HIV infections high among S.C. blacks

jca (anonymous) says...

not trying to sound racist. but i remember in high school that the loosest girls were all black. i think it has alot to do with their upbringing and lifestyle

they have the highest teen pregnancy rates too. and its that they arent taught safe sex. its taught in school they choose to not hear it or make fun of it.

specially boys of any race. they think safe sex is a joke and guys say the condom deadens their feeling. stupidity kills the taxpayer

September 15, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LadyTarHeel (anonymous) says...

As a black woman it frightens to me to hear these statistics over and over again. I don't get why my people will not practice safe sex. The message is out there. I know because I have heard it. It is possible to make it to age 25 (which I will be in 6 months) and not have babies or some incurable disease that will more than likely kill you no matter how many drugs you take. I've heard all types of excuses from my friends, "We didn't have one and I didn't want to stop to go get one", "it just feels better that way", "I'm allergic to latex and the other ones don't feel right". You name it, I've hear it. It is time for the black community at large to wake up and understand that HIV does not have a look, a smell, a feel, nothing. But it is very, very real and if things do not change within the black community it will happen to a lot of people that never expected it.

September 15, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DoaMM (anonymous) says...

Lifestyle...Upbringing...Morals...Ethics...Respect for yourself...

It's about all these things, but of course there will be someone ignorant enough to come around and blame other people and races for their problems.

Such is life in America...

September 15, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DoaMM (anonymous) says...

RW, I guess some people need nookie so bad they'll (literally) do anything!

And relating to your cologne statement, granted you can't "smell" HIV, but the bumps, sores, and lesions are a good indication that you should probably say, "You're nice and all, but I gotta go...you know, big meeting tomorrow with the welfare board and all..."

Yuck!

September 15, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

lexylady (anonymous) says...

LadyTarHeel, Excellent Post!! It is all about personal responsibility..

September 15, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DoaMM (anonymous) says...

RW, no hazard pay...but the worst of the patients get the private room where we drop a "flea & tick bomb" an hour before we go in...

:)

September 15, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...

A biased judicial system is in place, which disproportionately imprison "black" males. This is a fact not my opinion.

There, in prison, we all know certain activities occur yet there are no measures in place to stop the spread of HIV. For example, there is very little protection against rape. In addition, condoms are not available. These men are later released back into society now infected with HIV picked up in prison.

The media with seemingly endless statistics consistently fail to point out the relationship between the biased judicial system and the proliferation of the HIV virus among people considered "black".

September 15, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

noseygirl (anonymous) says...

In case you didn't notice, they didn't say that other races were NOT being infected. They're just not being infected at the same RATE as African Americans. As for the lesions, etc. the drugs are able to take care of those type issues for many years. I recently saw a woman who was living with HIV and she was a very healthy size 18--Beautiful, well spoken, well dressed. AIDS knows no race, creed, color or socioeconomic condition...........

September 15, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

This isn't any new discovery and certainly isn't news to me. But of course there are the usual ignorant comments here. They remind me why I ignore people like RW and DoAMM First of all, try as you might, you can't TELL if someone is HIV positive, DoAMM, there isn't an HIV look, so if you assume that you're just as ridiculous as those people who don't protect themselves. Personal responsibility is important, so is adequate sex education. Learning to protect yourself, first and foremost.

Also in the Black community, as everyone knows, part of the reason for the high infection rate (not the WHOLE reason) is the down low phenomenon, it's been documented many times over. In my opinion, a huge part of fighting the HIV infection rate, everywhere, is confronting the attitudes and behaviors that lead to either men on the down-low or women not protecting themselves or having incorrect knowledge about sex and even how HIV and AIDS is spread.

ColdBeer you are wrong when you said organizations haven't been attacking the problem, they have for years. But the same money we invest in PEPFAR (which is an excellent Bush program in my opinion, probably the only one) we don't invest here at home. The same basic sex education we teach in foreign countries, or pay for in foreign countries is forbidden in some states.

September 15, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

The black population of this state also has a much higher rate of teen pregnancy, a higher dropout rate, higher infant-mortality rates, a lower life expectancy and a higher rate of incarceration.

Why is the NAACP still fussing over the flag? Does anyone believe that it makes one bit of difference to those in the black community, in their day-to-day lives and what they struggle with, if the flag is up there or not?

September 15, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

I love how the NAACP is the only black organization most people on this board has heard of. Try again. There are many community and religious organizations working in and out of the black community. Let's try to have something new to focus on.

I have lots of problems with the NAACP myself, mostly the fact that the problems for the black community have changed and they have yet to adapt themselves to a changed national vision. It's something I think they are trying to correct nationally, whether or not that is trickled down to the local level is yet to be seen. But if they serve any purpose at all, it seems to be the constant punching bag on this forum.

September 15, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

This is my final comment, for my sanity, but why did P&C decide to just hoist this article up here with little or no background and just a two-paragraph background of a statistic. Is this actually a major news story, or are they baiting their favorite racists to come out?

September 15, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

Posted by SCdeacinNYC on September 15, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"This is my final comment, for my sanity, but why did P&C decide to just hoist this article up here with little or no background and just a two-paragraph background of a statistic. Is this actually a major news story, or are they baiting their favorite racists to come out?"

We all know the answer to this one. They have to make sure we are continue to be seen in the worse possible light!!!!

September 15, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

I guess we are all forgetting that AIDS started as a white man's disease. Aww, how easily we forget.

morality???

Yeah, so only black people are having unprotected sex and white people are good and innocent and there is no "lifestyle" issues are plaguing white society?

Unfortunately as uneducated as RW is I will answer him just this once. Umm, why isn't it affecting other populations? It is affecting other populations. You're just too stupid to know better.

SC and Lovely - please don't explain. Apparently since the NAACP represents every black person they are supposed to stop the spread of AIDS single handedly. I think we all know what is going to come from this board today. NOTHING productive.

September 15, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

Test,

I don't know what I was thinking. :-) I am done with this.

September 15, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

Started as a white man's disease????

"A new study of the oldest known HIV suggests the virus jumped from animals to humans in the 1940s.
The year was 1959, location: The central African city of Leopoldville, now called Kinshasa, shortly before the waves of violent rebellion that followed the liberation of the Belgian Congo. A seemingly healthy man walked into a hospital clinic to give blood for a Western backed study of blood diseases. He walked away and was never heard from again. Doctors analyzed his sample, froze it in a test tube and forgot about it. A quarter-century later, in the mid-1980s, researchers studying the growing AIDS epidemic took a second look at the blood and discovered that it contained HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
And not just any HIV. The Leopoldville sample is the oldest specimen of the AIDS virus ever isolated and may now help solve the mystery of how and when the virus made the leap from animals (monkeys or chimpanzees) to humans, according to a report published last week in Nature. Dr. David Ho, director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City and one of the study's authors, says a careful genetic analysis of the sample's DNA pushes the origin of the AIDS epidemic back at least a decade, to the early '50s or even the '40s."

September 15, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

westashleyboi (anonymous) says...

Since its beginning, the hysteria over AIDS and the failure of all of the dire predictions of it being an andromeda strain type epidemic that would destroy the world if everybody didn't wear a condom or give money to starving children in Africa caused me to question what I was being told.

The HIV causes AIDS hypothesis may not be true. In the mid 80's the government and medical research were under tremendous social, political and financial pressure to find a cause for this epidemic. They blamed it on the HIV virus before the science was in. As soon as HIV was deemed the culprit it was verboten to suggest otherwise and no studies would be funded to determine other possible causes. How could DHHS or the CDC fund a study questioning HIV as a cause without admitting they may have screwed up. 25 years and BILLIONS later and still were at square one.

Here is a link to an interesting article summarizing the questions behind HIV=AIDS.

http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/hiv/pdp...

Judge for yourself.

September 15, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...

