Where Are We With HIV And AIDS?

America must teach all aspects of safe sex in order to prevent the rise in STD’s.

Where are we with HIV and AIDS?

According to The Center for Disease Control, “An estimated 470,902 people were living with AIDS in America in 2007” (CDC).

 The higher the statistics get, the more government and religious groups become involved in eliminating funds towards research for STD’s.  The government is wasting money on methods that are not helping eliminate STD’s.

                In recently reading an article called Sexually Transmitted Diseases, “Is Abstinence the Best Approach to Prevention?”  The government, along with an organization of about 43,000 churches has funded an increase of “abstinence only” programs for schools around the US.  Former President G. W. Bush went as far as signing an agreement to bar any public funding to organizations that discussed other forms of sex education.  Just the mention of wearing a condom or answering a question regarding safe sex “How To’s” would remove them from receiving state aid. Sexually active youth account for half of the highest rates of people infected with STD’s in the USA. According to the American Social Health Association from Triangle Park, N.C., “The nation has no concerted, national campaign to prevent, treat, and cure these infections”. This is disturbing because the young people should be the future, not another problem, bill or statistic. The US is already spending an average of $15.5 billion annually in medical care towards HIV/AIDS because of the lack of information going out to the public (Glazer 999).

                Even though STD’s have been around for centuries, many had been nearly eliminated by antibiotics. Syphilis and gonorrhea which are easily treated with antibiotics have recently found their way back again, causing fear through some family planning agencies that more cases will come along, raising HIV/AIDS levels.

                According to Glazer, advocates for safe sex are concerned that a rise in STD’s will come because of the lack of education in safe sex and of funding from government agencies. Abstinence advocates feel, if the youth are too educated in safe sex, they can become “morally confused” (Glazer 1001). America should have more faith in our youth. They have no statistics to support their idea; despite increased abstinence education, the problem continues to rise.

                Many Christians are asking extreme advocates like Abstinence Clearinghouse to look at the overall picture and unite with other organizations and share the charitable funding they have been receiving so that our youth can be educated. According to Kiesbye, they are asking the organizations to stop looking at AIDS/HIV as a punishment for homosexuality and promiscuity (Kiesbye 68).  It is believed that the more some abstinence groups remove condom handouts and push for monogamous and faithful relationships, the riskier the behavior can become (Kiesbye 71). It becomes more of a problem because children are ashamed when they do choose to have sex and they will not ask for help until it is too late and they are pregnant or have an STD.

                Even though there are many cases of HIV/AIDS or other common diseases, the government refuses to notice and implement proper education. People should not be dying because there was a lack of information. In 2001, a National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy report concluded safe sex campaigns, along with abstinence, is the only way to go and would help in preventing risky sexual behavior (Glazer 1001).

When AIDS and HIV first appeared in the 80’s, doctors thought it was a gay disease until the virus started showing up in prostitutes and drug users. AIDS has very much become a heterosexual illness. Before donated blood began to be tested, several people contracted the virus, such as tennis player Arthur Ash, who died in 1993. Arthur Ash was responsible for championing a campaign to get hospitals to test blood before using it in transfusions.  Without researchers, there could not have been blood testing before use in surgeries and transfusions. What will happen if the funding is eliminated completely to help with AIDS/HIV research? People will be back in the dark ages, dying of diseases that could have had cures, or the spread of STD’s will be huge. Studies have had to stop mid-way due to depleted funds because organizations like The Traditional Values Coalition have pushed to stop the funding that helps research for AIDS in the US as well as in the poor countries, where AIDS and HIV are killing millions a year (Glazer 1014).

People like David Salyer who has lived with AIDS for several years is upset because he feels younger people are thinking they are invincible from getting HIV or AIDS. Even though he started caring for himself with diet and exercise, the cocktails of medicines he has taken throughout the years have at times been painful and have not always worked for him. Yet pharmaceutical companies’ advertisements in magazines show people with HIV and AIDS swimming on a beach with no care in the world. He has chosen to go out and do safe sex workshops for men (Kiesbye 16-17). A new generation of people in AIDS risk groups, experts say, appear to believe that the drugs will protect or cure them of the virus and that an AIDS diagnosis isn’t serious. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Prevention initiatives are reaching fewer than one in five people who could benefit. In middle and low income countries in 2005, only 11 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission” (Kiesbye 13).

