Prejudice, stupidity no cure for disease

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, May 20, 2001

It was a good reminder in reading Robert Waddell’s May 15 letter to the editor, “AIDS: Liberal Press fails to tell the truth,” that there is still a lack of compassion and understanding towards people with AIDS. Having worked as a volunteer for people with AIDS, it is hard to hear them being treated with such cruelty and malevolence when they are already facing such suffering and hardship.

There is a wonderful organization called Shanti that trains volunteers to offer one-on-one support to people with AIDS (regardless of political orientation). It would be wonderful if Mr. Waddell could spend some time offering help and understand that contracting this terrible disease is not a judgment and should not be reason for prejudice or stupidity to hide in the guise of self-righteousness.

Cynicism and paranoia are easily cured by a little education and action. Otherwise, Mr. Waddell’s voice becomes one more coward in the fray.

Camano Island