Do You Sport Awareness Ribbons or Wristbands?

LibertySugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Ribbons! Those little looped, colorful, pinned-to-your-lapel statements of support. What started with your standard red for AIDS awareness, pink for breast cancer, has blossomed into a full rainbow. Did you know there's a burgundy ribbon? How about periwinkle? Lace?! Do you know what these stand for?

In the book Ribbon Culture, author Sarah Moore argues that the overuse of "awareness ribbons" has transformed charity into a commercial enterprise. She writes:

Both a kitsch fashion accessory, as well as an emblem that expresses empathy; it is a symbol that represents awareness, yet requires no knowledge of a cause; it appears to signal concern for others, but in fact priorities self-expression.

If you're aching to buy the book, get a quick taste of it with this book review.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, burgundy ribbons are for brain aneurysms, periwinkle for eating disorders, and lace for osteoporosis.

What do you think about the "ribbon culture?" Are ribbons and wristbands just easy ways for us to feel better about our lifestyles, or are they expressions of authentic solidarity, and a pledge to take positive action?

Source

AIDS Bigot to Get HIV-Research Funding Amendment Tribute?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:15:32 -0700

While the Senate is working to pass a $50 billion AIDS package, North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole has introduced an amendment to name an HIV/AIDS relief bill after the man whose seat she currently holds, the late Jesse Helms. The tribute is not without its sticking points: to say Senator Helms was not a friend to AIDS awareness and prevention is an understatement tied with a big, red ribbon.

Here are the Greatest Hits of Helms's record on AIDS:

"There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy." (1988)
Seven activists from ACT UP put a huge condom on Helms's home with a sign reading, "Helms Is Deadlier Than a Virus."(1991)

That's not all. To see the rest and what else the Senate is doing on AIDS this week, read more.

When expressing dissent at refunding the Ryan White Act: The government should spend less on people with AIDS because they got sick due to their "deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct." (1995)
Later, softening his position on funding AIDS relief in Africa, he countered that the case was not the same for American gays beause homosexuality "is the primary cause of the doubling and redoubling of AIDS cases in the United States." (2002)

Perhaps Dole figures that the natural evolution of Helms's perspective on AIDS would now, by 2008, have swung around to full support of the prevention, research, and treatment of HIV/AIDS? The proposed Dole/Helms amendment comes as Sens. Kerry (D-MA) and Smith (R-OR) are trying to repeal the 1987 ban of HIV positive travelers to the US. The measure, which contains $50 billion to fight AIDS in poor areas. The measure is expected to pass this week.

Is Dole's attempt to include Helms in the AIDS measure a fitting tribute, or does it make a mockery of AIDS activism and progress?

Source

TresSugar

Do You Sport Awareness Ribbons or Wristbands?

AIDS Bigot to Get HIV-Research Funding Amendment Tribute?