On A More Serious Note
Posted June 6th, 2006 by Matthew in CommentsHey all,
Just wanted to post a quick thing and let everyone know that this year marks the 25th formal anniversary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although it is considerably less visible now, AIDS is still a major problem, not only in the United States, but especially around the world. With literally thousands and thousands of new infections each year in the US alone, it is a problem that is tragically prevelant.
Now, if you know me, you know that I am generally not very preachy. I hate with a fury the idiot forwards that people send out, rallying for some movement about this, that, and the other. Also, I tend not to promote stuff outside of the g14 work that I do, because I’ve just never really been a, “Gooooo, Company I’m working for!” kind of person. And I’m trying not to do that too much with this post. However, if you are so inclined, please visit:
http://aids25.ogilvypr.com/
Now that I’ve broken one of my rules, let’s go ahead and break the other. I’m not asking you to give money, I’m not asking you to go to a rally, I’m not asking you to do anything at all. I’m offering you the chance to share your stories. You can share your stories on the Ogilvy site, or you can share them here. Just…talk about it. Don’t ask for people to do anything, just talk. One of the greatest opportunities I think that we have with g14 is to give people the chance to tell stories. So please, tell your story.
Don’t ask for people’s support, don’t try to have people sign a pledge, don’t try and convince people of political views, none of that. Just tell your story. When the story is powerful enough, people will make their own decision to do what they can do.
Tell your story.
Matthew
November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
I’ve never known anyone with AIDS - at least, I didn’t know if someone I knew had AIDS. Its weird to think about. AIDS is an epidemic that has effected us more than I think we even realize. Its been around us since we can remember. And yet, for me, its cancer that has had the most impact on my life. Can it be that something so horrible and devistating like AIDS can just become the wallpaper of our lives if it can’t be fixed?
My most poignant memory is when I was living in Florida and they were touring the AIDS quilt to schools across the country. This quilt had been made of small squares of fabric made by people with HIV/AIDS. Entering the gym where it was on display, I was struck by its size. It covered the entire floor of the gym. And if I remember correctly, this was only a piece of the full quilt. I was in 7th grade then and I can only imagine now how big that quilt must be now. For some reason, that made it more real for me. Anyway, there’s my story.
November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
The fact that no one has commented on this save Dave is actually a great example of something that happened to me at my work. When developing this whole project, one of my bosses made an off comment about how everybody has had some sort of experience with AIDS. Now, coming from New York, I’m sure this held true for him. However, sitting there, I remember thinking to myself…”well, I’ve never had any sort of personal experience with AIDS…”
In fact, until I started working at Ogilvy, I had never even known anyone personally with AIDS. Or if I did, I certainly had no idea they were infected. It seems like that’s true for other people who read this too?
Okay, well, i’ll be back soon to tell you all about the fun weekend I had in San Fran and the wackiness that is Vloggercon, and who my new friends are.
Keep talking people!
Matthew
November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
Okay, sorry I haven’t commented until now, Matthew. So here goes. . .
My cousin Jay had AIDS. He died in 1994 at the age of 25; he’d only had HIV a short time before it turned into AIDS. All the medications in the world, all the brain surgeries and all the hospital care did not slow down that virus. It was beyond painful to watch his health deteriorate–you know, any loved one’s passing hurts like hell, and it is especially awful when the one going is also the subject of fear because of his illness and hatred because of his lifestyle. So my family had this shared weird emotional state of sorrow because of what was happening and anger because of it.
It doesn’t seem like it’s been 12 years since he died; anyone who has experienced loss like that can probably back me up on this. The anniversary was coincidentally the same day you posted your entry, Matthew, which is a touch eerie.
In any event, thanks for giving me a chance to talk about Jay. Love you, RIP.
November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
Although my brother and I have not know anyone personally with AIDS, our mother did. And from time to time, she’ll share memories of her friend with me. His name was Armondo (not sure if the spelling is correct, as my only reference to him is verbal). They had worked together at Boeing many, many years ago and became good friends. He ended up moving to Texas, but they kept in touch over the years. He would send Mom yellow roses for her birthday…as he was her “Yellow Rose of Texas” for those old enough to get that reference. Every so often, she would mention that he called or that she had talked to him. But then I did not hear anything about him for a long time and being a child, I didn’t think to ask. It was a number of years later when Mom told me that he had died of AIDS. I believe he had been infected back in the mid-80s when it was still new and very taboo. I am not quite sure when he passed away, as it was years before I even knew that he had died. I never really talked too much with Mom about it, but she will mention him every so often with a note of meloncholy in her voice. Matthew’s post has made me think that I should find out more from Mom about Armondo and his last years. I think learning the stories and remembering those who have passed on is a powerful way to keep the topic in the forefront of our minds so that we’re more likely to continue fighting HIV/AIDS. Education and awareness are the best tools we have to stop the spread of the disease, so keep those stories coming!
Dawn