Picture it. Freshman year of college I took a mandatory world view class. This class was amazing I developed my own world view without lies or the omitting of facts. I went to private school Pre-K – senior year. My parents paid so much money for a “good” education. I endured so much heartache for a “good” education. I was top of my class, and had great grades. I was never prepared for what college had in store for me. My high school math teacher had taught us centimeters were the slashes in between the inch marks on a ruler…never once did he tell reference the metric ruler. I was humiliated when I answered that question in my freshman math class…so humiliated I dropped the class. Throughout my college life I realized the only teachers who ever taught us the right/proper material were my history, Spanish, and English teacher. The rest I guess never cared to teach us properly or to teach us the truth.
Anyway, my venting has gotten me way off track. So, back to this world view class, in this class I met my best friend, and others I know will be life-long friends. One day we were discussing the origin of HIV/AIDS, and the professor asked if anyone knew where AIDS began. Being confident in my answer, because that’s what was taught to me, ingrained in me throughout my high school years, I raised my hand to answer. As soon as my answer came out of my mouth and my friends’ faces turn I knew I was wrong. The entire class laughed at me except for one girl…who sadly was also taught the same thing. I was called racist, homophobe, dumb, and gullible. I felt my face flush and my palms began to sweat. I was so embarrassed, but still had no clue as to why I was wrong. The professor calmed everyone down, and looked at me and asked if I actually believed my statement. I said “Well, that’s what I was taught.”
My answer was “AIDS came from African gay men who slept with monkeys and spread it to fellow villagers.” Embarrassing right? Well this was the stuff I was taught in private school. I now know the truth. I wish private school did not “protect” us from the world, but educated us on the truth. No wonder people think Christians are crazy. One man teaching his opinion can change a person’s world view and make them look like a horrible person even though they are just naïve. As a continuation of the class, each student had to do a form of community service. We all, with the professor’s guidance, chose to work at MANNA.
MANNA is an organization that prepares and delivers meals to AIDS victims around the wonderful city of Philadelphia. I spent a semester making salads, sandwiches, and countless dinners. I educated myself on the virus, and met so many wonderful people who were (to me at the time) perfectly normal. I was always taught HIV/AIDS was a horrible disease, and if you had it you were a horrible person who did something horrible to be punished by such a violent disease. Don’t get me wrong it is a horrible, horrible disease, but the people who have it did not do something horrible to deserve this. All the people I have met are wonderful, sweet people. It saddens me that people judge the victims and not the disease. It’s just like cancer, no one asks for it. Most of the time it comes out of a situation that is completely selfless like, giving birth or having a blood transfusion.
The reason I support the cause is, because when I thought about all those alumni who graduated from my school who went out into the world completely uneducated and have in their mind a hatred for those who are HIV+ just like I once did, I want to spread education about the virus to those who know nothing about it and with their judgments they hurt the victims even more than they suffer already.
In reference to this article I suggest you all watch the movie, Philadelphia. Check out the 13th and 14th episodes in the February “Primetime: What Would You Do?” Check out your local volunteer station, or visit http://www.mannapa.org/. Please, Please EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU MAKE ASSUMPTION.
Remember: A condom doesn’t kill you. Don’t be a fool; wrap your tool.
With Love,
Steve
Yes, it can come to a person who did not do a thing wrong such as through birth; but i think it goes to show this truth, that what we do and how we choose to live WILL affect others.
ReplyDelete