Living with HIV/AIDS is not a walk in the park: some medicines make one sick, while others don’t work. And yet the hype from the 80’s on having safe sex has been swept under the rug. Ads in magazines for newer HIV/AIDS treatments are making it look like the horror is behind us. Frustrations  from David Salyer, an  AIDS positive journalist, claims that the government has all but forgotten HIV prevention and education, having only abstinence and religion in its place is not enough when it comes to sexually active teens and adults (Kiesbye 19). Not only is education important. Education about contracting STD’s is as well.

Chatinkha Nkhoma, is an educated African woman who was raped as a teenager by her father. She later found that she was HIV positive because of it and could not afford to purchase her own medicine in her homeland.  Her friends from College told her to come to the US and get the help she needed, and she has been here ever since, speaking on behalf of HIV activists and lobbying for more research money. Not only to help her, but to help the many Africans and poor countries with no access to testing and medication (Kiesbye 24-30). Abstinence advocates avoid speaking about situations like these, but Chatinkha’s story should not be ignored.

                Poor education leads to discrimination, making some still feel, as if they were lepers. Or Kaitlyn, who was born with AIDS, having to grow up in the public system and not being allowed to play with her friends outside of school because their mommy or daddy said to stay away from her (Kielsbye34). A disturbing amount of this behavior still exists because of the absence of knowledge of the disease. If a system of some sort were in place, many people could be prevented from suffering that. HIV/AIDS, in many ways has been put on the back burner. We must have somewhere to go for help and understanding.  More needs to be learned about HIV/AIDS, through research and organizations that can help debunk myths that are still around.

                Some people living with AIDS/HIV have been able to live seemingly healthy lives, taking care of their HIV/AIDS negative children, and volunteering at  their schools as well as the local churches or AIDS centers. They even feel they are healthier because of how they take care of themselves. According to Alice Rosenberg, who cares for AIDS patients,  AIDS was a 15 year sentence when it was first diagnosed, because the drugs used were not strong enough, or the virus would go around it and hit other parts of the immune system. She also says we now have 23 anti-HIV medicines that can be used while waiting for the vaccine to eventually be created. Even with all the different medicines in place, caregivers to dying patients don’t wish this on anyone. It is a long, painful and slow death for those with AIDS. When good hospices or groups are found to help in the final days or weeks, in which the final papers and wishes are drawn up as well as funeral arrangements are set up to make it as comfortable for them as possible, “Some wish to hear friends and family outside the door, and they talk to them from there. Their bodies are wasted-down to 80 or 90 pounds-and they don’t want to be remembered like that” (Kiesbye 77-82).  This is what needs to be spoken of to our youth, the down side of being sexually active and not using protection. The truth is, our teens do have unprotected sex, and not talking about it will not make it go away. Creating fear of GOD has not been successful in making it go away.

                The power pull is making one forget that we should worry less about who gets the money and more about helping the most people. Even the fundamentalist abstinence advocates want to help; therefore they should join forces with other organizations that are doing the same. The best results have been shown by wonderful organizations such as The National Adolescent Sexuality Training Center at Children’s Aid, that mix it up and teach everything to our smart youth, which help on how to make better decisions. The program teaches kids at a young age to make healthier choices, and when it comes to having sex, “think twice”. If the choice is made to have sex, they make it later than if they would not have been in the program, and it’s made wisely; it’s considered “practicing safe sex”. The program also helps teens with the steps to get ready for college (Glazer 1010). All aspects must be taught in order for the outcome that is wanted: The end of this vicious disease.