According to Rev Wright it was created by the "white man" trying to wipe out the black race-genocide he called it.Excuse me....I have to get back to the lab. Muah ha ha ha haaaaaaa

September 15, 2008 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

westashleyboi (anonymous) says...

I know your eyes may start rolling back into your head. My linked article does NOT focus on conspiracy theories, just HIV medical research failures.

September 15, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

LadyTarHeel,

Good post. More important you didn't blame anyone but the fools who knowingly take the chance. Your attitude from the black group on a regular basis would eventually separate the genuine racists, which IMO exist and are a minority, from the rest of us who are angry and sick and tired of being made an excuse for bad personal behavior. Most important it would start to solve these problems.

---------

The NAACP continuing to raise their heads screaming about things which may aggravate the black community but have little if anything to do with solving real important problems is what brings on ridicule. The race business is a BIG business and knows that if real problems were actually solved it would be out of business. "We have met de enemy and dey is us" Pogo

September 15, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

It is scientifically thought that AIDS originated in Africa, derived from monkeys.
Not homosexuality.... monkey-sexuality....

September 15, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

lady tarheel, don't let them put you into the trick bag. Think for yourself. think about this, who is really doing all the raping, child molesting, whites have been doing these things since they came to this country. lady tar heel, have you ever been in a bar when white girls are drinking and drunk. check out the way they act and carry themselves, if you get a white girl drunk her pants is coming off thats a fact. go into anyone of these bars downtown, you would see for yourself who's the real fluzy.
black woman have always been more cautious and more lady like. this is just the devils propaganda to make himself feel good. take that trick mccaine has for a running mate. what state is her 16 year old daughter in? lady tar heel research and ascertain who has the most abortions in the world thats a title held and will always be held by the white woman.

September 15, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

Marianne, I don't think anyone really knows where the virus came from. All of this is just the most researchers THINK they know. Before the Congolese thing, they thought the first case was some British guy who had never even traveled to Africa, they later had to recant because of lab contamination, but it just proves that scientists obsession with finding the origin hasn't led to completely conclusive results. Personally I think they should stop caring where it came from, or "who the first KNOWN case was" and focus on how to prevent, treat and cure.

I think TEST was referring to the disease's apparent suddent presence in America in the 1980s, it was seen mostly as a "gay white men's disease.", though it obviously is not JUST that and did not start in the gay community. The perception of the disease has evolved over the years, but not the stigma and the misconceptions about it. We also haven't involved in the way we as a society think about sex, which I think leads to reckless personal choices. But not everyone infected by HIV is at fault, there are many children, including here in America who are vertically infected. Also in the first years of the disease's presence, many people got affected from blood transfusions. So before you start judging people with the disease, remember not ALL of it is personal responsibility, so of it is without choice.

September 15, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

lady tar heel, no disrespect, but don't go through life getting your opinions and facts from whit people. we are all americans but they have a different agenda than you and i have. look at things around you and just cut the tv off sometimes and think to yourself about life and whats this all about out here. lady tar heel why do you think this whole thing about abortion clenics is so hard on white males. because their women are not having there babies for them. She is in with the doctors hour on the hour getting it sucked out. tHIS INFERRIATES THE WHITE MALES. THATS WHY HE BOMBS ABORTION CLENICS, trys to kill the doctors even trys to kill his wife. just take some time and think about this. you'll figure it all out.

September 15, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

"genuine racists, which IMO exist"

MR_PRETTY, though certainly not the only one, is kind enough to immeadiately provide an example.

September 15, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

Thanks SC. They have no idea where it actually came from.
john_doe - yes, we can do without the quoting of the bible. We know you didn't write the bible. Some other MAN did. Remember. Man wrote the bible not God.

"bath house behaviour and the muli-partner sex"

heheh - um, I haven't been out of college that long but I do remember a little bit of column a and a LOT of column b from heterosexuals. Actually more so.

Lest we forget that a lot of those people are in monogamous relationships and then a spouse or partner deceives them. I know women who have contracted HIV or AIDS from a husband. Someone you wouldn't normally have protected sex with eh?

September 15, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

Has anyone wondered if taking those with HIV that has developed into full-blown AIDS should be put into quarantine?

September 15, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

soul2soul (anonymous) says...

MR_PRETTY......HUH???

September 15, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

MR_PRETTY,
As a white female, I take serious offense to your comments about white women.
African Americans sit there and say they hate the stereotypes and generalizations white people make after a few encounters with black people they have had. They take their feelings towards those few black people, and lump the entire race together for their opinions on what that race is like.

You are being such a hypocrite.

Not every white woman carries herself in that manner when consuming alcohol. Not every white woman had multiple abortions. Not ever white female who consumes alcohol has their panties at their feet.

"Black woman have always been more cautious and lady like"
Who???!

September 15, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

yes iceman, that sounds like a wonderful 21st century idea, since everyone knows you can catch HIV by just breathing the same air as someone who has it
(Sarcasm)

September 15, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

Marianne, I almost agreed with your post until your last statement and the way you started a sentencing by saying "African americans sit there...". Right there YOU are generatlizing.

Now you are being the hypocrite.

September 15, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

SC, What about junkies who share needles? Or women with HIV who continue to get pregant? Or men who have HIV and sleep around deliberately to spread the disease?

Yeah. It's really a good idea to have people like that out in society.

September 15, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

I like how people get offended by mr. pretty's ONE comment and not the other 1000 boards where certain posters spend their whole argument generalizing and stereotyping. Hypocrisy at its best.

September 15, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

And your point Marianne? So Black people are the scourge of humanity because you have found verified & undeniable proof that it was a Black man 50 years ago that began the spread of HIV. Pray tell, since you seem to have this information, just how did this virus spread? Jumped from the vial to the poor unsuspecting doctor and/or lab technician? Or did this seemingly healthy man get on a ship and have unprotected sex with a white gay man hence beginning the modern day plague in the US?

james_corn: You may not say that NAACP reps ALL Blacks but several of your regular posters do so on every article that focuses on the Black community.

ladytarheel: Please do not fall into the trap of being ashamed of "your" people. These particular stats only reflect the number of new cases in South Carolina. Actually with a little research you will find that although there have been a growing number of new AIDS cases among Blacks in this country, this is only a fairly recent phenomenon. Still the largest number of AIDS patients is still White gay males. True enough, the Black community has several problems that aren't being fully addressed either locally or nationally. Hopefully with time and effort grass-roots organizations will. In the meantime try not to be overly discouraged with your own people. You have plenty of others who do not share your ancestry that think low enough of you and 'your kind' as it is.

Minoritysouth: Yes, the surge in infections in the Black community is partially rooted in the fact that there is a disproportionate numbers of incarcerated Black men in prisons, engaging either consensually or by force in unsafe sexual practices, and then going back home to unsuspecting females who also engage in unsafe sexual practices. Regardless of how the initial infections occurred, it is still personal responsibility that is lacking in the communities where the infection rates are growing. No amount of finger pointing at governmental policies can overshadow that.

To all others: Just as there was an all out assault against AIDS in the gay community 15-20 years ago utilizing both government and private resources, the same will have to happen in the heterosexual communities where the rate of infection is growing. (Black, Hispanic & White)

P.S. I don't know why I continue to be surprised by what I read in the comments section of this paper. You'd think that I would have become desensitized to the idiocy of those who would actually say that Blacks overall are amoral creatures. But no, I still get surprised.

*sigh*

September 15, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

Iceman and what are you going to do, test the entire population and then quarantine those who are infected. If you are just focusing on those groups, what about the married guys with children who infect their wives. This isn't a sci-fi movie, this is real life. Junkies who share needles should be given clean needles, I do believe in needle exchange. It may not sit well with some social conservatives, but at least you know there aren't dirty needles being passed around. There are drugs women with HIV can take in order to not pass it on to their children. Better HIV treatment for these women can lead them even if they are accidentally pregnant or if they are already pregnant and find out they are HIV positive to have a baby that is completely free of the disease.

