Unless I have lost my memory, the only realistic way to transmit the HIV virus is through blood or semen, right? This aids.org site says that my memory hasn't gone completely around the bend...at least on this. So, my only question: What goes on at this school to make this child a risk to others?
http://www.aids.org/topics/aids-faqs/how-is-hiv-transmitted/
A private high school in Pennsylvania refuses to admit a 13-year-old honor student who is HIV positive. The student's lawyer has filed a lawsuit alleging the school "violated multiple anti-discrimination laws." WCAU-TV's Tim Furlong reports.
By Art Caplan, Ph.D.
Today is World AIDS day – and there’s a lot of rhetoric flying around about progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, especially in overcoming fear and bigotry.
Except for at one school in Pennsylvania.
The administrators at the Milton Hershey School have single-handedly set back years of hard work tamping down the fear of those with HIV by denying admission to a boy who is HIV-positive, based on what can only be explained as fear, ignorance and bigotry.
The pre-K to 12th grade boarding school, located in Hershey, Penn., was financed and founded in 1909 by the Hershey’s chocolate company tycoon. It gives a free education to poor children and kids with behavioral problems. It has beautiful grounds, first-rate facilities and a dedicated staff. Its website is full of lofty language with talk of being "a caring community” and a school “that opens new doors for children whose families could not otherwise afford it”.
Unless apparently, the child has HIV.
The 13-year-old boy, described as an honors student, whose name isn’t being made public, and his family filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the school for discriminating against him.
The Hershey School said today in a statement that they can't admit him because “in order to protect our children in this unique environment, we cannot accommodate the needs of students with chronic communicable diseases that pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.”
Say what? You have got to be kidding me.
The notion that you cannot place a kid who is HIV-positive in a residential school setting because he puts the community at risk is out of step with science, public health, and worst of all, real-world experience.
Ryan White fought -- and won -- that battle in the mid-1980s, after the teen was expelled from his Indiana school for being HIV-positive. But all these years later, here we are again somehow.
We have known for a long time that you can work or live with someone with HIV with next to no risk. Sexual contact is the primary risk factor, but that is hardly a reason not to allow a boy to go to school.
Shame on the Milton Hershey School for denying this kid the chance the school has given to so many others with special needs for reasons that have no basis in fact. Shame on the Milton Hershey School for discriminating against a young man who could bring much to their community. Shame on the Milton Hershey School for invoking a rationale for discrimination that only resurrects the bigotry and fear that it has taken decades to get rid of.
The school should do the right thing and do it today — admit this kid, hold a seminar soon on HIV and risk for their trustees, teachers and administrators and then renew their public commitment to “open their doors” to ALL who can both benefit and contribute to the school community by their presence.
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9144810-bioethicist-shame-on-school-for-rejecting-boy-with-hiv
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
a Merry Christmas cartoon
Found on the internet...I forget where. My thanks to Scott Metzger. You are hillarious! I encourage all to go to
the above site.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Either completely clueless or subtely ironic
Paul Blair Warns That "The Devil" Is Behind Gay Rights, Culture
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/paul-blair-warns-devil-behind-gay-rights-culture
Submitted by Brian Tashman on December 2, 2011 - 2:16pm
Oklahoma pastor Paul Blair joined Family Research Council president Tony Perkins today on Washington Watch Weekly to discuss his plans to run for office after speaking out against a proposal to add protections for sexual orientation in Oklahoma City’s anti-discrimination policy. Blair has tried to frame himself as a pastor who just happened to become involved in politics after he allegedly received threats after he denounced the measure, but as Kyle notes, he has a long history of working with anti-gay zealots like Sally Kern, Janet Porter and Perkins.
While speaking with Perkins, Blair claimed that American “culture is under attack” as “we’ve gone from True Grit to Brokeback Mountain.” In his discussion of the anti-discrimination proposal, Blair asserted that “the Devil” is leading the attack on the “realms of the home and the church” through the government.
Listen: There is no picture, just sound
Our culture is under an attack. Just think in our lifetimes we have gone from an Ozzie and Harriet generation to a Desperate Housewives generation, we’ve gone from True Grit to Brokeback Mountain. Who’s supposed to stand for morality in our culture?
As Christians have abandoned the God-established realm of government, the Devil has been more than happy to fill that vacuum and now he is using government to attack the other realms of the home and the church. And we certainly are under attack.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/paul-blair-warns-devil-behind-gay-rights-culture
Submitted by Brian Tashman on December 2, 2011 - 2:16pm
Oklahoma pastor Paul Blair joined Family Research Council president Tony Perkins today on Washington Watch Weekly to discuss his plans to run for office after speaking out against a proposal to add protections for sexual orientation in Oklahoma City’s anti-discrimination policy. Blair has tried to frame himself as a pastor who just happened to become involved in politics after he allegedly received threats after he denounced the measure, but as Kyle notes, he has a long history of working with anti-gay zealots like Sally Kern, Janet Porter and Perkins.
