AIDS And Free Speech
(All emphases by Always On Watch)
From a May 19, 2006 article in the Washington Post:
"Two federal judges in the past two weeks have ruled unconstitutional the government's policy of forcing U.S. health groups to denounce prostitution as a condition for receiving funds for international AIDS work.Huh?
"Both judges said the requirement violated the First Amendment right to free speech....
"Rebekah Diller, associate counsel of the poverty program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, who argued the New York case, said the requirements made it very difficult for groups to use even privately raised funds to teach prostitutes about AIDS prevention methods. She said health organizations could not collectively distribute condoms to groups of prostitutes, or work with other groups that tried to change laws or policies concerning prostitutes. 'It cast a very big chill on being able to do this outreach,' Diller said.
"A USAID spokeswoman did not return a call for comment.
"The New York case was brought by three health organizations, while the Washington case was brought by DKT International, a not-for-profit organization that works in 11 countries. Its representative in Vietnam refused to sign papers certifying that DKT 'has a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking.'"
posted by Always On Watch @ 5/21/2006 08:46:00 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
The groups that could do most to stem the flow of new AIDs infections have, from the beginning, resisted real solutions to this problem. I have a hard time understanding why.
MonicaC-Then they would be held liabil for thier immoral behavior! Since they don't want to be held liabil they try to shut up those who tell the truth! Example, when the AIDs epidemic began being identified as a major source of disease spread, especially in bathhouses, the public health workers were forbidden to contact all those who were exposed! I was told this by a friend who worked for Orlando's public health dept.! He said ANY OTHER STD was reason enough to find everyone exposed, but not AIDs! He was frightened by theimplications and what was going to happen! He was right! But AIDs is the first pc disease, so it is treated like the common cold!
tmw
We have so much work to do in this country... for instance, we have too many liberal Judges. I suspect Judges who rule this way to be frequenting prostitutes frequently!
be frequenting prostitutes frequently! ..
Hmm.. most of these "judges" actually behave like prostitues anyway.
Paying taxes for someone else's sex life - what a good idea.
TMW,
ANY OTHER STD was reason enough to find everyone exposed, but not AIDs!...AIDs is the first pc disease
And that's because our culture has abrogated the concept of morality; moral relativism is the way now, and it's literally killing people.
WHT,
instead of acting as tho it is a legitimate life choice
The "oldest profession" has been around for ages, but the life-threatening consequences have upped the stake. Moral relativism is the villain here.
Monica R,
AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, and education about prevention is of prime importance. Duh!
Gayle,
Judges who rule this way to be frequenting prostitutes frequently!
I'm certain that some are; we read an occasional such story in the media, but not often. Of course, judges always know the "best" lawyers. Judges and lawyers attend the same law schools.
Mussolini,
Free speech was never meant to include behavior, or we would have had a Free Behavior clause.
Apparently federal judges don't understand that difference.
Missing Link,
most of these "judges" actually behave like prostitues anyway
Perfect analogy!
Mussolini, that is one of the best comments I have heard in a while!
I know MW - it's a disgrace. David Horowitz wrote some very interesting things about what happened in the gay community after we became aware of AIDS and how it was transmitted. They did everything they could to ensure those bathhouses stayed open and everyone unprotected.
AOW - Do you know how many arguments I've had with people about AIDS and what behavior should be avoided to prevent it?! They really do NOT want to hear it.
Freedom of expression keeps me in my front row seat when the bailiff says "all rise" when the judge walks in.
Beamish,
Freedom of expression keeps me in my front row seat when the bailiff says "all rise" when the judge walks in.
How does that work out? ;)
Freedom of expression in Virginia's prisons--the ACLU is providing representation, of course.
Monica R,
Recently, Time Magazine (or was it Newsweek?) ran a huge article about AIDS. Did you see it?
Duck
Abstinence only? Another portion of the article:
Rebekah Diller, associate counsel of the poverty program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, who argued the New York case, said the requirements made it very difficult for groups to use even privately raised funds to teach prostitutes about AIDS prevention methods. She said health organizations could not collectively distribute condoms to groups of prostitutes, or work with other groups that tried to change laws or policies concerning prostitutes. "It cast a very big chill on being able to do this outreach," Diller said.
AIDS is primarily transmitted via sexual activity. Denying that fact will not help to curb the spread of AIDS. You do know that, right?
Is the matter in Uganda the case in which a man goes from village to village to provide his services, despite his having AIDS?
Duck,
Do you wish to let people die because they don't follow your line on sexual behavior or do you think your preaching is effective.
Absolutely not! Reality is that "my" value system isn't followed worldwide.
Use of condoms does help to curb the spread of AIDS. So this is absurd (from the article): health organizations could not collectively distribute condoms to groups of prostitutes
I advocate a combination of methods to curb the spread of AIDS. One must take personal responsibility and receive help and instruction to do so.
Handing out condoms and informing prostitutes as to the risks should be part of any effective program. And taking those steps is not a violation of free speech.
In Third World countries, prostitution is a primary way of spreading AIDS, and that fact should be stated and recognized.
When it comes to AIDS, cultural relativism is deadly--literally.
Duck,
Why did you post the article?
As a sort of change of pace, I guess. Also, I explained in "Temporarily Overwhelmed" about my problems right now--not the least of which is unrelenting pain. I don't ask for your sympathy; I'm just trying to answer your question as precisely as possible.
I AM interested in a variety of topics, Duck. I'm sure you noticed my article "The Bad Seed?" For example, criminology and abnormal psychology are topics which interest me--just to name two topics with which I'm not often associated as a blogger.
I certainly don't post about the only things I think about.
As to this particular article posted, I found absurdity, in several respects. We've already discussed some of those respects.
Maybe this surprises you...I care about AIDS victims. As you know, I am a Christian, but I believe in reaching out in ways other than preaching the Gospel. I'm more of a realist than you give me credit for.
So what you said (I believe it is because you feel you are a better judge of how this should be done than people who are actually doing it and you are upset that workers will not be required to give a prescribed speech) is off the mark. I am nobody's judge; I am not omniscient; I don't know all the answers about any topic you want to choose.
I have no hidden agenda.
In fact, I venture to say that you don't know me at all. You just THINK you do.
Is mr. ducky drinking? Sounds like it. He's got his own odd agenda and rather than discuss what the thread was about he launched into his standard leftist crud and demands that you play in his turd-filled sandbox. Sounds like a typical Alky to me!
Iron Fang,
Duck looks for every opportunity to talk up his Leftism, and it doesn't much matter to him what the posting's topic is.
Some have theorized that he's on psychotropic medications because his comments often appear cyclical.
Maybe you're right: "self-medicating."
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