We have a very intricate system of privacy and health care especially when HIV is involved. HIV status is confidential even in death, I know there are good reasons for it, though I don't know if I knew someone was putting someone in danger I would be able to keep my mouth shut, luckily I'm not in that position. But I think men (and women) who have knowingly spread the disease have been prosecuted before on attempted murder and murder charges.

September 15, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

"And your point Marianne? So Black people are the scourge of humanity because you have found verified & undeniable proof that it was a Black man 50 years ago that began the spread of HIV. Pray tell, since you seem to have this information, just how did this virus spread? Jumped from the vial to the poor unsuspecting doctor and/or lab technician? Or did this seemingly healthy man get on a ship and have unprotected sex with a white gay man hence beginning the modern day plague in the US?"

I did not say that the man who was tested and found to be the earliest case of HIV, actually began the spread of HIV. Just because it was the earliest case found, doesn't mean it was the first. How did it spread? Through sex, DUH! Think about it, that one man could have infected a lot of people. He has sex with one person, that person has sex with 2 and so on and so on. Did the man jump on a ship and have sex with a gay white man? Could have been. Someone he slept with could have. Some women could have spread it too.

"Marianne, I almost agreed with your post until your last statement and the way you started a sentencing by saying "African americans sit there...". Right there YOU are generatlizing."
It's not a generalization, or it wasn't meant to be. I was speaking directly about the African Americans who say they hate the stereotype of the black dude with saggy britches and gold teeth.
"African Americans sit there and say they hate the stereotypes and generalizations white people make after a few encounters with black people they have had. They take their feelings towards those few black people, and lump the entire race together for their opinions on what that race is like." THAT is not being hypocritical.

September 15, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

eyfig, don't sigh, at least you usually bring all sorts of sanity to my days on this board.

September 15, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

SCdeacinNYC, I would start in the medical field with testing of people who come in for treatment. I would quaratine those with full-blown AIDS. Make them as comfortable as possible and provide treatment, but there is only so much you can do to prolong their life.

People who have been spreading the disease should be prosecuted but should not be in with the general population since you then run the risk that it will spread in prison, as it's doing now.

I don't object to needle exchange since I also support the decriminalization of drugs.

As for women who become pregnant, I think that after the baby is born they should undergo sterilization. Even if the baby survives, the mother will not and will likely be dead before the child reaches the age of ten.

September 15, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

Marianne: ""Black woman have always been more cautious and lady like" Who???!"

Ma'am, I call you out to be a bigot and an idiot. I've very rarely if ever called someone a name but today is your lucky day. You are fool, one for even addressing someone like 'mrpretty' who obviously has a racist agenda and two, for even trying to rebut stereotypes with another.

Lady if you don't know ANY Black women who are 'cautious and and lady-like' then my dear you are either stupid or blind.

The best thing you can do for ANYONE today is to apologize to us Black women for your diparaging remarks.

If not let me be the first to congratulate you for joining the club of fools otherwise known as the "The Post & Courier's Dumbass Club". You know the one with MOTS, RW, Moonpie, Mrpretty and all others who think as they do.

September 15, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

eyfigueroa,

ladytarheel's post is the 3rd one in this thread. I read it again and I can find no indication of shame for her race.
I believe the following sentence sums that up and it would apply to all races.

"I don't get why my people will not practice safe sex. The message is out there. I know because I have heard it."

September 15, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

Iceman people can live with HIV for many years. There are people who have contracted it in the 1980s and early 1990s who are still alive. A lot of it depends on how early you detect it, how good your health is and how adequate your treatment and health care is. Don't assume that people will just die in 3 years.

Quarantining people is just medieval and a slippery slope, if we do that, how long will it be before we do that for ALL infectious diseases. Just a ridiculous concept all and all.

eyfig, I don't know why people even want to get into a discussion over whether one race or more promiscuous than the next...pff I have many friends of many races and backgrounds and I have to say, promiscuity knows NO race.

September 15, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nikkiP (anonymous) says...

Um, cautious and lady like are not racial qualities. Hate to break it to everyone. I've known plenty of girls of any race that might need to re-evaluate how they spend their weekends...

And please stop bringing my God into this. I'm pretty sure He teaches love and forgiveness, and that we here have no right to judge or condemn. The Bible was written by MEN, and is flawed. If you're going to follow it to the letter, then I think someone should stone you for not sacrificing a cow every sunday.

ladytarheel is probably the only one that made any sense with her posts. Throwing racial epithets and hate-mongering will not solve a problem.

September 15, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

lady - not practicing safe sex is not just a black issue. Maybe you should have said, why don't ALL people practice safe sex.

September 15, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...

My previous post of course mocked the racist Rev Wright.But my real point is personal accountabilty.You can't blame the judicial system for locking up criminals(black,white or wheat colored)You can't blame the NAACP(although I believe they have some what let down the black community)Responsiblity starts at home with the parents.

September 15, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

marrianne, forgive me if i made you have a moment. i respect you marianne, with that said let me say this, i will not stand by and let your white brothers spread this kind of garbage about my sistahs. i will do whatever it takes to encourage my sister and my race as a whole. marrianne, think about this, your white brothers have done some of the cruelist, meanist, hateful things to everyone one this planet even to some degree he would do it to his own people so you know if your not of his race, what he's gonna do to you! don't take it personal marianne, i just wanna stuff his(white male)garbage back down his throat. most of your white brothers are lying punks. they blog all this garbage about blacks all the time but none of them would step foot in the ghetto with that nonsense. back in the days you all had nanny's taking care of your little bad AAAS. i heard stories of black women even allowing the little devils to suckle them if their pregnautcy coincided with the misses. for what the black women has done for "your" white brothers they should bow down and prays her at her feet. damn ingrates. go down on the battery and look at all the black women taking care of those little soon to be cold beers and thomas 1776. the black women gave you white boys more attention than your own mothers did and you all know this is true! you don't have to admit it to me, i can think for myself. to all you white racist punks, just tell the black women what you really feel about her. you know the black women is more of a caring loving person than your mother or grand mother could ever be. tell the truth white boys and shame the devil. lastly if you think that blacks are animals, and that blacks are this and that, why couldn't your great grand fathers keep their hands off of her. why so many lite skinned blacks in this country. your great grand mothers feared the black women so much because she knew when her husband was not in that bed, she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing and with who he was doing it with. but what the white punk does not know is that when the white woman says who her ideal mate is, how does she describe him.............tall " " and handsome. white boys fill in the missing word up there for me.LOL. PUNKS!

September 15, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mkris (anonymous) says...

COMDOM DISPENSERS IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL AND JR. HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Why the bible thumpers here in south carolina have such an immoral say in public health is beyond me. Its a health issue, not a morality issue.

4 out of 5 Baptist Divorcees want gays to stop destroying marriage.

September 15, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

RW, GO LOOK ANYWHERE WHERE DRUGS ARE SOLD AND SEE HOW IS THE BIGGEST PURCHASER OF NORCOTICS, YOU JERK. I DON'T KNOW ONE BLACK PERSON THAT HAS A METH LAB. EYEFIGORA, I DON'T CARE FOR YOU TO MUCH. WHAT KIND OF NAME IS FIGEROA ANYWAY? ISN'T THAT SPANISH? YOU SAY YOUR BLACK BUT I DOUBT THAT. I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT TO MY SISTAH'S ABOUT STAYING STRONG WHEN THESE HATEFUL SINNERS TALK ABOUT THEM AND HERE YOU GO LUMPING ME WITH THESE NUCKLE HEADS. YOU WANT TO PLAY BOTH SIDES OF THE FIELD. ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE SO CALL BLACK WOMEN THAT THINKS THAT SENSE YOU HAVE YOUR HAIR PERM AND STRAIGHT LIKE THE WHITE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN MY KNOTTED HEADED SISTAHS, WELL YOUR NOT. TAKE THE PERM OUT YOUR HAIR AND GO NATURAL. STOP TRYING TO BE AND JUST BE! IF YOU ARE INDEED A BLACK WOMEN, THEN I'LL SAY THIS TO YOU, "I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THIS WITH YOU HERE IN THE FRONT OF THESE WHITE PEOPLE BUT IF YOU BUTT IN AGAIN WHEN I'M ALL UP IN THESE WHITE BOYS FACE TRYING TO PROTECT THE HONOR OF MY SISTAHS I WILL.........YOU WILL FORCE ME TO CHASTISE YOU. SO DO ME A FAVOR EYEFIG. SHUT YOUR FREAKIN MOUTH WHEN A BROTHER IS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU. IF I SAY SOMETHING TO WHITE PEOPLE AND IT ENDS UP HURTING YOUR FEELINGS, JUST DON'T COMMENT. WATCH YOUR MOUTH SISTAH!

