December 1

This is perhaps a somber topic to start off an Advent Calendar, but for me, Advent is about lighting candles against the darkness, finding hope in dark times, and nowhere is that more needed than in the continuing fight against AIDS/SIDA.

I'm not asking you to do anything except take a few moments to think.  That's all.

This is what I wrote on World Aids Day two years ago:

"As a woman, and despite thinking I knew better, I was still stunned to realize that almost half of those infected with HIV worldwide are women.  And saddened to realize that the spread of HIV amongst women and girls is tied to the fact that women all over the world do not enjoy the same rights and access to employment, property, education, to the same sense of self-determination, as men.

"The bottom line -- gender inequality continues to fuel the AIDS epidemic.  And if we work towards redressing that balance, maybe we can help to put the brakes on it.

"As knitters, we have developed unique communities -- communities mostly of women, women who have the power to connect, to make a difference in the lives of other women, to make differences in our communities that benefit us all, men and women alike."

Two years later, I'm still sad.  After all these years, after all the knowledge gained, the AIDS/SIDA epidemic has continued to grow worse. AIDS/SIDA is ravaging families.  It's ruining childhoods.  It's destroying communities. 

This is no time for short-term or band-aid solutions.  Each of us needs to challenge myths, misconceptions and misguided attitudes.  It's no time to be prudish or moralistic.  We know what works -- education, support, awareness, medication.  We need to educate our children about their sexuality, we need to support those already infected, provide adequate medicine and social support for their families.  We need people to be aware of how AIDS/SIDA spreads, and what they can do to ensure they remain safe.  We need to provide people with the knowledge AND the materials AND the attitude they need to stay healthy.

We need compassion.  And we need to hold our political leaders to account for their promise to eradicate AIDS/SIDA by 2015.

So today, on World Aids Day, let's light a candle against the darkness that is AIDS.  Take a few moments to think.  And if you can, in the year to come, find a way to make a difference, all the better.

Comments

[Carol]

Thank you.