Once more, Pope Benedict is showing why he is simply a bad choice for leader of the Catholic Church. His comments on Condoms, before heading out on his African Trip clearly demonstrates how this man hasn’t a clue about life, about the real world.  For him to claim that use of Condoms increases the spread of AIDS / HIV is amazing, but then again, we should be used those type of comments from him. After all, he didn’t know about the anti semitic views of one of the Bishops he was pardoning, and didn’t really mean to say Islam was a violent religion that promoted violence.

It is almost as if he deliberately wants to raise people’s hackles, create controversy. Maybe he thinks it gets people thinking of the Church or something, but in reality, it turns them off of it. It makes them feel like GOD has abandoned them, when his supposed leader on earth makes such outlandish remarks.

Condoms won’t prevent AIDS / HIV from spreading,  but it will help slow it down. Denying people Condoms, or educating them about it, will only further the spread of the virus. Granted abstinence is a sure fire way of controlling its spread, but it is also unrealistic. Unless mankind is to become NON SEXUAL BEINGS, abstinence WILL NOT WORK.

Then too, the whole concept of being faithful is not a solution. Granted, it is the ideal method between committed couples, but we are HUMAN. We are tempted, and fall to that temptation, and then too, many are simply not couples. So while their body is on fire with raging hormones, they are supposed to ignore it, until they find the right person, marry, and then have sex?

That didn’t happen at any time in Human History, let alone be possible in today’s society. So the Pope needs to adapt to reality, not push the impossible. Nor do I buy his argument that GOD wishes this type of approach either. After all, ancient man, even in the time of Christ, multiple wives were the norm, not the exception. Kind of seems to me, that back then, they understood that man is a sexual being, and that you can’t just limit their sexual urges to one partner.

Hot Desert Knights (HDK) has today showed why it is a cut above the rest. No, this isn’t a plug for a movie of theirs, but they do have lots of titles available. This is about a studio taking positive action, to protect its major assets, THE PERFORMER.

I think most consumers are as naive as I was, in this regards. I think we all ASSUMED that proper testing was routine among studios producing porn. Not just the BAREBACK STUDIOS testing for HIV, but ALL STUDIOS for testing for HIV, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and all the other STDs. Some it seems, do, but not all, and certainly not on a full scale, as HDK is now EMBARKING UPON. (read their press release here)

The simple matter is that STDs are on the rise across the Western World. And while some may think it isn’t all that serious, they need to rethink that one. Syphilis and others can be fatal, or worse. They can lead to blindness and kidney problems, liver problems, and I don’t know, but losing my sight because of some quick fuck, just doesn’t seem worth it.

With the super bugs going around, and all the other crap, it just is common sense to try and put a stop to some of the needless infections. For a studio like HDK to take this on, is something that restores my faith. It is rare to hear of a studio wiling to SACRIFICE SOME PROFITS, to insure that not only is its product entertaining, but that the people who make it, ARE PROTECTED.

With so many companies knowingly bringing in harmful goods, tainted with lead, and other crap, it is nice to see a Porn Studio taking the lead in doing something positive, instead of just being concerned with the bottom line.

I have been a slow boil on this, since reading the comment on one of the gay webmaster boards I frequent. One of the more vocal members there beliefs that this whole AIDS / HIV issue is about selfishness, and that it could have been solved 20 years ago. In fact, this great human being believes that there should be mandatory testing of everyone, and that it not be kept in confidence, but that some form of PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION be required. His solution is to TATTOO THE FOREHEAD or something.

The issue arises from the stunning Swiss Report, that says that in some instances, HIV+ men could engage in sex with a non infected person, without protection. Of course that is good news in one sense, and not so good in another. The good news is that it means a drug regime can be effective in preventing the transmission of the virus. It is something science can build on, and hopefully find a cure.

The bad news however, is that many will take that to disregard the content of the report, ignore its strict regiment of what would qualify for someone to have unprotected sex, while being HIV+. It will create a false sense of security, and people will let their guard down, and that could lead to a spurt in infections.

However, all that aside, what has me boiling is how some people still believe in the incarceration or branding of people, to set them aside. Selfishness? No, it isn’t a matter of being selfish, it is a matter of health. Sure their are some who are selfish, but AIDS and its ramifications are far more reaching, than about personal choice. If society cared, if they didn’t judge others, then more would be tested, more would be RESPONSIBLE for their actions, but that is not this world.

