Doug,

< ?? Do you mean communicable as in airborne? I have to chuckle a little here.. When I was a small lad we were essentially told ..ehrr.. exagerated stories on how STDs (known then as clap and so forth) were transmitted. In my case it worked. <g> />

Yes. If it was airborne we’d all have it. However it is spread through sex, syringe, and blood products.

< What specific behaviors would you puts here? I have what I think (may be incorrect are the top />

By behaviors I meant actions. Currently, In America, gay men are spreading it in a variety ways. One is due to being stupid because of liquor or drugs. In Africa, a large part of the problem is the lack of respect for women. Men see no need and indeed refuse to use any protection. And women don’t ask. And who suffers. Entire families, entire towns have disappeared because of a stupid cling to taboo and tradition.

< By their words or behavior?. />

Both.

< Here we'd disagree I suppose. Is it ok for me to think that this behavior is indeed immoral and so state on one hand and on the other to continue to treat those who disagree with me with the kinds of common courtesies everyone should enjoy? Should I first give this behavior and then be correct in my assumption that I should receive it in return? Or... Has this issue become so charged that people aren't able to be civil anymore? I see uncivil behavior on all sides but I maintain that each should be free to hold their own opinion(s). />

You are free to think what you want and treat people how you wish. Only you will reap the rewards or suffer the consequences of your actions. This issue has become charged on all sides. But, let’s hope cooler heads will prevail and realized that ADIS/HIV is a disease not a disgrace and the way we treat people with the disease or any disease causes it to become a social problem. People are suffering. Not just from AIDS, but from Cancer, Hep C. TB, poverty and a host of other problems. We can only do so much to cure disease. Once we find a cure there is always another illness which pops up and becomes the next great pandemic. But, poverty we can all help. And we don’t. Compassion we can and should have but some of us (not all) are too worried about our own lives that we tune out what is really going on.



< What would really work with respect to actually changing behaviors of various people do you think? />
Education. Truthful education started at an early age.

So I’ll jump off my soap box now. Actually I am impressed with everyone around here. At the UT I am surrounded by a group of people that actually look past their front yards. :)