Who cares about AIDS?

 

“How do you tell your child you are dying?”

~Musa Njoko

 

“We don’t know what we’ve lost…we will be judged by God for this.”

~Bono

 

“I would say to everyone, come down to earth and face reality!”

~Olivia Nantongo

 

These quotes and others roll across the banner of the website for A Closer Walk, a film about AIDS in the world. Frankly, I was surprised that I hadn’t heard about the documentary sooner. It was filmed over a period of 2.5 years beginning in early 2000. It seems that our country’s recent involvement and current floundering in Iraq has caused us as a whole to shift otherwise major global issues to the back of the collective mind.

 

The film is a bold foray into the world to discover and show how AIDS is affecting the world today. It becomes clear as one watches the documentary that while there has been progress over the last decade, the disease is still advancing in many areas and much more needs to be done to stave it off.

 

I have to give props to the director, Robert Bilheimer, who did an excellent job with the project. He visited four continents and interviewed/profiled 75 men, women and children whose lives are touched by AIDS. Coincidentally, he hails from the same part of upstate New York as I do.

 

The website, acloserwalk.org is an invaluable resource if you’re interested in learning about the current situation with AIDS across the world (and I sincerely hope that you are). However, it offers much more than that. My favorite feature of the website, and the one that I enjoyed most because it profoundly affected me were the director’s journals which Bilheimer originally composed for friends and family at home while working on the project. Now online in PDF form, they offer a firsthand view of the AIDS situation around the world, as well as one man’s journey and impressions in undertaking this tremendous project. The eight journals come from Uganda, Haiti, South Africa, and India. They can be accessed at: Director’s Journals

Please take the time to read one, and only continue if you are so compelled.

 

This comes from the first journal entry from South Africa:

 

“Following behind our workers I sensed something, but didn’t know what—normal procedure, perhaps?—when their pace slowed appreciably as we approached the doorless entrance to the round hut. I followed behind as they entered, and there, sitting on the floor to the left of the doorway on individual bamboo mats, propped against the circular wall of the room, were some ten women, young and old, half perhaps with children, some beautifully dressed, the light from the door and a couple of windows etching their faces, bodies, and clothes. At the end of this arc of stunning, silent women and children was a figure turned away from them, completely shrouded in a blanket. Tapered at the head, this blanket shroud was enormously powerful just to look at: a death-image, except that behind and around it appeared, from time to time, a ten-month old child, most beautiful, bright eyes cutting through the room like lasers, playing hide and seek within and around his hidden mother and blanket.

 

Chairs were brought in for the visitors and placed against the wall opposite the women. When we took our seats and the workers began to sing—they seamlessly responded to the situation—I knew that we were at the first stage of a mourning. Indeed, the young man we were coming to see had died…the day before, between the last visit the Hospice had made, and ours.

 

….Tragically it is virtually certain that this young widow—her name is Octavia Dlezi is herself HIV positive and that her ten-month-old baby is too. She is going to be tested in about two week’s time, and with the help of the SCH folks, we will continue to follow her story and that of her child, if she agrees.”

 

~ Robert Bilheimer, Journal 1; Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

If you check out the website, please take the time to post a comment. It’s encouraging to know if you’ve reached someone.

Pit Bulls- the Spawn of Satan?

They kill poodles and people, their cute little puppies gnaw off the toes and fingers of babies, and they rove about the American countryside in ravenous packs that could bring you down and tear you to pieces in a matter of minutes. Says the media. Anyone else notice they seem to have been coming down particularly hard on this dog breed of late?

 

Admittedly, they didn’t make these stories up.  Many harrowing incidents have taken place of late that have involved dogs of this breed. Britain actually has breed-specific legislation in place to try to reduce the number of these incidents. Many groups in the United States are clamoring for similar legislation in our country.  Additionally, in response to the torrent of negative media pit bulls have received over the last few years, there has been an outpouring of support from owners and fanciers.  Youtube.com hosts a proliferation of videos that show family pits cuddled up with babies, playing with children, and sharing a comfortable nap on the couch with their beloved owners.  Others show the gruesome effects of novice dog fighters on pit bulls, and urge people to lash out against irresponsible and abusive owners rather than the breed.  Here are a couple of examples; have a look, particularly if you own a dog.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwI_qlq5vHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLtrqOdDxzk&mode=related&search=

 

Many of the images in the videos show dogs that have been injured in pit or street fights, though some have simply suffered from excessive neglect. Being a dog-lover myself, I find them to be equal parts sappy and heart-wrenching, not to mention shameful to dog owners on the whole.