September 15, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

I say again to ladytarheel: "In the meantime try not to be overly discouraged with your own people. You have plenty of others who do not share your ancestry that think low enough of you and 'your kind' as it is."

In her own words "I don't get why my people will not practice safe sex."

If ladytarheel was referring the human race as her people then I humbly ask for forgiveness. If she was only referring to Blacks then I stand by my statement "In the meantime try not to be overly discouraged with your own people."

Ladytarheel is no child, her posts tend to be cogent, very well thought out responses to the articles and other posters. I simply cautioned her on playing into the hands of those who seek to paint ALL Blacks with the brush of ignorance and immorality.

No one in their right mind can dismiss the very real problems of the Black community. And it would be the height of irresponsibility to simply use one or two reasons for the increased numbers of HIV infections in the Black community.

However my point is to get everyone to look at this issue as a national health problem and work together to find VIABLE solutions.

September 15, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

"However my point is to get everyone to look at this issue as a national health problem and work together to find VIABLE solutions."

I'm with you all the way. The critical first step is for all, no matter what race, to quit blaming anyone and everyone else. The organism that is this curse doesn't care about anything but a human being. We have to have the same attitude to defeat it.

September 15, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LadyTarHeel (anonymous) says...

eyfig: I apologize if I offended anyone with the "I don't get why my people will not practice safe sex" statement. I was just reading the article and I didn't take into account that others do the same thing. I am not discouraged with my race. I love being who god made me to be, a beautiful, strong, intelligent black woman. It just breaks my heart to read these types of things and I get so frustrated. I just read an article from the CDC that demonstrated the same trends nationally as those seen in South Carolina.

Test: I understand that not practicing safe sex isn't just a black issue; however, the article was addressing the rise in HIV cases in the black demographic. That is why I didn't make my choice of words all inclusive. You are correct and I apologize if I have offended you.

Mr. Pretty: I don't go through life getting my information from white people as you so eloquently put it. I seek out information for myself. I appreciate the gesture, but I think I'll stick to my own policy of create my own opinions about each individual when I meet them, not making generalizations and stereotypes of a whole group. You meet different people that way.

September 15, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

eyfig:
"Marianne: ""Black woman have always been more cautious and lady like" Who???!"

Ma'am, I call you out to be a bigot and an idiot. I've very rarely if ever called someone a name but today is your lucky day. You are fool, one for even addressing someone like 'mrpretty' who obviously has a racist agenda and two, for even trying to rebut stereotypes with another.
Lady if you don't know ANY Black women who are 'cautious and and lady-like' then my dear you are either stupid or blind.
The best thing you can do for ANYONE today is to apologize to us Black women for your diparaging remarks."

Before you start caling me a bigot, an idiot, and a fool, let me explain what I meant.
Someone said Black women have always been more cautious and ladylike than white women. When I asked "WHO?" I meant which black women are more cautious and ladylike than which white women? I am the least bigoted/racist person around. I didn't mean that there were no cautious, ladylike black women around. That would be a joke. Just like not all white women are drunken promiscuous white trailer trash.

September 15, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

mrpretty: Sir, I find you laughable, petty and ignorant.

To answer one of your many questions, I am what I am. I'm of African and Spanish descent. Though born in Puerto Rico my father's family is from the Basque region of Spain and my mother, born and raised here in Charleston, is the descendant of African slaves. Having lived and continue to do so in both worlds I feel eminently qualified to speak on issues that effect both Blacks and Hispanics.

Mrpretty: I fear NO MAN, whether Black or White. I speak my mind with honesty and integrity and without hesitation of concern whether someone will like me or not most especially White people.

Mrpretty: Any man who would call 'sistahs' knotty head is either woefully ignorant or incredibly stupid and in your case I would say both. In fact chemically altering one's hair is not indicative of one's racial purity and to suggest otherwise is to only reinforce the notion that you are a jackass who is in no way protecting anyone on this board, especially with your ALL CAPS version of 'fight the power' rhetoric.

Mrpretty: You are simply NOT man enough to chastise me for a REAL man would not only know how to express himself coherently and intelligently he would also know his limitations and not try to 'out do' me on a forum such as this. Your not-so-veiled threats are completely in vain.

So to use your own vernacular:

"brotha' you best step off unless you want to get your feelings hurt even more!"

September 15, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

marianne: Today I eat crow, for I became a fellow dumbass for replying to mrpretty.

This does not negate my overall theme of my post to you, but it would be hypocritical to not chastise myself for doing what I so readily reprimanded you for.

September 15, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

RW,
I'm glad you are not in politics and, or a policy maker, that is all I have to say.

September 15, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SeaSaw (anonymous) says...

I think it's great that the federal government is helping poorer countries cope with the AIDS epidemic. However the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. is not getting the kind attention that it merits, more needs to be done to prevent the spread of HIV in this country. The AIDS epidemic among African-Americans in some parts of the United States is as severe as in some parts of Africa. We need to urge the federal government and private foundations to significantly increase funding for HIV prevention and treatment programs.

In the meantime, people need to quit playing russian roulette with their bodies.

September 15, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

eyfigueroa,

Ma'm, I have never seen a rebuke delivered with greater class. Damn! Ma'm

September 15, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

RW,
"I am super brilliant!"
....arrogant, insane, delusional, and maybe evil, but I would not use super brilliant as an adjective to describe the person that posts the crap that you usually post on this page!

September 15, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

forget (anonymous) says...

Go Figgie!!

September 15, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LadyTarHeel (anonymous) says...

tc1, I have to agree. That was very classy! It's like she told him off, without telling him off!

SeaSaw: You bring up an excellent point. I watched a documentary on National Geographic about being on the frontlines of the AIDS epidemic. They filmed it in Africa, which has been ravished by this epidemic, but I'm sure they could have found some places here in America that are the same way. The government has been trying for years to find a miracle cure (drug) or a vaccine. Drugs have been developed and they work wonderfully until the virus mutates because someone isn't sticking to their regiment like they should or the virus has figured out a way to evade the immune system by altering itself in some way. A vaccine is next to impossible because the virus mutates so much and so often that if one was developed it would become obsolete in no time. There are some programs through the health department that aid people who cannot afford anti-retroviral therapy to get the medication they need. Not sure how they work though.

September 15, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SeaSaw (anonymous) says...

I read somewhere that there is more funding for treatment than prevention.

The only problem with treatment is: The more treatment you have, the more infection you get. With treatment more people are living longer with HIV, and therefore healthy enough to want to have sex. Yes, it's great that all this stuff on treatment is happening. But it becomes all the more urgent to have effective prevention.

September 15, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SeaSaw (anonymous) says...

I think that it's sad that people are trying to make this a race issue. Things change at the drop of a dime. Tomorrows headlines could read: HIV infections high among S.C. whites

September 15, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

SeaSaw there is much more funding for treatment than prevention. At this point in the epidemic it seems better to invest equally in treatment AND prevention. Once we have infection numbers down it, we should steadiling increase the proportion to be higher on the prevention side.

