AIDS and new abolitionism

Christopher B. Hajib-Niles cniles at wanadoo.fr
Mon Dec 11 04:58:14 PST 2000



>Messsage du 08/12/2000 14:06
>De : <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
>A : <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
>Copie à :
>Objet : AIDS and new abolitionism
>
> So...
>
> I'm quite disappointed that this discussion on HIV and AIDS has cut short
> the discussion on new abolitionism

i'm glad that you found the discussion useful. i did not mean for the discussion to get cut short. but everyone--well, many--on this list lost their heads over my comments about HIV and AIDS. interestingly, the pattern for both conversations seemed the same: i make a seemingly bodacious comment, some folk respond intelligently, more with one degree or another of reactionary vile, then the subject changes (not that i mind that except the essential arguments were either evaded or quickly, and arrogantly, dismissed without much explanation as to why).
>
for obvious reasons (no one likes to have the finger pointed at them directly, no matter how justified), white leftist, including some on this list, would rather engage in vague chatter about "racist" then have a direct and forthright discussion about the problem of being white and what that has to do with intellectutal interpretation, political strategy, etc.

but frankly, i am somewhat surprised that more people on this list don't fall into the "AIDS dissenter" category. AIDS "science" is rather obviously fucked up, much more about casual assumptions, ambition, skewed research priorities, censorship, fear, research myopia, political expediency, profits and straight-up dishonesty than science done with a healthy dollop of skeptecism and an open mind. in fact, given the realities of the political and social economy, i would almost go as far to ask how could it be anything else?

for those who are interested in excellent AIDS dissent literature, try Joan Shenton's "positively false: exposing the myths around HIV and AIDS." it is well written and conprehensive. Shenton has also produced several excellent documentaries on AIDS in england, mostly for channel 4 (i believe).

for those who wanna struggle over or chat about the political economy, etc., of white folk san juvenile vituperative, i'm more than happy to do it. those of you who don't or can't, just put me on your automatic delete list.

chris niles



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