten memories of childhood. Who’d have thought a Broadway play could have such a powerful effect on my psyche – it’s even made me want to write an essay about it – how about that!

Dec 1st is the ‘celebration’ of World AIDS day – by celebration, I guess we rrecognize, remember and learn more about the disease that is afflicting so many, world-wide. From 1988 to 2008 – the last twenty years over 25 million people have died from AIDs. In South Africa there has been a major reversal of Government policy towards the acknowledgement of AIDs. Click here to read the article. One of the most significant changes there has been the President’s approach to being tested. Aids in Africa is surrounded by myth, secrecy and shame, and for one to be tested is considered shameful, it is shrouded in secrecy. For many years AIDs support groups have been asking for country leaders in Africa to be tested, to stand up and be counted, to lead by example. Certainly when I lived in Zambia the American Embassy tried, as persuasively as possible to encourage  President  Mwanawasa to be tested, to be a positive role model, to confront ‘the enemy’, but to no avail.  In South Africa we now see that the President is willing to be tested, a huge leap for mankind!

According to the Buncombe County website, “In WNC, there has been a steady increase in the number people who are testing positive for both HIV and syphilis over the past few months. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can sometimes be hard to recognize. Many people infected with syphilis do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for serious health problems if they aren’t treated.”

This is incredibly worrying – AIDs and STD’s on the rise in a country where the support, education and health facilities are abundant? What is happening to us – I remember a time, back in the late 80′s when we were so paranoid about AIDs, and subsequently SO well-educated about prevention that we went way over the top to avoid spreading the disease. Why then has the curve turned back up? Has sex ed in schools glossed over the tragedy and danger of AIDs and STD’s?