I used to work at an international org in the HIV/AIDs section and the money for prevention was minimal. Mostly because prevention programs aren't aligned with the political philosophies of major donors. The outcomes of prevention programs aren't also as quantifiable as treatment, so donors or governments that want to see results in numbers will give their money to those things that can produce results in numbers. In reality though, prevention programs, especially when led by people living with HIV or youth-led programs, led by youth are extremely effective and have helped educate people, especially young people on the dangers of HIV and how to protect yourself.

September 15, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

RW,
Again, you are generalizing me and the way I think. Just because you are an extremist, it does not make everyone else an extremist. Sorry, but I do not tow a particular party ideology. Besides, was it not a Democratic president that passed welfare reform with bipartisan support? I agree that people do need to take responsibility for their own actions and that irresponsible behavior can cause dire consequences, no matter what race you are.

BTW, all parties make mistakes with their policy decisions, not just the democrats.

September 15, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SeaSaw (anonymous) says...

Thank you SCdeacinNYC, for explaining why there is more funding for treatment than prevention. Who would have guessed that after all these years, that HIV/AIDS would be taking such a toll on the worlds population.

September 15, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

DoaMM (anonymous) says...

SCdeacinNYC wrote:
"DoAMM, there isn't an HIV look, so if you assume that you're just as ridiculous as those people who don't protect themselves."

Anytime you would like to get into a medical debate I'd be happy to oblige. The HIV/AIDS patients that I pick up on the street as a medic certainly do have "a look", and typically many other things on top of that.

You are correct about the medications and cocktails they are giving for the disease, but the end result is death, and death has a horrid look with usually a pretty bad smell.

Next time you read my posts, understand that it's humor...I make fun of everyone, the subject, and myself to ease the tension built up on a topic such as this. Sure, I feel sorry for some folks, but after what I've seen in my career, there's about 5% sympathy left for human beings in my bones.

Get over it. The only thing that you can control is yourself. If these "poor" people (Black, White, Indian, Asian, Mexican, and anyone else on this God forsaken Earth) can't take control of THEMSELVES and say, "You know, I don't want to get the "ick" today. I won't have sex or do drugs.", then they deserve to die.

Y'all have a wonderful day, seriously...

September 15, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

I don't know Doamm.

After reading your comments I think you may deserve to die.

September 15, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

PS - no offense but you're a damn medic, NOT a doctor. You get over it.

September 15, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

I don't mean to be condescending, (well yes I do a little bit), but while I'm sure you've see plenty as a medic, it does not give you fire to throw in a "medical debate." But have you actually treated patients with HIV or AIDS, or studied the disease? Or have you just picked up people you say have a "look". Sorry, I remain unimpressed, and while I'm no medic, or not medically trained anything, I have worked with and for HIV positive people and as I mentioned previously as part of an international organization full of public health specialists, medical doctors and policymakers who have been fighting the disease since its worst inception. I also have taken the time to educate myself on the disease so that I can understand the medical, social, political and cultural impacts of it everwhere. You obviously have not done the same.

The people you describe as "having a look" probably have a look because you picked them up where?? on the streets. Most people on the streets, HIV positive or not, have a LOOK. It's called living on the streets.

It's sad that you have about 5% sympathy left for human beings, maybe you should change what you do for a living, because I wouldn't want someone with that little compassion near me EVER in a life or death situation. Who are you to say who "deserves" to live and die anyways....? Well, that's for another debate.

September 15, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

alrighty then, lol, eyefig, yes you are a black woman! lol you can forget about your white spanish daddy, your a black woman girl. the way you step up and gave it to me, damn, i gotta say that was pretty. i not going any further with you sistah, but your white daddy had better not talk any stuff about my people or he would get a tongue lashing too. eyefig, i stop with you. one more thing eyegig, you can forget about that i'm black and white stuff, white people see you as black! end of story. lady tarheel, what the hell, forget it. from now on i'll just monitor these post, and i won't say anything.....unless some white punk says something out of line. white people let me say one more thing to yous. you see how black people are so fair. now you have two black woman attacking me a black man for attacking you whites that are defaming the black woman. some of us still love you, want to be like you, some of us just want to be left alone. what i think white people's problem is is that they really can't understand why we don't hate them for what there have to us and what they are still doing to us. i feel in my heart that white are somewhat smart and they know that have to be just a little ticked off for what there people have done. not that they care but they just don't trust us! they don't trust blacks because it would make since to note like the people that inslave them. white people you are both right and wrong. we as a people are not hateful people. we are upset but we have, i guess i can say "we have forgiving your great grand fathers, wait i can't talk for every black, i can only talk for me, and no i have not forgiving your great grand parents for enslaving my great grand parents, made them work from dawn till dust for nothing. rape my mother, took my little sistah and sold her, you punks. maybe eyefig, and lady tarheel have gotten over that but not me. until you white people of today stop being so damn greedy and just wanting to run everything you'll be on lock down. white people one more thing, here's what you do to really get under my skin. we as black people say this all the time about you people, if a black person gets a job with a company, lets say he starts off earning $15/hr. now, he stays with this company for 5-10 years, now when this company hire a white person, this white person would automaticly start off making what the black is making at that time most of the time the white person would start off making a little more than the black who had been there for years longer. IT'S TRUE YOU WHITE PEOPLE PAY YOURSELVES MORE THAN YOU PAY BLACKS. i don't care what you say. and you don't have to agree i know personally that this happens. some of you people are so rotten. i'd rather you call me the n word instead of doing this. you pay the new white boy more than me and i've been here for years longer. the hell with that.

September 15, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

listen i'm outta here. the two black girls jump on me for trying to help them.damn. when the white man used to have his way with you and you couldn't defend yourself and if a black man would have dared jump in that black man would be hanging from a tree, nowadays when we can jump in and help you sistah you talking smack to the black man, we damn if we do and damn if we donn't with some of you sistahs.

September 15, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JLWDALFAN (anonymous) says...

it always seems to be about race. wow, you would've thought we'd move past that. You know why we don't? Because the hate is being spread by everyone. HIV is a killer! blacks, whites, hispanics, indians, germans, etc. It is not racist. These idiots that won't have protected sex, are not just killing themselves, but everyone they come in sexual contact with. Then they bring children into this world and they are born with a death sentence. ITS TIME TO QUIT BLAMING EACH OTHER AND ESPECIALLY THE COLOR OF THE SKIN.

September 15, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

HIV is spreading just as rapidly in other countries as it is here. Russia and China are becoming particularly bad these days. Unless something is done and soon, we're going to see the death toll climb into the hundreds of millions in this century alone.

September 15, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

soul2soul (anonymous) says...

I read some of these comments with amazement, articles such as these seems to get peoples cages all rattled. Had this been an article about something positive coming out of the black community there's no way it would've gotten over seventy hits. In recent months the news media has had a field day with the going ons in the black community. Nothing new or nothing has change since then. I'm not one to follow stats because I know better, HIV/AIDS is a major problem among the human family not just blacks. Bottom line, everyone needs to protect themselves........no glove no love......no protection no affection!

September 15, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

doamm: "Anytime you would like to get into a medical debate I'd be happy to oblige. The HIV/AIDS patients that I pick up on the street as a medic certainly do have "a look", and typically many other things on top of that."

Considering you're a medical professional with some modicum of training, I'm very surprised by your response. I would hope that you would be more circumspect in your description of HIV/AIDS patients. You know very well just as with everything else there isn't a TRUE stereotype.

Yes, I'm sure you've picked up ne'er-do-wells whose lifestyles are the direct cause of their HIV infection. However there are countless others who have found themselves in that situation through no fault of their own. (Hemophiliac patients infected with bad blood products, children born of infected mothers, patients infected with poorly disinfected surgical/medical instruments, wives/husbands cuckolded by their cheating/down-low spouses, etc.)

