(RED)

i watched a really good program on mtv just now. it's called Thinkhiv: This Is Me. it's one of those few meaningful programs on mtv that does not involve dumping faeces on cars and getting wasted.

it's a 1/2 hour documentary with videos filmed by young people either infected with or affected by HIV. young people who were HIV positive talked about how their lives had been affected when their families and friends found out about their illness, or how people who knew would discriminate them. one that i remembered was this girl who was HIV positive, and she was filming her guy friend as they were walking.

*this is how their conversation roughly went*
**the friend does not look at the girl at all**

girl*behind the camera*: hey what do you know about HIV?
guy: i dont know. *bounces basketball*
girl: come on. what do you know about HIV?
guy: i dont know. that it's bad? *continues bouncing ball*

girl: why is it bad? who told you that it's bad?
guy: my high school told me that it's bad. why are you doing this anyway?
girl: i'm filming some documentary for..something. so it's bad? what would you do if you knew someone who's HIV positive? what would you do if i told you i was HIV positive?
guy: *bounces ball* i dont know..

girl: well i'm telling you now. i'm HIV positive.
guy: *bounces ball* (does not look at the friend at all)
girl: do you still wanna be my friend?
guy: *bounces ball* i dont know, yeah, maybe, i dont know, but i know i'm not going out with you.
girl: well i'm not going out with you either because you're not my type.

snap that, sista.

hi. you dont get HIV just by touching someone who's positive. you dont even get HIV by kissing that person. you only get it if you have sex with that person. so why the discrimination? fortunately, there were a few of them who had supportive acquaintances. one lady who was positive was even proposed to by her boyfriend. now that's the way, aint it?

alright, so these people made mistakes, but they're facing the consequences of their mistakes and it's a scary thing to deal with it alone. imagine the feeling when someone you counted on turns his/her back on you during your darkest hour. brrr. friend? or once friend? hmm. given the benefit of the doubt, i'd say friend. friend who just got shocked at the revelation and does not know what to do.

society needs to be enlightened about epidemics like AIDS. okay, okay. i know society already is, seeing that there are many organizations around creating AIDS awareness and stuff. still, i dont think it's enough.

just think about the innocent little kids who were born infected.

2007 will be a better year (even though i have a feeling it wouldnt)!