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World AIDS Day
Dec. 1st, 2009 11:33There are alot of things I have to say on this topic. In trying to make some sense of then I did some web bouncing and let the thought train flow, hopefully something intelligible has coalesced.
In 1980 I was 3 years old.
It was also the year that saw an epidemic of rare cancer spreading through the gay male population. 25 million people have died of AIDS since then.
29 years later, 35 million people are living with AIDS.
Every 9 1/2 minutes, a person in the U.S. in infected with HIV.
55 youth are infected with HIV each day in America.
Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. Please take a moment to remember those who have fallen and to support those living with the virus every day.
I remember in 1991 when The Red Ribbon Project was created by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991.Their goals were simple (from Wiki):
1. Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the “creator” of the Red Ribbon Project;
2. Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon;
3. The Red Ribbon should be used as a consciousness raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.
The artists who formed the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus wished to create a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. Inspired by the yellow ribbons honoring American soldiers serving in the Gulf war, the color red was chosen for its, "connection to blood and the idea of passion -- not only anger, but love, like a valentine." First worn publicly[citation needed]by Jeremy Irons at the 1991 Tony Awards, the ribbon soon became renowned as an international symbol of AIDS awareness, becoming a politically correct fashion accessory on the lapels of celebrities. The Red Ribbon continues to be a powerful force in the fight to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS and in the lobbying efforts to increase funding for AIDS services and research.
The symbol was powerful and striking in its simplicity. I have much to say on the significance of its iconic design and how the form of the ribbon has been co-opted to represent seemingly countless causes. While most of these are worthy of our support, I sometimes feel that its overuse detracts from the original.
I will end my ramblings there.
Light a candle, say a pray. This disease knows no boundaries and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or sexual orientation.
In 1980 I was 3 years old.
It was also the year that saw an epidemic of rare cancer spreading through the gay male population. 25 million people have died of AIDS since then.
29 years later, 35 million people are living with AIDS.
Every 9 1/2 minutes, a person in the U.S. in infected with HIV.
55 youth are infected with HIV each day in America.
Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. Please take a moment to remember those who have fallen and to support those living with the virus every day.
I remember in 1991 when The Red Ribbon Project was created by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991.Their goals were simple (from Wiki):
1. Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the “creator” of the Red Ribbon Project;
2. Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon;
3. The Red Ribbon should be used as a consciousness raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.
The artists who formed the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus wished to create a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. Inspired by the yellow ribbons honoring American soldiers serving in the Gulf war, the color red was chosen for its, "connection to blood and the idea of passion -- not only anger, but love, like a valentine." First worn publicly[citation needed]by Jeremy Irons at the 1991 Tony Awards, the ribbon soon became renowned as an international symbol of AIDS awareness, becoming a politically correct fashion accessory on the lapels of celebrities. The Red Ribbon continues to be a powerful force in the fight to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS and in the lobbying efforts to increase funding for AIDS services and research.
The symbol was powerful and striking in its simplicity. I have much to say on the significance of its iconic design and how the form of the ribbon has been co-opted to represent seemingly countless causes. While most of these are worthy of our support, I sometimes feel that its overuse detracts from the original.
I will end my ramblings there.
Light a candle, say a pray. This disease knows no boundaries and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or sexual orientation.