While speaking with Perkins, Blair claimed that American “culture is under attack” as “we’ve gone from True Grit to Brokeback Mountain.” In his discussion of the anti-discrimination proposal, Blair asserted that “the Devil” is leading the attack on the “realms of the home and the church” through the government.
Listen: There is no picture, just sound
Our culture is under an attack. Just think in our lifetimes we have gone from an Ozzie and Harriet generation to a Desperate Housewives generation, we’ve gone from True Grit to Brokeback Mountain. Who’s supposed to stand for morality in our culture?
As Christians have abandoned the God-established realm of government, the Devil has been more than happy to fill that vacuum and now he is using government to attack the other realms of the home and the church. And we certainly are under attack.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ok, now, I've yet to hve the chance to see Broke Back Mountain. Sorry, just haven't had that chance yet. It's one of those that's slipped by. But, what I recall of the movie, it's about two men in a small mountain town who are basically law abiding upstanding individuals.
let's contrast that with "True Grit".
True Grit starts out as a man is murdered. His murderer rides off free. The local law enforcement individual is a drunk, slob, and foul mouthed. He demands payment to do his job, a bribe really, then tries to welch.
The heroine of the movie is a 14 year old who is forced to deal with the business community, intent upon cheating her, as her mother is 'constitutionally unable' to do so.
For her attempts to find the murder of her father, she is spanked, abandoned, kidnapped, a rape is attempted, she is nearly killed far too often, and in the end dies a bitter spinster.
I'm sorry, we are supposed to go back to this "wholesome, Godly time"?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Stories that raise questions...
Hi Friends;
I stumbled upon this story via that same little app I put on my wallpaper. I've adapted the story a bit as I am not allowed to post it in its entirety. So, for those interested, search "Denver, Sheriff, Methamphetemines, Patrick Sullivan" and the AP story will likely be easy to find. Ok?
A U.S. national sheriff of the year is now an inmate in the jail that was named for him, accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex from a male acquaintance.
Colorado retired Sheriff Patrick Sullivan, 68, now in handcuffs, dressed in jail oranges and walking with a cane observed quietly as a judge raised his bail amount to a half-million dollars and sent him to the Patrick J. Sullivan Jr. Detention Facility.
The current sheriff, Grayson Robinson, who worked as undersheriff for Sullivan from 1997 until he took over the job in 2002, said "the department was shocked and saddened at his arrest" and has many in suburban Denver's Arapahoe County where he held sway for nearly two decades wondering what happened to the tough-as-nails lawman they once knew.
Sullivan came to the attention of law enforcement Oct. 4 when two confidential informants said that Sullivan was dealing meth but would sell it only if they had sex with him. He was arrested after police set up a sting at a home.
While those who know Sullivan were puzzled by the news, some said they weren't surprised that a person of his stature could get involved. They said meth users will do almost anything to feed their habit and often hurt others in the process. "This drug knows no economic, social, professional or occupational boundaries," said state Rep. Ken Summers, who served on a legislative meth task force.
Now, I am no expert on drugs, retired sheriffs, or even trading drugs for sex. Being one who is completely absent of any expertise, I am, of course, qualified to offer opinion....
I find myself with a couple of real questions:
1. Was this former sheriff a drug user before retiring?
2. Was this former sheriff seeking sex with other men before retiring?
3. Will this former sheriff be treated differently from others who come to that very jail for similar offense?
4. If this drug knows no economic, social, professional or occupational boundaries, is the drug the fault or the person? If the drug is the culprit, will this person be helped or tossed in jail and forgotten as many are who find themselves in like clothing and accommodation? And, if the "drug is the culprit", then why are others given such harsh sentences?
Americans will often look at this situation and shake our head wondering how far the mighty have fallen. Some will advocate the jail named after him be known now as the one that he is buried beneath. Some will seek to excuse his actions in light of his past good deeds, believing that a person's worst moments shouldn't occlude his best.