Dear Ivette,           

Thank you very much for your interest in Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

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List of Doctors Contacted for Interview Regarding AIDS in Idaho

1. David Christensen, Peds. and Board Cert.- 429-6693 LMTC
2. Thomas Coffman MD, infectious diseases-338-0148 per receptionist “super busy”
3. Julie Lyon MD, -381-4100 LMTC Call returned “no longer at clinic”
4. Tina McGuffy MD, -365-6311 LMTC several times, unable to get together
5. Erick Maier MD, -375-0862 does not work with AIDS
6. Terry Reilly Health Services,-466-7869 unable to go due to office hours
7.  Roger Roos MD, -381-4100 LMTC
8. Sky Blue MD, -367-6030 LMTC
9. Casi Wyatt DO, MD, infectious diseases - 338-0148 per receptionist “super busy”

Where answering machine was in place, I left my phone number and email address along with request for interview along with email in case doc too busy, they could send me any brochures available.

Ivette

 

And The Band Played On

Proper communication and working side by side is the key to understanding how the spread of AIDS is preventable.

                As the AIDS epidemic came to a full circle, newspaper reporter Randy Shilts, who had been following doctors and the CDC for his articles, wrote “And the Band Played on” in 1987, which later was made into the same name movie in 1993. The movie itself was considered a low budget telefilm with several big name actors like Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and Richard Gere. Originally intended for TV, the movie was shot down by local stations at the time because of fear to touch on the subject.   

                The movie starts with a group of doctors in 1976 in Ebola Africa being dropped off by WHO (World Health Organization), and combatting the beginning of the Ebola fever before reaching epidemic proportions.   The horrific scenes of Ebola fever’s death toll was just a forewarning of what was to come with the AIDs virus. Quick shots of years and hospital scenes between statistics is the norm for this movie, the thought behind the directors’ fast pace is most likely matching with the quickness of the illness spreading. The background silence in the first half of the film makes the person watching the movie feel disconnected and leaves them wondering what is happening. The film quickly cuts to scenes of the first AIDS sufferers; the confusion of the viewers’ matches the confusion the doctors are feeling as they witness this new virus.

                The movie brings to light the controversy involving the government’s refusal to tell the public about the disease.  Several scenes that imply the fear of mentioning the word gay, one CDC member hid the fact that the disease was only affecting homosexual men because he felt the government would throw out the research if they were to discover that fact. Part of the movie shows a religious figure speaking out about the gays dying because they were being punished by God demonstrating the feelings of the general public.

                Overall, the serious tone of the movie had very little comic relief, but was steadfast on keeping the dialogue focused on the growing disease not being treated or released to the public. As the main doctor is trying to find the cause of the disease he has a chalk board in the lab with the “The Butcher’s Bill” written on the top and on going cases and deaths throughout the US. He modeled it after Napoléon who would ask on a daily basis, “what’s the butcher’s bill?” meaning: what was the death count for the day. The public is blaming the disease on gays when a report comes in that just Haitians in the United States are now infected.  The Haitians considered as low priority as the gays were. The question seems to be asked and emphasized in the movie.

                The major turning point of the movie happens when one doctor unwinds by playing Pac Man while the other stands by and watches. He has a sudden epiphany when Pac Man eats the dots and he says “Something’s gobbling up T-Cells!” The pace is getting faster now, allowing the viewers to share the excitement of the recent findings.  The CDC is unable to fund the doctors’ quest for the cure but the passionate doctors pay out of their own pockets to get to the answers they have worked so hard at. The scenes make you wonder, how much sleep and money and sweat the real doctors put into the investigations.

                Music is finally beginning to play in the background when a choreographer whose name is never   mentioned, and later dies of an “ongoing illness” donates money to help find the cause, and in the background there are dancers in white while one dancer is dressed in black and all have their heads covered by a cloth while carrying the one dressed in black. He seems to have foreseen his death and was telling it the only way he knew how, with dance and music.

