Pope & HIV/AIDS

In his inaugural address to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI, in speaking about the AIDS crisis, denounced the use of condoms arguing that they will not solve the problem and may even make the problem worse. This man’s opinion is that his remarks were unrealistic, inaccurate, and worse of all irresponsible. He is seemly ignorant of the harsh realities of today’s world where more than 7,400 new HIV infections surface each year. Condoms are a necessary and effective strategy for stemming the tide. The only other method more effective is abstinence which is impractical and again unrealistic – “the flesh is weak”. Abstinence until marriage also may not work in that one could get HIV from their newly married partner who was less celibate. Also, contrary to what the Pope says – there is no evidence that condoms exacerbate the HIV/AIDS crisis. While infections are higher in communities that use condoms, such a statement is both disingenuous and illogical. One must not confuse correlation with causality Fact, high condom use does not cause people to get infected! As the leader of the Catholic community, the pope has a moral responsibility to provide more intellectual and practical means of dealing with and curtailing this crisis. This is no longer the “dark ages” and another “reformation” may be just what needs to be initiated to “awaken” the papacy.

Chemically Infused Bodies

A current consternation of mine is the chemical infusion that is assaulting our bodies. It has become foremost in my “concerned thoughts” and has been prompted by a medical treatment that I am receiving for a type of cancer known as Chronic Lymphoma Leukemia (CLL) that has taken up an unwelcome residence in my body. Now I have been assured that the chemotherapy being administered is not only necessary but will hopefully suppress this cancer for some years. That being said, unnatural chemical agents and to some extent poisons are being infused into my body. The consequence is that it is not only killing the cancer cells but some good healthy cells; as well as, inducing some very undesirable side effects such as fatigue, loss of appetite, chemical mouth taste, hair loss, etc. Okay, okay – I know it must be accepted and tolerated but my alarm and anxiety regarding this chemotherapy prompted me (a list maker) to detail the chemicals being employed in my treatment. There are as follows: fludarabine, rituximab, pegfilrastim, sulfamethoxazole, allopurinol, ondansetron, prochlorperazine, and lunesta. Wow, wow – I said to myself while drinking a diet coke; it is a wonder that there is not a chemical reaction with this mix that might produce a spontaneous combustion. Then I glanced at the ingredients listed on the diet coke can and noted that I had just also ingested some more chemicals: aspartiame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, citric acid, and caffeine. And behold a miracle, I did not explode.

Now, I am thinking besides the chemotherapy and the diet coke, what other chemicals am I knowing or unknowingly ingesting into my body during a typical day. As might be guessed, it is absolutely staggering and mind bogglingly (if it hasn’t yet be turned into a chemical wasteland). Actually, it is more disconcerting and frightening than a horror movie. Here is just a preview (morning only) and is rated for adults only and not for the sensitive or squeamish. Morning hygiene: toothpaste (potassium nitrate, sodium flouride, others not listed), mouthwash (glycerin, sorbital, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, benzoic acid, poloxamer 407, sodium benzoate, sodium lauryl sulfate, saccharin, fdc blue, and fdc yellow), shaving cream (politic acid, tiethanolamie, olethy-20, sorbitol, isobutone, trocopheryl acetate, plus 20 more), body soap and shampoo (too many to list over 50). I surrender and turn now to some breakfast. Orange Juice (oranges chemically sprayed in the orchard, carton liner contains a chemical preservative), Fiber One cereal ( bht, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, sucralose – sugar and corn syrup was not enough sweeter, tocpherols, calcium carbonate), Soymilk for cereal (calcium phoshate, potassium citrate, sodium polyphosate, dipotassium phosate), toast and butter (about 24 more chemicals). I think it is best not to light a match at this point. I am totally overwhelmed and lack the fortitude to list what chemical presence lurks in my lunch, snack, dinner, laundry and house cleaning products, air, water, etc. etc.

So what was the point of this blog post and exercise? In retrospect, what started out as a major concern of mine, having my body subjected to chemotherapy, pales in comparison to the chemical onslaught to which my and your body is subjected to on a daily basis and while there may not be much we can do to alleviate the situation, personal awareness is a defense in itself and maybe give ourselves pause before we pick up that next can of diet soda or prompt us to look critically at the ingredients list of some of the products we use on a regular basis.