Today is World AIDS Day, when many groups and individuals highlight their work towards a cure and treatments for the disease. However, much of the scourge of AIDS comes not from the disease itself, but from humans. From gay-bashers in the U.S. to the fearful in Africa, there are many who persecute and shun those afflicted with AIDS. Worse yet, countless women and children are abused by those with AIDS, encouraged by religious and other leaders. While the eradication of the disease would be ideal, eradicating the abuse of women and children perpetrated by AIDS is critical.
Throughout much of sub-Sahara Africa, men and superstitious religious leaders perpetrate the myth that sex with (raping) a virgin cures AIDS. As a result, thousands of children, even infants only days-old, are raped and subsequently infected. AIDS is also frequently spread by men who travel from their homes to work: The men seek prostitutes, who are high-risk for the disease, contract AIDS, and return home to transmit the disease to unknowing wives.
Many individuals and groups identify corrupt governments, lawless countries, and repressive, misogynic branches of Islam or tribal religions for encouraging the spread of AIDS and the associated infection and of brutalization of women and children. This is true: The governments, superstitions, and mindsets must change. The violence must stop. However, rather than merely point accusative fingers towards African entities, we must also investigate and stop imperialistic Western cultures and leaders who covertly support brutal regimes and traditions in Africa, including the repression of and violence towards women, which traditions around AIDS so conveniently encourage.
We must view AIDS not only as a disease to be fought with research and drugs, but as an index of the world’s compassion and humanity. We — African nations and most Western nations — score very low on the index. We must increase our compassion. We must increase our care and concern for all of humanity. We must remember and act within our values. And we must honor and respect the embodiments of compassion and strength: women, the primary victims of AIDS, directly and indirectly.
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