I ask those above questions because people often forget that there are social and personal issues that come into play upon any violation of the laws. The man could seemingly get sex only by the dangle of illicit drugs. Is he a user is unknown, though he doesn't appear to be too terribly ravaged by the loss of the drug in his system. So, I am going to presume that this was more about the sex, and perhaps the money, than the drug. If the sex, then perhaps it shows that a person, in good standing with the community, must hide his desires in the underground and back alleys of a drug world when the desire for gay sex should not be such a cause of hiding and shame. You see my point? Perhaps the very reason this man "fell so far" is that he used the drugs to get the sex that he couldn't socially. He now becomes a very strange poster-child in a world so overcome with judgement and spite.
I stumbled upon this story via that same little app I put on my wallpaper. I've adapted the story a bit as I am not allowed to post it in its entirety. So, for those interested, search "Denver, Sheriff, Methamphetemines, Patrick Sullivan" and the AP story will likely be easy to find. Ok?
A U.S. national sheriff of the year is now an inmate in the jail that was named for him, accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex from a male acquaintance.
Colorado retired Sheriff Patrick Sullivan, 68, now in handcuffs, dressed in jail oranges and walking with a cane observed quietly as a judge raised his bail amount to a half-million dollars and sent him to the Patrick J. Sullivan Jr. Detention Facility.
The current sheriff, Grayson Robinson, who worked as undersheriff for Sullivan from 1997 until he took over the job in 2002, said "the department was shocked and saddened at his arrest" and has many in suburban Denver's Arapahoe County where he held sway for nearly two decades wondering what happened to the tough-as-nails lawman they once knew.
Sullivan came to the attention of law enforcement Oct. 4 when two confidential informants said that Sullivan was dealing meth but would sell it only if they had sex with him. He was arrested after police set up a sting at a home.
While those who know Sullivan were puzzled by the news, some said they weren't surprised that a person of his stature could get involved. They said meth users will do almost anything to feed their habit and often hurt others in the process. "This drug knows no economic, social, professional or occupational boundaries," said state Rep. Ken Summers, who served on a legislative meth task force.
Now, I am no expert on drugs, retired sheriffs, or even trading drugs for sex. Being one who is completely absent of any expertise, I am, of course, qualified to offer opinion....
I find myself with a couple of real questions:
1. Was this former sheriff a drug user before retiring?
2. Was this former sheriff seeking sex with other men before retiring?
3. Will this former sheriff be treated differently from others who come to that very jail for similar offense?
4. If this drug knows no economic, social, professional or occupational boundaries, is the drug the fault or the person? If the drug is the culprit, will this person be helped or tossed in jail and forgotten as many are who find themselves in like clothing and accommodation? And, if the "drug is the culprit", then why are others given such harsh sentences?
Americans will often look at this situation and shake our head wondering how far the mighty have fallen. Some will advocate the jail named after him be known now as the one that he is buried beneath. Some will seek to excuse his actions in light of his past good deeds, believing that a person's worst moments shouldn't occlude his best.
I ask those above questions because people often forget that there are social and personal issues that come into play upon any violation of the laws. The man could seemingly get sex only by the dangle of illicit drugs. Is he a user is unknown, though he doesn't appear to be too terribly ravaged by the loss of the drug in his system. So, I am going to presume that this was more about the sex, and perhaps the money, than the drug. If the sex, then perhaps it shows that a person, in good standing with the community, must hide his desires in the underground and back alleys of a drug world when the desire for gay sex should not be such a cause of hiding and shame. You see my point? Perhaps the very reason this man "fell so far" is that he used the drugs to get the sex that he couldn't socially. He now becomes a very strange poster-child in a world so overcome with judgement and spite.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
I'd like some thoughts on this...is the Salvation Army prejudiced?
Hello Friends;
I recently added an, well I guess AP is the right word?, to my computer's wallpaper that gives me the days headlines. I just put it up and already have something to talk about. Good thing too....I was short on things to ramble on and bore you to death.
So, according to a blog written by one who is living the life, the Salvation Army is prejudiced and discriminatory to homosexuals. http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9143097-gay-groups-boycott-salvation-army-red-kettle-drive
I'm wondering is this true? Is this the experience of a man who found a very misguided and "human" worker, or is this a case where the policy and the practice are not in accord?
Please let me know what you have found in your experiences.
hugs all;
randy.
I recently added an, well I guess AP is the right word?, to my computer's wallpaper that gives me the days headlines. I just put it up and already have something to talk about. Good thing too....I was short on things to ramble on and bore you to death.
So, according to a blog written by one who is living the life, the Salvation Army is prejudiced and discriminatory to homosexuals. http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/01/9143097-gay-groups-boycott-salvation-army-red-kettle-drive
I'm wondering is this true? Is this the experience of a man who found a very misguided and "human" worker, or is this a case where the policy and the practice are not in accord?
Please let me know what you have found in your experiences.
hugs all;
randy.
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