This world is about hatred, about prejudices. To even consider ‘branding‘ people who are HIV+ is not only inhuman, but is racist. Nor is it something new either. Many forget when AIDS broke onto the World Stage, how some health officials, and Government Officials, as well as Religious Leaders, considered about QUARANTINING HOMOSEXUALS, in order to PROTECT STRAIGHT SOCIETY.  Jerry Falwell was one of those by the way, and there were politicians as well who thought about it.

It isn’t anything new, and if this person had his way, maybe it would have. Though it wouldn’t have been the first time either. It has happened before in society, when Government was given the authority to segregate portions of its citizens, who were believed to be evil, to be a risk to the good of the State. It happened in America with the incarceration of Japanese Americans, but not white Italian Americans, or white German Americans, just the Japanese.

And even at that time, across the ocean it had been happening for many years before the onset of WWII. The Germans were good at ‘branding‘ those who were out of step with their philosophy, or who didn’t fit their ideal of a citizen. There aren’t all that many left today, who could sit down with this person, but then it wouldn’t do him any good. He’d ignore the lessons of history that they could bear witness to, and that perhaps is what frustrates me more.

There are still many who bear Hitler’s scars, the tattoo of numbers on their arms. Many were nothing but babies at the time, yet those numbers are a stark reminder of what happens when people believe that the best way to cure problems, is to BRAND THEM. He seems to ignore that TWELVE MILLION DIED IN CAMPS, not because they were SELFISH, but because the government thought they were bad, a danger to their society.

Many who are HIV+ hide it, not because of being selfish, but from fear of those like this so called webmaster. It is from the fear of what these type of people would do, how they would react. It isn’t from being selfish, just plain old self preservation kicking in. Yes, some are irresponsible, many maybe, but it is because of society, of how they have been raised. Just like this so called ‘webmaster‘.

He may call for the Government to intervene, to brand HIV+ people, but he sure doesn’t like it when someone says he can’t use ‘this word‘ or ‘that word‘ in his gallery descriptions. He rants about them being ‘word Nazis‘ but then, he doesn’t understand what a Nazi is. I suppose he just doesn’t see the Swastika over his forehead, when he looks in the mirror. Strong words but then, sometimes the truth is hard.

Freedom is a precious thing, and yes, I would defend his right to voice it, even though I would spend all my energy to oppose his views. That is the price of Freedom, as it must be for all people, even those we disagree with. In fact, I have defended his right to speak out, as he does, but that is besides the point. What is so scary, is that he is under 30, and appears to be typical of people today. And that is the scary thing.

I am HIV-, and yet I do get regular tests. Each time, my heart stops waiting for the results, even though I KNOW IT WILL BE NEGATIVE. I don’t cheat on the wife, nor he on me, but this is a disease that can lay dormant for untold years. What I may have done a decade or so ago could come back to haunt me today, so my heart pounds each time a test is taken. It isn’t easy, and I do it, but I can understand why so many don’t.

IT IS NOT EASY TO FACE YOUR POSSIBLE MORTALITY.

Yes, there are drugs today that help keep you alive. Expensive drugs and regimes, and some are fortunate enough to be able to afford them. Other’s aren’t so lucky, FIFTY MILLION AMERICANS HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, let alone have coverage if they are diagnosed with HIV. Is it selfish to not get tested? No, it is fear, and ‘branding‘ them isn’t a solution. That is for the Nazis, not for FREE PEOPLE.

The failure in clinical trials of an AIDS Vaccine is still a mystery, or so it seems. The real question is how will it effect other vaccine testing? Will it slow down the process even more, or will it have no impact?

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., announced on Sept. 21 that it was stopping the study because the vaccine didn’t work. It was a stunning setback in the push to develop an AIDS vaccine.

The vaccine is made from a common cold virus with three synthetic HIV genes tucked inside. It’s designed to stimulate the immune system to kill any HIV-infected cells encountered in the future. (source)

Seems that there are other questions that need answering, such as why did more of those getting the vaccine develop HIV than those who received a dummy vaccine shot? Kind of also makes you wonder if there isn’t a bit more to this whole ‘vaccine‘ testing.

Maybe I am just skeptical, but you wonder if perhaps the drug companies are slowing down on research for a cure, or vaccine, due to the hefty profits they make from the current treatment of AIDS and HIV? I mean think about it. They sell a lot of these ‘cocktails‘ and make a lot of money off them. If they develop a vaccine, those profits will dwindle, as people become more immune to the disease.

Might sound callous, but then again, it does seem that today there is more emphasis on profits, than on social responsibility. I mean, just look at the Toy Industry.