Adam.Selene@f269.n107.z1.fidonet.org (Adam Selene) (12/02/89)
The term "politicizing AIDS" was first used by C. Everett Koop --- as was the
unfortunate, and thoroughly unscientific remark comparing AIDS to Bubonic
Plague.
+
+ The "Koop Legacy" is an interesting and contradictory body of thought. .
On one hand the man is an honest and diligent scientist/physician ... on the
other hand, by his own description a "Conservative Ideologue". On one hand
he advocates condoms -- on the other hand he ignores Safer Sex practice. He
boasts of "sneaking" (his word) moral judgment into his "Report" ... but but
advocates epidemic controls measures that are NON-judgemental, and scrupulously
observant of civil rights and liberties. He describes himself as a "Loyal
Reaganite Republican" ... but undermines the Administration's committments to
the Tobacco Growers and Cigarette Manufacturers.
+
+Admiral Koop seems to have been EMBARASSED by the entire AIDS situation. He
told America's parents that although it was "embarrassing" it was also
"neccessary" to be able to to talk about the mechanics of sex ... AND of GAY
sex, no less.
+ He was clearly embarrassed by the failures and ommissions of the early
years of GRID research -- at how near we came to a thoroughly infected blood
supply as a result of delay and denial.
+
+Koop wasn't the ONLY embarrassed Conservative. Vice President Bush was
embarrassed when he was BOO-ed off the stage, for our lack of cohesive AIDS
Policy, at the Atlanta AIDS Conference of 1987.
+
+ It's STILL embarrassing to sex educators that the only behavior-changing
sex education programs whose results can be quantified is the Gay Men's Health
Crisis-style of Sexually Explicit, Pornographically Assisted "Safer Sex
Workshops."
+ It's EMBARRASSING to public health professionals that the gay community
developed, funded and promoted Safer Sex Education, thereby reducing the
seroconversion rate among gay men from nearly 50% per annum to roughly 1% per
annum ... and did it within 4 years and WITHOUT government guidance, approval
or money.
+ American physicians were embarrassed that As late as 1986 there was no
enunciated Goverment AIDS policy ... no senior government offical even USED the
term AIDS in public until 1985 ... and no CONSISTANT policy emerged until
1987-88.
+
+ The abilities of the gay community to mobilize and raise money and
muster support has been as embarrassing to professional fundraisers as it has
been frightening to mainstream politicians.
+
+ It's STILL embarrassing to bioresearchers that Community Research
Initiatives are consistently "one step ahead" in evaluating AIDS treatment
drugs.
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