I pray that your response was another one of your attempts at humor and not how you actually view the patients in your care.

There is far more to being a paramedic than just 'going through the motions' as in "Sure, I feel sorry for some folks, but after what I've seen in my career, there's about 5% sympathy left for human beings in my bones."

I truly believe your feeling that way will almost invariably come through in your standard of care for these patients. I for one would be very concerned if someone having as little compassion/empathy like you were caring for me or any of my loved ones.

September 15, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Tammie (anonymous) says...

I have read the comments and I am not the least bit surprised at some of the responses and who made them. That's why I just sit back and shake my head because some of you never cease to amaze me. In the gesture of my "fwend" EyFig...

*sigh*

September 15, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

iceman1978 (anonymous) says...

Has anyone eevr read a book called 'The Coming Plague' by Laurie Garret?

September 15, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

MR_PRETTY,
There some rampent ingorance in this state and this country, and much of the igorant metality is based on generalizations.
Generalization like...
"All black are lazy" ...or...
"All Germans lack a sense of humor"
You know......
Today, your comments displays a great deal of ignorance.

Let me list some of the ignorant generalizations....
1st, Most ancestors of whites did not own slaves:..personally mine were a bunch of poor farmers of Scotch Irish decent and could have never afforded slaves, and even if they could, they probably would not have because it was against their beliefs.
2nd, you seem to make the same type of generalizations of a particular race that many ignorant rednecks make, making you no different from them, which is called a racist.
3rd, True life is not fair and yes we have a long way to go, yet, many people in the black community are not helping the situation any. If they took pride in themselves and their communities, they would get more respect. Sure they might not have it easy, yet there are many opportunities out there if they would just help themselves.
I could go through your comment and point out generalization after generalization, but the ones in there are pretty blatant. Having someone from your own race calling you out on this should at least make you take a step back and analyze your mentality.
I do not blame you for being angry, yet two wrongs do not make a right.

September 15, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

GUIDEBY, you can keep any black that fights me for you. as a people we are the walking dead. your brothers are in the woods right now prepairing for war with us. most blacks don't know what time it is. they buy into garbage that you and others are trying to confuss us with. i know better. and not only me, there are alot of blacks out there who do not trust you or your people. damn how you take it. black peole you better wise up! these people are not playing with our butts. while they keep us pacified here their brothers are grouping and training. the few white people that are fair are just that, few. too few to make any significant changes. don't give me that junk about your daddy came here poor. your daddy came here poor, we didn't have a choice dumbbutt. if he came here poor he wanted to come here poor. when he got here was he, put on an auction block? was he stripped of his language? was he beaten and whipped? was he told that god wanted him to be second class? some of you people will never understand will you? was your daddy made to look down when he saw a white person? was your mother raped over and over again like a piece of...................let me stop there's no talking to the white man he is who he is!

September 15, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

First of all - why is anyone responding to mrpretty?

Secondly - guided - do not become one of those people who think they know exactly what the black community SHOULD be doing, HOW to do it and WHEN it should be done.

"If they took pride in themselves and their communities, they would get more respect" - umm and when did you become an expert on the black community? People who make these kinds of statements generally know nothing at all about the community they are generalizing EXCEPT for what they see on tv.

So far he has gotten all of your goats. Almost everyone who tried to tell him off did so by generalizing their damn selves so basically you BECAME him in order to make your point. In which case your whole point just flew out the window for me. People are riled up about mrpretty and not about any of the BS generalizations that are on P&C everyday. The crazy posters give you a high five if you tell mrpretty off but remain silent if someone corrects some of the rampant generalizations I see on here everyday.

September 15, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

Okay mrpretty: It took me some time and effort to cut through all of the clutter in your posts to realize that once again you tried to put me and ladytarheel in our proverbial places.

I will not speak for ladytarheel, but I can definitely tell you that I neither need nor desire anyone to come to my defense especially if utilize the failed & tired excuses that you used.

You flail out at White people for the sins of their ancestors yet you say nothing of the personal responsibilities of those who engage in risky behaviors that force them to deal with HIV/AIDS. I'm not talking of the ones who had no choice; I'm referring to those who engage in unprotected sex and the drug abusers who share needles.

You raise the racism/bigotry flag but where is your outrage against those who knowingly and/or deliberately infect others? Where is your outrage against young men and women who know the risks but continue to exercise poor judgment and then run to the government when they become infected? Where is your outrage against the church for not wanting to talk about this most important topic or our government for funding out-of-country programs but not fully-funding public and private organizations here that are trying to help?

Notice I didn't mention race. This transcends color/racial lines.

So please stop with this sanctimonious drivel of how you are trying to protect your Black 'sistahs' yet doing exactly what you accuse 'da White man' of; bigotry, racism and stereotyping. Trust me you are doing more harm than good.

September 15, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

forget (anonymous) says...

Ok, Mr_Pretty, we have heard about ancestors from 150 or so years ago. Alot of us can talk about history. But, what have YOU done? What have you done with your life to make you a role model for generations to come? Because we all are own futures. I hope that if you have children that you aren't shoving that down their throats on a daily basis. Knowing a persons heritage is one thing, but using it to make excuses and to be a hateful person is another. Knowing one's history is great, but young people will benefit greater from looking towards the future.

September 15, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...

Dang marble rye MrPretty went a little postal on you huh? :)Great points/thoughts on your post!It's sad to see the blatant racism and ignorance in some of these posts.They feed negative stereotypes.The "black man" blames the "da white man" and vice versa.It's disgusting.

September 15, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

lolololo!!!!!

I forgot about the marble rye!!!!

hee hee hee

How's my favorite cracker t-shirt inventor doing today? ;-)

September 15, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Mr Pretty, 'sistah' is actually spelled 'sister'. I'm sure you pronounce it that way too. That's a ridiculous characteristic of most of the black community that I will never understand. SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH. My mother is an English teacher at a public school, and she can't stand it. It sounds ridiculous, and you sound like a fool.

You think black people are more caring? Every time I walk into the grocery store, I see some black mother slapping their crazy obnoxiously loud child around. I guess most are so caring, they just let their child come home from school, doesn't care if they do their homework, let them run around and do and say whatever the heck they want, and then send him/her back to school the next day. That's why the public school education system is in the dumps these days. The parents don't give a crap. Don't get me wrong, there are white folks who do it to, but they are certainly the minority - atleast from my perspective and knowledge of Charleston County.

September 15, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

I have iceman.

RW, you crack me up.

September 15, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

Test2007,
Sorry I did not grow up in white bread suburbia and plus I never claimed to be an expert, but this does not mean that I can not have an opinion on it. Also if you are going to quote me, please leave it in its context. I said "many" (by this I do not mean the majority or a quantifiable percent or all), therefore not making it a generalization. Test2007, I respect people not based on race but character. I do not make ignorant generalization on particular races. I have many black friends that I respect and care aboutthat are upstanding people. Yet, there are others that do not seem to respect themselves and this is easily observable (and this is not a problem limited to one race, whites can be called out on this). In other words it appears that they are their own worst enemy. Sure there are a lot of factors that cause these problems. While I agree that many minorities have had the cards stacked against them, also today they have more opportunities than ever to rectify their situation. MR_PRETTY did make some really racist generalizations, and he needed to be called out on them.
Test2007, I have always been one to help people that help themselves, but when someone makes generalized statement like "no i have not forgiving your great grand parents for enslaving my great grand parents:." I will call them out on it.

