Ranting

Warning: This is a rant. If you don't want to hear me complain about the state of the world in general and incompetence and injustice in particular, don't read on.

I was listening to the Voice of America yesterday. Voice of America is both my greatest comfort and my largest pest. I swear if they have one more sound bit from a representative from Heritage Foundation only… So yesterday, a man (I can't even call him out because I don't remember his name or his organization/university) was speaking about the transmission of HIV/AIDS. He wanted to the global community/specific countries to commit to a month long promise to practice safe sex. He was enticed by the amazing number of transmissions that could be halted if this month long oath is made. The VOA interviewer questioned whether he was preaching abstinence - which he was not. The man was pushing condom use, etc. He made it sound so simple. As if each person is capable of making a conscious choice about their sexual practices. OF COURSE THEY AREN'T. It is simply not possible to have every single person in the world practice safe sex for a month, or a day, or even an hour.

Like most things it boils down to economics. Some persons are forced to sell their bodies for sex to feed themselves or their family. Some persons were sold into sex slavery also due to poverty. Their owners/traders accrue a profit from their pain.

This lack of choice also has something to do with power. Some persons are being held captive in abusive relationships where they hold no power, especially not sexual power. Some persons become victims to rape and sexual assault that has nothing to do with their own actions or behaviors.

So, yes, a month of responsible safe sex decisions would decrease the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Yes, it is wonderful to have a lofty goal to set the bar high so that some mobilization might happen. But it is also wonderful to give the public real steps towards solutions. They might not sound miraculous. They might not even sound incredibly productive. These are massive issues inflicting the entire world. The solution is not going to be as obvious as making everyone pinky swear to use condoms for an entire month.