Faith Prevention and Suffering

I viewed the final version of my 28:30 documentary on HIV/AIDS and Christianity in America on Friday. Everyone had very positive reactions to it. Especially the people who are in it. Two of the subjects, Joy and Reed, came to the screening at Medill and loved it. Joy took like 3 copies and wants 5 more. And Reed called me to ask for 3 more. I have to mail it out to so many people. I think they’ll be glad to get it from me. That can include anyone reading this. I’ll gladly mail you a copy if you tell me your address.

Basically I videotaped four Chicago AIDS activists sitting around a table and playing a children’s board game called "What About AIDS?" The questions are at times simplistic, but the answers draw an interesting narrative. And it easily provides a framework for the film. The four players are all HIV positive and Christian. The picture is divided into four segments, three of which begin with the game. The documentary deals with universal themes such as faith, prevention and suffering as the title suggests.

It’s very important for me to say that I cannot actually imagine what it is like to live with this disease. So I tried to put it in their terms. Cause there’s just too much dying and sickness from it.

In fact, the second question in the film from the game is, "What does dying mean?" Although their answers are very spiritual, it creates an easy segway into the number of people this disease infects and affects. There’s more than 40 million people living with it and 20 million have died since 1981. (the same year I was born and the same year Joy contracted it)

My second segment, possibly the best one, deals with abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex ed. And while I think it creates a good debate, it’s probably more important to eliminate the conditions under which people are more likely to contract the disease. Regardless, most churches and church leaders cannot talk about human sexuality. And many churches turn people away through harsh words and discrimination. "Indeed, stigma is the other, or co-pandemic."

The third part is the most emotional. Two men tell two stories about how they found out they were HIV positive. My eyes were swelling just about every time I watched the full un-edited story from Darrin. The point I’m trying to make in this part is not so apparent, so I hope it is thought provoking for the viewer.

Thanks for reading this far. Maybe you want to see it? Well, the final segment really tries to speak to why we need to help all these people who are suffering. And it’s all about trying to welcome everyone to the table. I won’t tell the ending, but it’s pretty cool.

I’m so thankful to all the people who I interviewed. I’m also thankful to everyone who helped with this project, especially the tech guys. The graphics look great and very professional. They also helped with the tedious process of burning 100 dvds. (which I’m not done yet) I can’t believe I finished it!

Now I have to make a resume tape. It was actually the most important impetus for going to grad school. Cause, well, I’m going to need a job. But I’ll let you know how Egypt works out.

UPDATE:
The documentary is available on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-VHMFhD1qI

Bikes need not stop

I’m not doing a public service by riding my bike. No doubt I would drive my car had I one. No doubt my school pays for my train pass so I can ride public trans.

But I choose to ride my bike. I even have front and rear blinking lights to prove it.

Yet I get no recognition on the roads. Cars want to knock me down. Where’s the love?

Why should I have to stop at stop signs? Why should I have to go the right direction on a one-way street? Why should I have to worry about some idiot opening his door into my wheels?

Don’t hate me cause I’m plugged into my mp3 player and imagine myself training like Lance Armstrong. I’m enjoying myself. I’m like the guy at the bar who can’t dance, and you laugh, but you don’t really care cause he’s kickin it. That’s me on my shitty ass steel frame hybrid rear fender rubber handle skinny wheel mesh short wearing gel seat. Recognize.

Hate speech

I’d like to imagine myself as free speech purist, but I can’t bring myself to it. Lines are meant to be crossed. Mores usually depend on community values. But we are becoming a world community.

There is no room for hate speech.

Regional chapters of the Council on American-Islamic relations issued this fatwa, or legal opinion, "we unequivocally condemn terrorism and abhor the use of violence against innocent people in the name of Islam. The fatwa decidedly states that violence and extremism has no place in Islam."

Yet an article in the Ivestor’s Business Daily a week later says, “If CAIR is not tied to terrorism, why not clear the air at a televised hearing?"

Chicago Muslim leaders at the July press conference also encouraged mosques to include the "anti-terror fatwa" in their Friday prayers.

CAIR’s website prominently displays the organization’s denunciations of violence. Apparently public and private denunciations are not enough to prevent slander.

Furthermore, Muslims are not trying "Islamisize" America. The fatwa says, "Muslims have a religious obligation to contribute constructivelyto any society in which they live – to champion what is good and challenge what is evil." (emphasis mine)

Wow, it sounds like something Tony Blair should say. Instead, Blair threatens to deport foreigners who incite terrorism. This paints an inaccurate and xenophobic view of people who are, like many of our ancestors were, immigrants.

Maybe the U.S. government should make hate speech illegal. Should we muzzle the people who encourage extremism and include white Americans named Timothy?

We need to look inwardly and see that we maybe we are fostering an idealogy of hate within our country. Freedom of speech comes with a responsibility.