September 15, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

excellent post stewart

September 15, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

as soon as your people start teaching a more diversified education. everything in school is white people this white people that. all the books showing progress in america is white people. my kids don't see them selve anywhere in the schools in the south. forget you white boy. you play that garbage with eyefig AND OTHERS don't bring it here with me. i teach my kids to play fair with others, but i also prepare them for the real world. i tell why they must go to college, i tell them to study hard because the society is we live in has people in it like rw, thomas 1776, and others. eyefig your white side gets the best of you i see. you think your better than me cause you can spell better. my degree is in mathematics not english. if i want to spell correctly i'll use a dictionary. 1/2x+4=10. solve for me eyefig. and thats just one i helped my daughter with the other night. unified calculus is my realm.

September 15, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

some of us don't want to speak your filthy Queen's language. THAT adultuated language. english isn't even its own language. it's words borrowed from other complete languages. you did not know that did you. any bueatiful languge from africa is complete. "twe" from Ghana uruba from Nigeria or the bueatiful swaheli. those are languages. beside we don't want you understanding what we're saying. thats why slang changes everyday. Everyday we change up our words to keep you thrown off." dats whats up". "you feel me, white boys" "don't sweat it" if you don't. somethings are not for you to understand.

September 15, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Mr Pretty, please. Be serious. All that the books show is white people's progress in America? Um...that's because the blacks were ENSLAVED throughout the main beginning history of the United States. But guess what! You're not anymore. So quit complaining, and do something about it. No one owns you! No one is handing you anything. The blacks can decide for themselves what kind of life they will lead and what character they will hold for themselves. Same as every other race. That's what y'all have been fighting for, right? Well, you got it!! I mean, look at Obama! That man might be the next president of the United States, God help us all. But nonetheless, you don't think he'll be in the books soon enough? It just takes time. It takes ambition and perseverance and moving forward from the past. That's the black community's main problem, and you'll see it posted time and time again. Move forward and don't dwell on what happened hundreds of years ago. That was a different time and a different way of life. EVERYONE'S opportunity is now. Put yourselves in the books.

And....12? I was a biology major.

September 15, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

i see the smart white people are not saying anything about the fact that they pay each other more.LETS TALK ABOUT THAT WHITE PEOPLE. THIS IS SOMETHING EVEN EYEFIG. CONNOT DISPUTE. "DO WHITE PEOPLE PAY THEMSELVE MORE SALARY THAN BLACKS..........????????????????????????????????????????

September 15, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

You don't want us understanding what you're saying? Ha! And you want to be equals? That might start with wanting to be an equal to begin with.

And I'm sorry, English is it's own language. French is it's own language, German, Italian, etc. And most of it is all DERIVED, not borrowed from Latin, which was my minor.

September 15, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

MR_PRETTY,
Come on, a Black man may become President. Sure there is inequality, but the world has come a long ways. Your mentality does not help the sistuation but makes it worse, again, two wrongs do not make a right!

September 15, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

THE ANSWER IS NOT 12. GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND REMEMBER TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY LETS START OFF WITH SENSE. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NOTHING ABOUT WELFARE AND FATHERLESS HOMES AND ANY OF YOUR RACIST COMMENTS OR IT WILL AGAIN. IN THE WORDS OF BERNIE MACK," I AIN'T SCARED OF YOU WHITE PEOPLE" THE DAYS OF THE GHEECHIE IS DEAD. REMEMBER WHITE FOLKS WHEN YOU TALK TO ME YOUR TALKING TO MALCOLM X, DENMARK VESSY, AND THE GREATEST BLACK MAN THAT EVER LIVED MR. NAT TURNER. NAT TURNER MY BROTHA, MY SAVIOR, MY BELOVED, MAY AFRICA PRODUCE ANOTHER 500,000,000 OF YOU TODAY! I AM NOT YOUR MLK.

September 15, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Look, honestly Mr. Pretty, you have posted the most racist comments on this website all day. You don't want to talk the English language because you obviously have some conspiracy to make your own language, you don't see the point in having equal rights because you're too emotional to get up and do anything about it except complain, and you live in a world where you think blacks get paid more than whites????

Where I work, you get paid more if you work your ass off more. I live in the REAL world.

Honestly, if this is such a horrific place to live, by all means, leave. Go back to Africa and learn your beautiful African language. No one will want you here because you're self-important mentality is in the way of making anything in society for the better of mankind.

September 15, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

um....I really think it is 12 Mr. Pretty.

1/2x + 4 = 10

1/2x = 10 - 4

1/2x = 6

1/2 X 2/1 = 6 X 2/1

x = 12

or 6 X 0.5 = 12

September 15, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

usn - I won't even try to dissect your post. It was blatantly racist and full of generalizations. Basically by TRYING to put mrpretty in his place you made yourself out to be an ass.

Yes guided, and my point was also that I hear worse than that on a daily basis on P&C from people RW and usna04 and countless others. How many people (except for me and a few others) are putting them in their place? Like i said before, the hypocrisy is laughable. You can have an opinion on it but I will call you out on it.

You said, "True life is not fair and yes we have a long way to go, yet, many people in the black community are not helping the situation any. If they took pride in themselves and their communities, they would get more respect." - sorry but this still amounts to generalization. I hate when people think they know the answer to the so-called "problems of the black community". It annoys me to no end. You clarified your position in your later post saying that it could be a white person as well, so what was the point of the first post?

Where I work, you get paid more if you work your ass off more. I live in the REAL world. -- Where do you work? lalalla land. I know people who work more than probably everyone on this board put together and they get paid pennies.

USNA04 - you are laughable. you have the nerve to say mrpretty's comments are the most racist today? Well then you and he are on the same boat.

September 15, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

wait, not 6 X 0.5. 6 X 2.

woops! That's what I get for posting and working at the same time.

September 15, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

Did you really say go back to africa?

Yeah, who would think that you are racist? You and mrpretty are in the same league.

September 15, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

I don't think so Test. I never once said "Hey Black people! You're lazy and stupid and will never get anywhere in life. I hate the blacks!!!!!!"

Please.

My best friend is black, and I'm in his wedding coming up. You think he thinks I'm racist? But think what you want. I'm used to this mentality of everyone's against you.

September 15, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Test, reread the post. I said go back to Africa if he finds living in America is such an awful place to live, if he thinks that speaking the English language is so bad he has to make up his own. That's not racist. That's common sense. Go where you're happy.

September 15, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

I was wondering where you were RW. ha!

September 15, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

Ok, here are your comments.

Mr Pretty, 'sistah' is actually spelled 'sister'. I'm sure you pronounce it that way too. That's a ridiculous characteristic of most of the black community that I will never understand. SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH. --- HMMMM generalizing much?????

You think black people are more caring? Every time I walk into the grocery store, I see some black mother slapping their crazy obnoxiously loud child around. I guess most are so caring, they just let their child come home from school, doesn't care if they do their homework, let them run around and do and say whatever the heck they want, and then send him/her back to school the next day. That's why the public school education system is in the dumps these days. The parents don't give a crap. Don't get me wrong, there are white folks who do it to, but they are certainly the minority - atleast from my perspective and knowledge of Charleston County. -------------HMMMM generalizing

It takes ambition and perseverance and moving forward from the past. That's the black community's main problem, and you'll see it posted time and time again. -hmmmm

Go back to Africa and learn your beautiful African language. --- why would he be happy there if he was born here? Are you going back to your home country as well?? If he's going back to africa then you should go back to wherever you came from. That is the problem with this country. If you have complaints everyone thinks you are unamerican. Please. get a life.

Umm, I don't care how many black friends you have. I hate that excuse as if that absolves everything. ooh i have a black friend. whoop de freakin do for you.

RW - you're an idiot

September 15, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...

An aquaintance of mine a number of years ago was once in the Merchant Marines. He told me the best sex he ever had was on the island of Madagascar with a woman who wore a bone in her nose. I always thought he was kidding. A few years later he died and I never heard why. I'm not so sure he was kidding now.

September 15, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jeff61 (anonymous) says...

I agree with usna... Some of you have some real problems and love to blame others for them.

September 15, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Test2007 (anonymous) says...

uh huh thats it for sure.