                                At a public hearing with state reps and doctors, the camera again moves in a dizzying circular ongoing motion showing everyone’s expressions while discussing new cases of the disease within hemophiliacs.  The tensions and concerns grow more while the camera moves even faster around while the word gay is thrown out and a doctor requests the stigma be thrown out because it is not only affecting homosexuals. They finally agree to call the disease AIDS instead of GRID (gay related immune deficiency) more tension is shown as music becomes more of background softness. According to “Avert.org’s” timeline, the CDC agreed to change the name when non-gay cases started to appear.

                In the ending segment of the movie, a news flash of President Reagan winning his second term and flash of gays with AIDS speaking out about government red tape, and of losing their jobs and homes because of discrimination and the unknown disease. Blackness appears with a low drumming sound as words appear on the screen explaining what more has been done and what still needs to be done for AIDS sufferers. The song, “Between a Father and His Son” by Elton John begins to play while pictures of famous people like Rock Hudson, Liberace and Freddy Mercury as well as advocates like Arthur Ash and Elizabeth Glaser and Ryan White that died of AIDS appear alongside of everyday people who died. Also shown are the many quilts made with the names of the AIDS patients on it and the candle light vigils all around to show respect for the loved ones lost and for government attention.

                When song and videos end, a final commentary appears on the screen:

Reagan delivered his first speech on AIDS in his second term after more than 25,000 people had died of the disease. More statistics showed of women, children and adolescents becoming the fastest growing population to have HIV. Although Reagan still gets criticized for his lack of concern, writer Matt Conner remembered some fond memories of President Reagan being close friends of many gay people (Lockhaven.com).

                This film was based on facts and elements from historical records. Some of the dialogue, events and characters were created or combined for dramatic purposes.

                Over all, this film won numerous awards not only from GLADD, but an EMMY, an EDDIE as well as well as grand prize from the Montreal Film Festival (IMDB.com).

                 

Works Cited

Conner, Matt. "The Reagan Century: An Encounter with a Great Man." Lockhaven.com. The Express 26 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2011.   

Averting HIV and AIDS. Avert.org, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2011.           

And the Band Played on. Dir. Spottiswoode, Roger. Perf. Alan Alda, Phil Collins, Richard Gere, Angelica Houston, and Matthew Modine. Writ. Randy Shilts. 1993. HBO, 2001. DVD-ROM.           

IMDb.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.     

Brochure On AIDS

Help Stop the Spread of AIDS

Prevention is the way

The time is now for all to come together and help combat HIV/AIDS. It is a worldwide problem that needs some attention beginning here in our home town. Help from the government, health organizations from all over the world and you, the reader are needed. The more information and education to help prevent this vicious disease, the better for everyone, including our tax dollars that have gone out to help provide medicine and housing for patients with AIDS. By spending a small amount now to educate, we save for our future.

HIV/AIDS is not a “gay disease”; it affects many faces and walks of life. Let’s get better educated.

Nowhere is safe from HIV/AIDS. It is time for everyone to come together and stop the statistics from growing more. Idaho, alone has 39 new cases this year (thebody.com). That is 39 too many. It is time to unite and begin to teach not only abstinence, the first choice, but safe sex. Teaching the younger generation better choices for their future, showing them educational options and what can happen if they become sexually active too soon. Money and time is another key in helping the local communities. Call your local coalition to find out how you can help.

Let’s protect our future generations from becoming another statistic and another name on the AIDS quilt

2201 Government Way, Suite L, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Phone 208.665.1448 or

Toll Free 1.866.609.1774

Global Issues With AIDS

Abstract

Many people between the ages of 20 and 50, who are of working age, are being diagnosed and dying of AIDS in third world countries at an alarming rate. Children are being left orphaned at younger ages and also being left to fend for themselves, while others are being raised by elderly family members who don’t always have money to feed them.  This disease has got to be put in its place or stopped before it kills more.

