World Aids Day, World Aids Day! What does it mean exactly? Where does it come from in this our 21st century? I know the idea behind World Aids Day, well at least I think I do. What is its intention though? What are we to do? Do we come together as one country, one nation,one world? Well I guess it does say World Aids Day so that must be one world, one universe. If we take it beyond world and universal does it impact us all on this Remembrance Day or do we just change things by calling it Universal Aids Remembrance Day? Is that what we are supposed to do on this day, remember? If that is the intent, I remember my friends who died from this deadly disease called Aids. Some have been dead for 20 years now and when I stop and think of them I remember their smiles, their lives, their living.
But I also remember their deaths, by remembering I can help myself and others from contracting this deadly disease called Aids so that more don’t die in vain. I remember the vigils at their bedside as they slipped away. I remember seeing friends reaching out for my hand, squeezing it and telling me they love me, and me whispering it back to them before they closed their eyes in death.
I remember some of them recovering because of the new medicines that allowed them to get up out of their beds and go home to family, friends and lovers. I remember some of them saying that they were going to beat this thing called Aids and I know some of them who are still living with what is now referred to as “The Virus!” I am sure that they remember where they once were every morning, afternoon and evening and they must remember to continue to take their medicine or take a chance on not living. I remember those friends of mine who today are contracting the disease even though it is preventable because they feel they can take a chance and not contract this fatal disease. Some wind up with “The Virus” and say well there are medicines? Well there might be, but I still remember those who have died from Aids who if given the chance today would opt for the prevention of this disease.
I remember a song sung by that fabulous diva Ms. Diana Ross – “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand make this world a better place if you can.” The lyrics are so telling and beautiful – “Take a little time from your busy day to give some encouragement to some one whose lost their way and would I be talking so strong if I asked you to share a problem that’s not your own?”
Aids is a problem for all of us. We should remember that in this World, this Universe the hope lies within us and the price was paid by those who have gone on before us. Let’s remember them and let’s remember only We can prevent the spread of Aids. We, it sounds so good when We come together to remember World Aids Day.
James Pearson
Jpearson589's Blog 
That was a very moving blog from someone who has been on the front lines. The writer is a soldier in a war against ideologies and misconceptions. AIDS greatest allies have always been fear, hate and ignorance. AIDS greatest enemies will always be education, enlightenment and above all compassion. This will be true until AIDS is eradicated. However, that is in the future. Today, we will remember friends who laughed with us, cried with us and fought the good fight.
Chris,
Thank so much for your comment and thanks for helping me to remember…. Please feel free to stop by any time.
James
You count and you make a difference in this world. I’ll always remember you…every part of you – heart, mind and soul.
xo
Michael
I agree with Chris, this is a very moving blog and should be read by everyone. I worked with two patients who died from AIDS and it’s a death sentence that can be avoided with education and discretion.
Did you know that crocodiles and maybe even alligators blood possible holds the key to curing AIDS, however, I guess it’s cheaper to ignore that fact instead of providing the funds for the scientists in researching and testing.
I won’t go in detail with that though, because that will stir me off track, but thanks for the blog and keep writing and reaching out.
Sarah
That was extremely powerful and touched me personally, as I suppose you knew it would.Not to detract from this in anyway but a personal message to the author(Always remember J’s coffee table, I will).
I think you touched on something rather provocative what does World AIDS Day mean in this 21st century. For the majority of people in this country I would dare to say it doesn’t mean anything. I think at this point I should say that I absolutely and with conviction know everything Chris wrote is true. So why the pessimism. World AIDS Day was established in 1988 by The WHO. For those of you lucky enough to be too young to remember it was a horrible time in our history, no not horrible it was a genocide. Our community lost a whole generation of our best and brightest. What did we do. We came together as a community in a way that would be hard to imagine today. World AIDS Day had meaning. We came together, we held candle light vigils to raise awareness and to push the government. I recently met someone who sero-converted. To my never-ending surprise he did so intentionally. He is not an anomaly as their are lots of people of various age groups that are intentionally engaging in risky behavior with the expectation of getting infected. I just wonder what would go through the minds of those early activists who shut down Wall St.(The 1st. time that ever happened before 9/11)to protest the high costs of AZT. The men who casually walked away from their friends in The Pines to go for a swim, and the more unfortunate amongst us who died over weeks and months in excruciating pain. We don’t wear red ribbons, we don’t have candle light vigils any longer. But, why would we, when as a community we standby and tacitly allow our friends to use Tina, and to engage in risky sex. I have always thought that we Americans have poor long term memories.
Maybe, the problem lies with my generation, because if I spoke to a group of young adults(by that I mean people who are my age when I tested positive 20 year olds)and shared with them the ups and downs of the last 20 years perhaps this perception that AIDS is like diabetes might be somewhat dispelled. Nonetheless I expect for most people the words “you tested positive” are still 3 of the scariest words one might ever hear. Trying to be very careful now because, we are at a point in time where AIDS is manageable for many of us in The West.
Perhaps that’s why World AIDS Day has lost some of it’s meaning in the US. Unless our community is seriously threatened we would all rather just keep on dancing.
Hi James,
You and I both know first hand how AIDS has affected our lives; for you, Jose, for me, Michael. However, please honor them with capitalizing AIDS, as it is an acronym. We owe this to Jose and Michael and all the rest of citizens of Earth that have died from AIDS.
Thanks for taking the time to write about this topic.
Peace, David
No matter who you are, no matter where you are, AIDS affects us all . . Until the day we find a cure, we will all be affected .
I remember World AIDS Day every year, I share this day with my Birthday.I read James Blog, and as if James’ blog were a mirror or a time machine, it took me back to exactly he same fateful moments of being with friends as life left their bodies. We need a day to remember, Americans are great at “out of sight out of mind!”for those of us old enough to remember, we shall never forget. James eloquently described better than anyone , the atitudes of the past, and those wreckless atitudes of today. Seeing life leave the body of a friend who faught the fight and lost, long before protese inhibitors, is scribed in my mind as if it were yesterday.To remember is to love, I remember the chaos as if it were yesterday, and I am Happy to remember every December First.Thank You James for the inspiration to write something I’ve held deep inside me.
very touching