RW - do you even work?

September 15, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Mr Pretty, 'sistah' is actually spelled 'sister'. I'm sure you pronounce it that way too. That's a ridiculous characteristic of most of the black community that I will never understand. SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH. --- HMMMM generalizing much?????

um, not really. A great majority of the black community speaks that way. I'm lucky to work in an environment where black people are intelligent and know how to speak the English language. And careful, if you don't speak that way, Mr Pretty might not include you in his special language club!

You think black people are more caring? Every time I walk into the grocery store, I see some black mother slapping their crazy obnoxiously loud child around. I guess most are so caring, they just let their child come home from school, doesn't care if they do their homework, let them run around and do and say whatever the heck they want, and then send him/her back to school the next day. That's why the public school education system is in the dumps these days. The parents don't give a crap. Don't get me wrong, there are white folks who do it to, but they are certainly the minority - atleast from my perspective and knowledge of Charleston County. -------------HMMMM generalizing

How am I generalizing? It's a damn fact. I see it with my own eyes. My mother lives it every day.

It takes ambition and perseverance and moving forward from the past. That's the black community's main problem, and you'll see it posted time and time again. -hmmmm

Um, yep. I'm standing by that too. But if it makes you feel any better, that's MOST of the black community's main problem.

Go back to Africa and learn your beautiful African language. --- why would he be happy there if he was born here? Are you going back to your home country as well?? If he's going back to africa then you should go back to wherever you came from. That is the problem with this country. If you have complaints everyone thinks you are unamerican. Please. get a life.

Let me try to explain this one more time. He obviously isn't happy here in America, and he loves Africa. So, move to Africa. I didn't say that's where he came from sir, you did. If I was unhappy in America, I'd move to!

I'm not an excuse. I'm just calling you out, and you don't like it. Look up racism in the dictionary. I wouldn't have black friends if I was a racist. Simple. As. That.

By the way, it's been fun, but I'm sorry. I'm done dealing with you. You're blind with hatred for anything sensible anyone has to say. Have a good one!

September 15, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Thanks Jeff.

And RW, you're right. I am hot and smart. :)

September 15, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jeff61 (anonymous) says...

Mr. Pretty treats African American women just like a rapper calling them 'sistahs' how disrepectful.. Figgy put him in his place. Mr. Pretty you have some real issues...

Idi Amin took power of Uganda in 1971, ruling the country with the military for the coming decade. Idi Amin's rule cost an estimated 300,000 Ugandans' lives.

In all, more than 5.4 million people have died in Congo since the war began in 1998, according to the most recent survey's estimate.

I could go on but I don't the "white man" is causing all this death and misery to the "black man" or "sistahs"

September 15, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...

BTW Test2007,
I have called out RW before for his racist comments.

September 15, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wonderdog (anonymous) says...

Is Mr. Pretty actually Malcolm, who calls WTMA every day?

Eyfigueroa....thank you for your thought provoking, sensible posts, as always.

September 15, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jeff61 (anonymous) says...

racist comments = truth in many cases. Some can not accept that. There is a difference and that arugement gets old and..Figgy for slapping down "Mr. Color Purple", Mr. Pretty was classic....He said out the gate he did not like her,, why?? because she is not a "sistha" bowing down to the "Strong Brotha" his words, not mine.. Don't want to here it....Figgy pull a Jesse Jackson on him and cut his nuts off LOL..

September 15, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...

Doing good my marble rye buddy!Thanks for asking.
Signed-Your Token White Friend

September 15, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

LOL @ Jeff!

September 15, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...

This is the complete story the Post and Courier should have posted, it gives insight into the national scene as well.

Talk about bad reporting:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/condit...

September 16, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...

Eyfigueroa, you said(See Below)
Minoritysouth: Yes, the surge in infections in the Black community is partially rooted in the fact that there is a disproportionate numbers of incarcerated Black men in prisons, engaging either consensually or by force in unsafe sexual practices, and then going back home to unsuspecting females who also engage in unsafe sexual practices. Regardless of how the initial infections occurred, it is still personal responsibility that is lacking in the communities where the infection rates are growing. No amount of finger pointing at governmental policies can overshadow that.

Eyfigueroa, why do you always assume I am saying what I am not saying? I simply pointed out that the justice system has a part in this skew found in "black" HIV infection. As a step in the right direction, I also pointed out in a subtle way that condoms should be available in ALL prisons with no debate at all times and prisoners should be protected against rape... As for modifying personal behavior, is that not obvious Eyfigueroa?

Eyfigueroa, you are smart but very critical to the point that you do yourself an injustice. You seem to pine for a reason to be critical. We are all in this together sister. Once that is realized, only then solutions will truly be put in place.

September 16, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...

The estimated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is nearly five times higher for incarcerated populations (2.0%) (1) than for the general U.S. population (0.43%) (2).

This is not a sole factor for the phenomena but as the writers at Yale have put it, a dynamic factor. See link.

http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf...

September 16, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...

Excerpt:
Using data from the U.S. Census, we construct a conforming panel of male and female incarceration rates. We use this panel data to model the dynamic relationship between the male and female AIDS infection rates and the proportion of men in the age/state/race-matched cohort that are incarcerated. We find very strong effects of male incarceration rates on both male and female AIDS infection rates. The dynamic structure of this relationship-i.e., the lagged effects of the proportion of incarcerated males-parallels the distribution of the incubation time between HIV infection and the onset of full-blown AIDS documented in the medical and epidemiological literature. These results are robust to explicit controls for (race-specific) year fixed effects and a fully interacted set of age/race/state fixed effects. Our results reveal that the higher incarceration rates among black males over this period explain a substantial share of the racial disparity in AIDS infection between black women and women of other racial and ethnic groups.

September 16, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

MinoritySouth,

So can you pose a solution? BTW I don't disagree with your assertion, but, I do beieve it is the result of the problem not the problem itself.

September 16, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jammer007 (anonymous) says...

This is horrible . poor black people are catching the funk more than "ALL" others combined . I bet it's Whitey's fault !!!! The white man has made us get the funk !!! Lets blame him like we do everything else !!! SOLUTION: Get off medicaid and welfare and get a job and work for a living . Jobs leave less time for drug dealing and scoring with nasty skanks !!! Trade in the food stamps for workboots . You may even lose some weight !

September 16, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Marianne0558 (anonymous) says...

jammer...
Ever seen a fat crackhead?

September 16, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...

usna04: "my best friend is black...."

My only advice to you usna, NEVER and I do mean NEVER use that as some sort of indicator or your lack of prejudice. Erases all your good intentions. Unfortunately that and similar expressions have been hijacked by those racists and bigots who try to use social, familial or professional associations with people of color as some sort of shield against the accusation of racism, prejudice or bigotry. It NEVER works. Not to say that you're doing that...of course.

eatmorecollards: you sir are full of caca. Your sly attempt at invoking racial/HIV fear mongering only works with those who are too ignorant to see through that flimsy veil.

September 16, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

eyfig - I'll say it again. The only reason I said that was to say it's impossible to be racist if I have black friends. That would kind of .... not make sense. If you don't believe me, look up the word 'racism'. But thanks for the advice, or rather the order.

September 16, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

Racism:

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race

3. the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

It is possible to be a racist and have friends of a different race (particularly the race you are racist against). Heck, it's possible to be racist and be married to someone of the race you feel you are superior to. I have seen it quite often.

September 16, 2008 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

usna04 (anonymous) says...

Well, I stand corrected lovely. Thank you.

Regardless, I'm not a racist. I'm kind of tired of trying to prove that to people who I don't even know. It's silly really.

But just for the record, I don't think I have ever met a true racist who has friends of that same race. It really sort of defeats the purpose, and an ugly purpose at that.

September 16, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...

eyfigueroa-You seem far more advanced than the average poster on here. I bet you could write a book and get really rich.

September 16, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )