Empty Words, Dangerous Deeds

The lede seemed promising.

PHILADELPHIA, June 23 - President Bush said on Wednesday for the first time that the United States should "learn from the experience" of countries like Uganda in fighting AIDS and embraced the use of condoms to prevent its spread...

Granted, we don't have to look to countries like Uganda to learn that condoms are an effective preventative against the spread of AIDS. We could look, for instance, to cities like San Francisco, Seattle, New York or, well, anywhere people approach medical issues from a practical, scientific standpoint.

But the lede was deceptive, too, because Bush wasn't really advocating condom use, except as a last resort for people who lack his moral insight and resolve. Fleshing out the quotation leads to a different story altogether.

"We can learn from the experiences of other countries when it comes to a good program to prevent the spread of AIDS, like the nation of Uganda," Mr. Bush said. "They've started what they call the A.B.C. approach to prevention of this deadly disease. That stands for: Abstain, be faithful in marriage, and, when appropriate, use condoms."

and we still don't have to learn from the experience of Uganda.

Uganda has used the A.B.C. approach for years, but it did not originate there, as it is a mnemonic used by AIDS educators in many English-speaking countries.

What's really galling, though, is that while Bush was saying one thing, however weakly, his administration is doing something very different, and very dangerous.

An LA Weekly article on proposed new CDC regulations points out that they

"...require the censoring of any “content” — including “pamphlets, brochures, fliers, curricula,” “audiovisual materials” and “pictorials (for example, posters and similar educational materials using photographs, slides, drawings or paintings),” as well as “advertising” and Web-based info. They require all such “content” to eliminate anything even vaguely “sexually suggestive” or “obscene” — like teaching how to use a condom correctly by putting it on a dildo, or even a cucumber. And they demand that all such materials include information on the “lack of effectiveness of condom use” in preventing the spread of HIV and other STDs..."

It's literally lethal hypocrisy.

via Body And Soul, where Jeanne points out that you can register your opposition to the new regs (they're not slated to go into effect until August) by emailing the CDC at HIVComments@cdc.gov or via fax at 404-639-3125.

The lives you save may be many...