Zip 'em up

For the first part of this week, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts joined former President Clinton on his trip to southern Africa. Mr. Clinton was there to promote his new foundation, which negotiates with pharmaceutical companies for affordable drugs to treat African children with AIDS. Approximately 5.3 million South Africans are infected with the virus – the largest number of individuals in a single country. Mr. Clinton also hopes to promote awareness of this "crisis" and encourage others to donate.

What I’m going to say next will probably offend a lot of people, and I thought about apologizing ahead of time. But I realized that those of you who understand what I’m saying don’t need a caveat, and there’s no hope for the rest. So no apology offered.

Why is it my problem they can’t keep their pants zipped?

Actually, I usually say that a bit more crudely, so consider yourself lucky. My point is -- AIDS is not contracted simply by breathing the air. There are dangerous, avoidable behaviors that lead to infection. Why is no one talking education? Is there some reason the people of Africa should be allowed to go at it like rabbits with no thought for the consequences of their actions? Although that might explain why Slick Willie was so eager to visit …

I’m not addressing this because Clinton is involved. I have plenty of material on him. What’s disturbing is the notion that we should just keep letting people do as they please and pick up the pieces for them afterwards. Those children are most certainly innocent victims, but sending them all the drugs in the world won’t solve the problem. Educating the parents will … after that it’s up to them to conduct themselves like intelligent human beings.

Ms. Roberts gushed eloquently about the “strength and love” she encountered among the families she visited. That’s touching, but somewhere along the line devoted daddy had a boyfriend and/or adoring mommy had a “special friend”. Obviously they weren’t thinking so tenderly of their children at that time. Considering that 90% of the world’s AIDS victims live in Africa, you realize this isn’t one parent who had a one-night stand once in their life … this encompasses pretty much the entire adult population and their grandmother!

And here's another issue: Why aren't any of these famous people talking about the children with AIDS in the US? Why is the focus always on treating people in other countries with US funds, while our own are suffering just as much? I’m all for finding a cure for AIDS for everyone … no child should have to suffer from a parent’s actions like that. No one should suffer like that, period. But in the meantime, let’s not pretend there’s nothing that can be done to prevent it.