Greenwald:
A few weeks ago, Andrew Sullivan had an Op-Ed in The Washington Post regarding the extraordinary fact that the U.S. is only one of 12 countries in the world to ban HIV-positive individuals from entering the country, and he described the heavy toll that ban exacts on people such as himself who are living with the virus (This week, the new ACLU blog is hosting a symposium on lesbian and gay issues that includes a discussion of these and related matters).
The HIV ban was the work of the Jesse Helms-led right-wing in 1993. Although Iran hasn't followed that policy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen and Saddam Hussein's Iraq did. It's really baffling why the American Right is so obsessed with waging war against radical Islam and flamboyantly condemning other oppressive systems when they replicate and embrace so many of their most defining attributes.
Yes, it is baffling.
Maybe our very serious media establishment could ponder this question. Our Democratic candidates might want to mention it around, too. Campaign speeches, debates, TV ads, those would be great places to start.
2 comments:
wow, i had no idea we had such a terrible ban in place. indeed, much more attention needs to be called to this fact and the ban must be overturned in '09!
Dear J.Bulworth,
Good morning! I hope the blogsphere's treating you well. *I am writing to gauge your interest in attending a weekend chock full of progressive faith bloggers.* Your experience blogging on Bulworth would add greatly to an enriching exchange between peers.
The Progressive Faith Blog Con(ference) would be held the first weekend of August '08, organized by an ad-hoc committee of bloggers including including Expatriated Texan, CrossLeft, Institute for Progressive Christianity, jspot.org, and the RACBlog, among others. We are hoping to build off of the previous conference by putting together a weekend of workshops, networking, panels, and speakers in D.C.. BUT first we need to know that there is sufficient interest. Given the need for a powerful progressive faith voice during this election year, we hope you will be able to join us.
Please reply as soon as possible to let me know, on a scale of 1-5, your likelihood of attending: 1 (no way), 2 (unlikely), 3 (possible), 4 (probable), 5 (definite). Quick stats on the event- held in D.C., 1-2 days, weekend of August 1-3rd, low cost, possible travel subsidies.
Also, if you have any feedback or insights from the last PFBC, questions, additional bloggers to contact or suggestions, feel free to send those along as well. I can be contacted at akaufman@jewishjustice.org.
Thanks,
Alana Krivo-Kaufman
Jewish Funds For Justice
JFSJ, Intern
www.jspot.org
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