Criticism…
A poem or story is critiqued,
If it is not done so in the positive,
That critique does go in the file marked delete,
Tis a shame, when one writer cannot deal with a negative,
Personally I just tell it like it is, totally and complete…
I bring up this point as I did see, recently,
That my negative response to an AID’s poem was given the boot,
I have worked for the coalition to end this disease,
I have dealt with patients, clients and the general public,
And have tried to make kids understand, till I was blue in the face,
Not to have sex, not to do so without some kind of protection,
So I guess I kinda am no different from that of the author therein,
I find that removing my response is like a slap in the face…
But that is why I made the response so pointedly,
To that person, & to the rest, who are at risk,
I guess all I can actually and honestly say is tisk-tisk,
Better think about getting a thicker skin,
As you have only scratched the surface of this disease, much to my chagrin…
If you had paid attention to someone like me, before you did contract the disease,
Today you would not have to write about it, nor would you get negative reactions,
From reactionaries like myself, that have dealt with it,
For longer than you have been infected, case closed!
© ed – 4/23/04
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Love Tinka
At first I must say, yes I was somewhat offended by it. My poem wasn't meant the way you took it. It was just my way of trying to inform people of the tradgey of HIV/AIDS and informing them of the hope that now is out there.
Yes, I have only been positive of one year, but have lived my life with it hanging over my head knowing there was always the possibility it could happen to me. Since testing positive I have been treated as a leaper by so many people, even in the gay community when I've met and tried to date someone. I too lost a lover 15 years ago and since then practiced safe sex all the time. It just so happened that the one time (believe it or not) there was a lapse in judgement on my part it happened to me, mainly due to having too much to drink, which I no longer do. I guess I learned my lesson the hard way.
I took your post off, not because I don't have a thick skin, but because I felt it sent the wrong message to people and reinforced the negativity perpetuated by so many people. I've found so many people to be judgemental and cruel. The shame, guilt, and regrets that comes along with contracting HIV/AIDS is enomorous.
Everyones situation is different and it's not always a matter of having safe sex, accidents can happen.
I will continue to speak out and should I get negative criticism I will leave the posts as I get them. I was just somewhat saddened by the lack of response I received from the post. It just made me feel that people really don't care and I'm not speaking of caring about me but in general about perils of this disease.
I will send you an email with further comments. But I don't think it's just something people should have to deal with because of the information that been put out there if they do contract the disease. There are risks in just about everything we do, driving a car, walking across the street, but if I took the attitude that came across in the post you left and said oh well I guess they will have to deal with it, if they are struck down by a car or in an accident, it would make me a heartless human being. That's all I'll say here. Sorry everyone if I took to much space up in this response.