Re: AIDS Education
Settummanque, the blackeagle (waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Tue, 1 Feb 1994 11:35:16 CST
"Dr. Steven C. Myers" <R1SCM%AKRONVM.bitnet@UKCC.uky.edu> writes:
>Mary Ann,
>Since you have been involved in education on the AIDS issue, I
>will address this to you, but wish input from all of you out there.
>
>Most of this is academic for many of us, and me too, until my
>daughter agreed to volunteer at Childrens Hospital with the
>AIDS patients. They will do the training, but her Mom and I must
>give her permission. Do we? Should we?
>
>Ideally the answer is yes and I am proud of Jenny for wanting
>to do this, but the "WHAT IF..." question scares me to death.
>Answers? What would you do?
>
>BTW, this is the Philmont experienced, Explorer, and Silver Award
>Girl Scout daughter I have bragged about on the NET before. She
>is 15.5 years.
>
>What would you do?
Dr. Steve:
Jessiann and I talked over this issue last evening, and to put it
mildly, it was a short and sweet argument.
She will post her reasoning here later (she's doing student teaching
this semester, and comes dragging in here in the late evenings. So it
may be later this week or later this evening).
My answer is to be scared but supportive of Jenny. After all, this is
the same young lady that risked seeing snakes and other "critters" at
Philmont and, if I remember correctly, fought to go on the trek in the
first place.
Jessiann asked me if it was my daughter Amanda, would I let her? I
said, after I thought about it a bit, "yes. I would."
Why? This may be that ONE CHANCE she has to really come in contact
with those that are in pain or dying from this terrible illness. It
may spur her onward to do reseach or development into ways to ease
their pain, either by some form of therapy or by some cure or stopper
to keep the virus from spreading further. If she is REALLY WANTING to
do this (and as I told Jessiann, I would have a SERIES of discussions
with her, and even have her to write a will as a demostration of how
serious and final her decision *may be*), then I would support her,
be proud of her, and yes, at times, cry and be scared for her.
My Amanda, your Jenny, other youth may be the answer to this entire
thing. They are growing up in an enviornment that AIDS is a everyday
word and where sex is not something to talk about behind closed doors
or in a whisper. Therefore, I would not stand in her way to make her
face this problem head-on in a responsible way.
I say "YES", but as a fellow father, I would also say "Mandy, please
be careful and please take whatever precautions they say for you to
take...because I want you to be around so that I can give you away
in marriage".
You brought a GREAT question to all of us, Dr. Steve. Thanks!
Settummanque!
--
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton (
AIS/MR Recreation Specialist, LifeSkills Inc. ___)_
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