 

What’s more astounding is that there are still websites up and running that openly promote dog fighting as a gentlemanly sport.  One popular site called the Pit Bull Reporter, offers online articles, magazine subscriptions to the gamesmen’s magazine, and even custom made accessories for the pit bull trainer and handler like break sticks, heavy leather collars, and leads. There are also ads for “game-bred” puppies from “champion stock.”  Really, have a look: http://www.pbreporter.com/articles.htm

 

Back to the apparent problem of these dogs being used as domestic pets though. The truth of the matter is that the American Pit Bull Terrier is a breed that has, over the last couple hundred years, been selectively bred by man to be a fighting dog- to demonstrate unsurpassed gameness, athleticism and aggressiveness.  And in this sense, they are impressively beautiful and amazing creatures.

 

A common defense of the pit bull fancier is that the breed is not inherently human-aggressive.  However, there is no argument that barring proper training and socialization, they generally do have a natural tendency to want to get loose and tear apart other dogs. And it happens that poorly trained ones will occasionally display aggression towards humans as well.  Moreover, dogs are like people; there are bad ones and there are good ones, regardless of breed. You cannot necessarily predict or assure that any dog will act a certain way, which is one of the drawbacks of dog-owning in general.  Usually with proper training and responsible and loving ownership though, a well-tempered and obedient dog is the result.  That being said, it seems that the pit bull in particular demands exceptional owners.  I have seen far too many in the hands of people who don’t have time to train, care for, and walk their animals.  They’re ignored and chained in back yards, and when they get loose, bad things are bound to happen.  And through no particular fault of the individual dog of course; they simply don’t know any better.  It is irresponsible owners that are the threat.

 

In light of these facts, it seems that breed specific legislation would be a wasteful and feeble attempt to remedy the problem that the pit bull is facing as a breed.  But what else can be done? We are a long way in this country (or anywhere in the world for that matter) from screening individuals for dog ownership, and this would send many people into fits of indignation to boot.  Could the breed be “bred out” to a degree to try to dilute the aggressive traits that are sometimes manifested?  It certainly wouldn’t be an exact science.  It’s a tricky situation, and I really wonder what can be done about it…what do you think? I have a particular interest in the topic for creative reasons, and all comments (posts or private messages) from pit bull pet/game dog owners in particular would be vastly appreciated.

Since he was such a hit…

I thought I’d post a little more from Lhamo Thondup that I found to be particularly engaging and relevant to the practical world. Can’t hurt, right?

 

“….One of the most positive developments in the world recently has been the growing awareness of the importance of Nature. There is nothing sacred or holy about this. Taking care of our planet is like taking care of our houses. Since we human beings come from Nature, there is no point in our going against Nature, which is why I say the environment is not a matter of religion or ethics or morality. These are luxuries, since we can survive without them. But we will not survive if we continue to go against Nature.

 

We have to accept this. If we unbalance Nature, humankind will suffer. Furthermore, as people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility towards others to ensure that the world we pass on is a healthy, if not healthier, than when we found it. This is not quite such a difficult proposition as it might sound. For although there is a limit to what we as individuals can do, there is no limit to what a universal response might achieve. It is up to us as individuals to do what we can, however little that may be. Just because switching off the light on leaving the room seems inconsequential, it does not mean that we should not do it.

 

This is where, as a Buddhist monk, I feel that belief in the concept of karma is very useful in the conduct of daily life. Once you believe in the connection between motivation and its effect, you will become more alert to the effects which your own actions have upon yourself and others.

 

Thus, despite the continuing tragedy of Tibet, I find much good in the world. I am especially encouraged that the belief in consumerism as an end in itself seems to be giving way to an appreciation that we humans must conserve the earth’s resources. This is very necessary. Human beings are in a sense children of the earth. And, whereas up until now our common Mother tolerated her children’s behaviour, she is presently showing us that she is reaching the limit of her tolerance.”

– from “Freedom in Exile; the autobiography of the Dalai Lama”

 

Is His Holiness being overly-optimistic? Are we figuratively making the effort to turn off the light when we leave a room? Are we making any sacrifices at all out of mindfulness of the environment we rely upon to live? I’m pretty good about turning out lights, but I’m ashamed to say that I don’t actively do too much else as it stands right now. Any ideas of what else can be done on a daily basis on the individual level?

How about the idea of karma as a means to motivate responsibility in the modern and Western world? Think it could work on any level at all?