Monday, December 01, 2008

HIV, Mon Amour













World AIDS Day 2008

I'd encourage my three readers to give something, either here, or to the charity of your choice.

Above, a cartogram showing territories based on proportions of their HIV-positive populations aged 15-49.

Below, some words from the late poet, Tory Dent, from her book from which I've borrowed the title for this post.
Where I am able to walk unbothered for a while as if along a long, white beach.
Where I am able to stand and contemplate my life, the concept and its definitions.
Where I am able to close my eyes and revel in the memory, the voice and face
the jokes, the silences, the passion, the fights, of someone I loved deeply who died.
Where trapped in the tar gut of solitary confinement I wake and am no longer blind.
Update: I meant to mention that I highly recommend Yesterday, the Zulu-language film from South Africa that deals very poignantly with HIV/AIDS. One of the best films I've seen in years.

3 comments:

LadrĂ³n de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

Thanks for reminding those two other readers of the day and posting the map that is so telling and a reminder of why this enormous issue does not get the attention it needs.

C. L. DeMedeiros said...

We're very close for something good about that issue,
but very few ones will be able to
reach to real thing about this whole thing...
Is not how he live our lives
but how we die.

Your blog is very well done


:)

BigAssBelle said...

thanks for the reminder and the recommendation.