Ever since the beginning of civilization mankind has been searching for characteristics that define us and set us apart from animals. Recently, however, the line separating us from the lesser beings has become opaque, even doted in some places.
Mark Twain wrote “clothes make the man”. He was erroneous. In fact, it is our actions that identify us. That being the case, lets focus on an issue that has been plaguing the gay community and its members by not only decreasing our numbers, but also by hurting many others while ravishing the very foundation of human relationship–trust.
What am I talking about? I’m referring to the spread of HIV, which has taken on many of the malignant characteristics of another high profile killer… terrorism.
Some of you may be offended by the association of the two topics in the same category. I’ll be happy to explain. HIV, although perceived differently today then when first encountered, is still a major problem in most of the world. Despite the increased life span of some due to use of modern medicine (e.g. Magic Johnson), HIV is still an enormous, debilitating problem. One reason that HIV continues to be a problem is due to the slippery global economy.
The similarity between terrorism and HIV may not be transparent, but it is actually more simple than you might believe. One factor is the cowardly/shrouded nature they both share.
With both, the problems remain unknown until it is simply just too late. Whether it’s your partner informing you of that they’re positive after numerous unprotected sexual encounters or a man with a bomb strapped to their chest that detonates in a crowded train station, the outcome in either case is similar. One might have been caused by blowing a load in you and the other by blowing up on your, however in both cases your are FUCKED!
The correlation between the two does not stop there. Secret-ism by the evil doer is important in both as well. The amount of time that generally passes before an infected person tells their partner can be mindblowing. Statistics prove if the infected person doesn’t tell their partner right away, then it will likely be a while before they do. That’s because they are trying to save their relationship worried that the uninfected partner might leave them. In reality, most of those relationships are doomed anyway. So, this factor is irrelevant. is another common factor between HIV and terrorism.
Terrorism has a similar component in that those planning an attack often use innovative communication methods to keep their plan under wraps.
I guess the one difference could be that if an infected partner kept his penis under wraps, then the spread of HIV could be stopped rather quickly.
Finally and perhaps the most obvious characteristic to terrorism and HIV is that both lead to massive deaths. No matter how you slice it the two acts should be prevented and cautiously eradicated, not facilitated.
In case you don’t know your HIV status go get checked and always practice safe sex! Help stop the spread of this disease.
Oh, and if you are a terrorist, just kill yourself and not others. One final similarity: my solutions to preventing each seem to be much easier said than done.