Billions of American dollars have been allocated as well as donated from large companies and private firms to help stop the spread of AIDS and HIV, especially for the poor countries like South Africa. The process has got to begin from the bottom and work up to help as many people as possible, instead, there seems to be a backward process that has created  a downward spiral in healthcare in these poor countries.  Hospitals and clinics need to be put in places where there are none at this time and medical personnel must be properly trained to handle the large amounts of cases that will come through these many facilities. After the hospitals, clinics, doctors, and nurses are set in place, then organized help can work better to help the patients coming through their facilities. A proper agreement must be made by the government of each country being helped along with the many organizations coming in to volunteer and guide the workers in each facility. Understanding is the key for both the governments and the many organizations that have been helping third world countries for over 25 years.

Lastly, pharmaceutical companies need to donate more medicines and lower their costs, so that more AIDS patients can afford to pay for a portion of their meds. This way they will continue to live the rest of their lives comfortably and be able to provide for their families while they are still able to.  

                 

         

Global Issues

While reading through the numerous articles on HIV/AIDS in third world and poorer countries, one thing stood out. Many people are dying because there is either no money to purchase medicine, no education to help prevent the spreading of HIV/AIDS, or just plain ignorance on the government’s part.  Where should one begin to ask for money, help, or even an ear to hear one out? Religious, activists and research groups are still in the fight on who would be the right leader to bring justice in these poorer countries like South Africa. Someone must step up and fight for the same medical care rights as people have in the US. It is not right to see people in Africa, India, or China dying of treatable diseases because they are not being diagnosed in a timely manner or simply because the medicine is not affordable to many. Not only must we have a vaccine to cure this deadly disease, but we must get more involved in helping out where it is needed without letting another death go unnoticed.

                Although AIDS is the root of the problem, it is not the only thing killing many of the poor in Africa and Asia. Because of their weak immune systems due to HIV people are dying of TB and other infections. Billions of dollars are being spent by private donors to help prevent the spread of AIDS, but only 2 million people are receiving the help. Millions of other people are being diagnosed with the disease faster than help is being given. Not only are there too many infected to treat, the prices of HIV/AIDS drug treatments are unaffordable. Advocates like Erick Sawyer have criticized pharmaceutical companies for pricing the drugs for treatment so high that only 5% of the people are able to receive treatment (Masci 811). 

                It is obvious that treatment of the disease must be streamlined, but education is equally important. In Luo, Kenya some members of a local tribe are starting to believe that not circumcising the men is a part of the reason AIDS and other diseases have spread faster and killed more members than in some of the other tribes in the area. Still, their council elders are refusing to change their traditions that could prevent the spread of AIDS by as much as 60%. In other parts of Africa, women have no rights and are unable to protect themselves from getting HIV/AIDS try to get medical help and  are sometimes thrown out of their homes and at times even beaten when they try to get medical help (Bristol 891). We must find a culturally appropriate way to educate these people so that they will accept our help.

                Funding is another area that needs scrutiny. Public AIDS experts have expressed that maybe some of the money for HIV/AIDS help should be allotted more broadly than just for HIV/AIDS.  Perhaps in strengthening health systems, improving living conditions for women and general development could help in slowing illness and death.  Other organizations, like PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) have been criticized for using their well-equipped facilities to help with HIV/AIDS patients and not attending others suffering from other diseases. Some information may not be 100% accurate, but the US Global AIDS coordinator claims that 50% of hospital admissions in some areas are for HIV/AIDS related care. Reducing those admissions through PEPFAR –funded prevention and treatment frees up resources for other diseases. Help in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS has also shown to be a cost saver over a 10 year period, an estimated savings of over $4,700 in the long run (Bristol 895).

Even though findings show that AIDS prevention efforts help, organizations like PATH are worried that using money to help in prevention will slowly take away from money being used towards medical care for HIV/AIDS infected people. As in the US, too many groups are involved and the affected people are slowly becoming forgotten within the arguments of different organizations. In the meantime more women are being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Africa and other poor countries that have a shortage in health workforce and physicians. More money is being asked for in order to hand out more condoms and teach the young girls how to prevent the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases. There is not enough in the funds to treat as well as educate and donations are sorely needed.

