I know it’s better to look forward instead of backwards. I know that it doesn’t help push a conversation or argument towards any kind of resolution to dwell in the past. However, I have a really difficult time tolerating Reagan loving Conservatives.
Granted, I have a whole slew of political differences with Reagan and with the neo-Cons who have adopted him as their hero, but the thing that most sickens me is giving reverence to a president who looked the other way while thousands of his “fellow Americans” were dying of AIDS. Especially since it seems that his silence was in deference to the Radical Right that had just begun hijacking the Republican Party in the 80s. Reagan didn’t speak the word AIDS until 1985 and seemed to only begin to acknowledge its impact towards the end of his administration. This was after thousands of Americans had died and thousands more were diagnosed
So, while we do have to look forward towards a cure on World Aids Day, I feel like it doesn’t hurt to wander if we couldn’t have been further along and how many might have been saved if Reagan hadn’t listened to those who told him AIDS was a “gay” disease and had instead given the full force of federal funds towards helping to find a cure when the first few were diagnosed.
No comments:
Post a Comment