1.
You know when you're going through something and someone just comes and
adds on to your stress or misery and you be like "I Sooooo don't need
this on top of all I'm going through right now". And you just want to
run and lock yourself up and not have to deal with anyone just in case
they add on to your troubles? Well... that's what discrimination does to
HIV positive people. We have so much to deal
with already without having people add on. While we manage our illness
the best we could. Its inevitable to think intensely about stuff. Like
'I wonder if I'll live to be 60', 'I need life insurance', 'I wonder if
I'll ever have children', 'what will happen to my kids if I ever get
sick', 'how do I tell my.......'
HIV does change a person's life. There are things that could have been easy to do or acquire but now they're close to impossible. That alone is enough to set a person on a slow train to a painful and depressive place. But we accept, we strive, we move on and we grow from strength to strength. We carry the load the best we can and walk with our heads held high, to a place of hope and freedom. And that walk, that walk is the most fulfilling... well until someone drops the discrimination bomb on us. They be like...
2. 'She's unclean'. Unclean your heels. Like seriously :O ? Maybe you should look in the mirror before calling someone unclean, especially because of an illness. Really now! And its unfortunate that our Christian community still struggles to believe that the blood of Jesus that has cleansed them of their sins has the power to save and heal an HIV positive person and cleanse them just as much. Its great for us to know that the blood of Jesus does not discriminate.
3. I know what you did. You've been having sex and now you have AIDS. Well, AIDS your foot. I had sex nangok and I contracted HIV so what? That makes you better than me? Oho! Does that really give you the license to judge me? Shame on you. While MY infection was sexual, someone else's thoughts on the matter don't bother me one bit. However, some people were raped and contracted HIV, some were faithful wives sitting at home waiting for their husbands, some were innocent children born of HIV positive mothers, some were accidental infections. And wena you find it fitting to place everybody under the same umbrella and judge and discriminate. Mnxim
4. It could be the very same person you were nasty to because of their HIV status that will come to your aid. Whether through you being affected or infected. I know, I've been there. I've had people, some closest to me gossiping about me, some even predicting my soon coming sickness and death but I'm still standing. And as I stand, I am rendering HIV support to them and their loved ones. Some have found me to be the only person they can disclose to, and I understand shem, how do you disclose the very same thing you've been gossiping about in someone else's life to the very same people you were gossiping to? That will mean whatever names you called the others by apply to you too. AmaXhosa athi 'unyawo alunampumlo'
5. Your attitude can change a life, it may increase a life span, it may boost someone's confidence... it may save a life. While we can't do anything to change our HIV statuses, you changing your attitude may do a whole lot more good for many. Change your attitude, change a life.
6. The scars left by stigma are deeper than the scars caused by HIV itself. Have a heart, heal a soul... end the shame. It really does start with you...
#letstalkhiv
HIV does change a person's life. There are things that could have been easy to do or acquire but now they're close to impossible. That alone is enough to set a person on a slow train to a painful and depressive place. But we accept, we strive, we move on and we grow from strength to strength. We carry the load the best we can and walk with our heads held high, to a place of hope and freedom. And that walk, that walk is the most fulfilling... well until someone drops the discrimination bomb on us. They be like...
2. 'She's unclean'. Unclean your heels. Like seriously :O ? Maybe you should look in the mirror before calling someone unclean, especially because of an illness. Really now! And its unfortunate that our Christian community still struggles to believe that the blood of Jesus that has cleansed them of their sins has the power to save and heal an HIV positive person and cleanse them just as much. Its great for us to know that the blood of Jesus does not discriminate.
3. I know what you did. You've been having sex and now you have AIDS. Well, AIDS your foot. I had sex nangok and I contracted HIV so what? That makes you better than me? Oho! Does that really give you the license to judge me? Shame on you. While MY infection was sexual, someone else's thoughts on the matter don't bother me one bit. However, some people were raped and contracted HIV, some were faithful wives sitting at home waiting for their husbands, some were innocent children born of HIV positive mothers, some were accidental infections. And wena you find it fitting to place everybody under the same umbrella and judge and discriminate. Mnxim
4. It could be the very same person you were nasty to because of their HIV status that will come to your aid. Whether through you being affected or infected. I know, I've been there. I've had people, some closest to me gossiping about me, some even predicting my soon coming sickness and death but I'm still standing. And as I stand, I am rendering HIV support to them and their loved ones. Some have found me to be the only person they can disclose to, and I understand shem, how do you disclose the very same thing you've been gossiping about in someone else's life to the very same people you were gossiping to? That will mean whatever names you called the others by apply to you too. AmaXhosa athi 'unyawo alunampumlo'
5. Your attitude can change a life, it may increase a life span, it may boost someone's confidence... it may save a life. While we can't do anything to change our HIV statuses, you changing your attitude may do a whole lot more good for many. Change your attitude, change a life.
6. The scars left by stigma are deeper than the scars caused by HIV itself. Have a heart, heal a soul... end the shame. It really does start with you...
#letstalkhiv