                While it has become more difficult to raise money for prevention and aid programs, billions have been received from multiple organizations. Unfortunately funds have found yet another wall in poorer areas because it is difficult to get help to and provide clean water and sterile environments to properly treat people. This means there is treatment available but no facility to carry out the treatment. In other cases treatment is available but the people who need help won’t accept it. The issue, according to UNAIDS in preventing the spread of the virus, is that some tribes still allow polygamy. UNAIDS is trying to figure out how to teach prevention in their culture without possibly offending them. Some studies are still in the works before approaching this issue.

                Misunderstanding is not only a problem between Africans and the US. Groups of dissention are a major problem within the USA itself.   Along with their medical facilities, PEPFAR has implemented ABC program (Abstinence, Be Faithfull, and Condom use), yet conservative groups argue that handing out condoms only enforces the idea that sex is ok. The major problem that conservatives feel with this approach is it may cause confusion within the younger groups. One must look at countries like Uganda and Thailand to see how well this program has worked (Masci 812).Even the conservative groups can’t argue, Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, feels more religious values need to be taught all over the world, while Richard Laing of Boston University’s School of Public Health says “condoms are only one part of the equation because you must also change sexual practices in order to succeed”. Uganda and Thailand have both been able to use a combination of religion, abstinence, along with safe sex and both countries have found that girls are waiting longer to have sex (Masci 817-818). Despite the major success of these programs there has still been a decline in some funding for these safe sex programs.

Education is not the only hot issue.  Aids groups are also upset that PAPFAR has no needle exchange program implemented for drug users; this may also help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Maurice Middleburg, V.P.  for public policy at the Global Health Council, said even though these many donors and organizations mean well, they should let the professionals do their job and stop throwing ideas out to local government officials (Bristol 896). The organizations throwing out their ideas are slowing down the aid process from getting to the proper people. Therefore, even though ideas such as needle exchange may be helpful, there is not enough organizations to implement everything.

                Aside from organizational problems, poor healthcare infrastructure is also being blamed by pharmaceutical companies and other organizations. They are claiming that about 95% of people with the virus don’t know they have it because of the lack of doctors, nurses and hospitals or clinics to treat them. Some of these issues have been caused by “Endemic Government Corruption” (Masci 815). That means that out of the Billions of dollars being sent to countries like Africa and Haiti to help with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, only a small percentage actually gets to where it’s needed. This kind of corruption needs to be stopped so that less illness and deaths occur.

                If nothing is done to stop the spread of this disease, AIDS can potentially start to spread along Southeast Asia and perhaps affect our global economy, or worst, our national interests if AIDS were spread to India and China (Masci 818). Ignoring the spread of HIV/AIDS along with other diseases in these poor countries will only hurt everyone throughout the world. It must be stopped any way we can.

                We must all realize that if we do not help third world countries now, we will be next in line to suffer. People may think that we should stop worrying so much about third world countries and concentrate on our own but they do not see the bigger picture.

Bibliography

Averting HIV and AIDS. Avert.org, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. Shows statistics along with topics about the AIDS virus in the US and all around the world.  

Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher. Sixth ed. New York: Longman, 2009. 1-366. Print. A complete guide to writing research papers.         

Bristol, Nellie. "Battling HIV/AIDS, Should More Money Be Spent on Prevention?." CQ Researcher. College of Southern Idaho, 26 Oct. 2007. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. The ongoing problem in the US has been the intervention of many organizations that claim too much money is being used to teach prevention instead of abstinence. The arguments run, prevention vs. abstinence.

ïCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV and AIDS statistics by state. N.p., 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. More statistics showing what is going on the US with the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

ïCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (201. Avert, HIV and AIDS. N.p., n.d. 'Summary of Changes to the National HIV Surveillance Report. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. A full report on what is happening to make changes to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.          

CONNER, MATT. "The Reagan century: An encounter with a great man." The Express 26 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. One person’s reflection on how Reagan really was with gay people and how good a friend he truly was.    

Glazer, Sarah. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases." CQ Reasercher Online. N.p., 3 Dec. 2004. www.csi.edu:2072/cqresearcher/document. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. Debates whether abstinence should be the only method taught to youth throughout the US. Discusses great programs that have worked by teaching not only abstinence, but safe sex.

Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. Fifth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2008. 2-272. Print. Teaches how to write a proper paper in MLA, APA and Chicago format, as well as proper investigating for a great paper.    

IMDb.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. Helped in searching for the right movie on AIDS and gave a quick description of film and awards given.           

Kiesbye, Stefan, ed. AIDS. Detroit,New York,San Francisco: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 12-89. Social Issues First Hand. Print. Has several short stories from when AIDS first started and from different personal perspectives and feelings on having the disease.   

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 130-31. Print. Rpt. of Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the Writer's Voice. 1995. A writing on how this writer introduces a story, part imagination, part truth.   

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 50-53. Print. Rpt. of James Baldwin on Black English. 1979. Short story on how a story is written with what one would call the black language.          

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 72-74. Print. Rpt. of Judith Ortiz Cofer on Memory and Personal Essays. 1990. A Puerto Rican writer who learned how to tell a story from Miss Woolf, using partial truth with your memory of how it happened.   

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 730-48. Print. Rpt. of Martin Luther King Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail. 1963. A great letter written by a great man who struggled for peace among all races of the world.           

Spottiswoode, Roger, dir. And the Band Played on. Perf. Alan Alda, Phil Collins, Richard Gere, Angelica Houston, and Matthew Modine. Writ. Randy Shilts. 1993. HBO, 2001. DVD-ROM.            Movie on how the HIV/AIDS

Ask Me What I've Learned

April 25, 2011

Ask Me What I’ve Learned

Don’t ever say, “I’m too old to go to school”. Going back to school after over 17 years has been a fun, but challenging experience that at times was very frustrating. There were moments that made me feel like giving up, especially when school was taking so much from family time, and sometimes even my work.  I am so happy to have experienced school again and hope to keep it up and get my degree within my two year goal.

The first class of the two I have taken was English 102. Boy, was that a challenge. It has always been easy for me to talk, but writing everything down has been a crazy experience. I have learned to write in MLA format, thanks to Diana Hacker’s Pocket Style Manual and The Curious Researcher by Bruce Ballenger. The only downside was that I wasn’t able to learn APA format for some of my future classes. Another great thing that I was able to learn more of was how to investigate websites and learn the scholarly ones as opposed to bogus sites with misinformation or lack thereof.

I have always appreciated a good book and a good writer, but reading stories from The Writers Presence edited by Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan have been a wonderful learning experience. To have read Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail was very emotional and educational, to see how such an educated man wrote without one hateful or spiteful word, and yet get to the point was amazing. If I could just use half of what he was always able to utilize to get the word across the world. Miss Judith Ortiz Cofer taught me to be creative in writing about my own memories. It’s ok to twist the memories a little and get them out for the reader to enjoy. Henry Louis Gates also showed me that it’s ok to write, or tell a story along with “lies” (Writer’s 130). As a writer, James Baldwin’s feelings popped off the pages. If only, for one moment to be able to make someone step into one of my essays or reports as all these writers and more have done for me in this English class, that would be my very own A+.

Lastly, the investigating I did for my Global projects on AIDS was amazing. So many books and websites, along with helping organizations throughout the world were incredible. At times, I found myself engulfed in the reading and forgot to write crucial points. Thank goodness that reading was already a passion for me. If anyone who has thought about going back to school, but not sure it’s for them, “Do It”. It has been the best decision I have made.     

Works Cited

Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher. Sixth ed. New York: Longman, 2009. 1-366. Print.         

Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. Fifth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2008. 2-272. Print.          

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 130-31. Print. Rpt. of Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the Writer's Voice. 1995.   

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 50-53. Print. Rpt. of James Baldwin on Black English. 1979.           

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 72-74. Print. Rpt. of Judith Ortiz Cofer on Memory and Personal Essays. 1990.    

McQuade, Donald, and Robert Atwan, eds. The Writer's Presence. Sixth ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St Martin's, 2009. 730-48. Print. Rpt. of Martin Luther King Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail. 1963.