I've been thinking a great deal about what I wanted to post for my participation in Link and Think (which seems appropriate), and I've come to the following conclusion: Many better writers than I will address the lack of a cure, or even a vaccince. Others will write beautiful eulogies to loved ones they've lost. And still others will tackle the need to keep AIDS and HIV alive in people's minds and in their politics.

What I can do, is offer links to some resources and information you might not be aware of. And I can tell you how AIDS has affected me - not directly, but the influence it's had on my life. Being me, I've done it quite light-heartedly - I don't mean to belittle the extraordinary, devastating effect of the disease on the entire world. I only want to highlight the small ways in which it has touched this particular life.

First, the links:

Guardian feature - online AIDS/HIV resources

The Mirror on what young people in the UK think/know about AIDS

BBC News AIDS around the world section - look at these numbers - that's the reality.

Next, the think. I've divided my wander down memory lane into two parts. I've put part two behind a password for reasons both professional and politic. Please understand that I want the people who read this journal to see it all. But I don't want this information to be indexed by a search engine, or stumbled upon out of context. Please feel free to call me, email me, or ICQ me to ask for the password.

A word of warning - of neccessity, some of the following contains references to emotional and physical love between men. If you have a problem with that - what on earth are you doing here?

Part one is here. (If you want to comment on it please use the comments link on this posting)
Part two is here. (Comment space is available when you get there).

Why not check out the Link and Think initiative and visit some other sites taking part?

Finally, I want to acknowledge that my participation in Link and Think is at least partially a consequence of my incalculable respect and admiration for those people I do know who are living with a positive diagnosis, and who continue to exhibit a liveliness and interest in life that I can only futily hope I could emulate if I was in their situation.

Posted on December 1, 2001 01:01 AM

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