Guest Editorial: An Unspoken Epidemic - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Guest Editorial: An Unspoken Epidemic

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - No one likes talking about my subject today but it has reached epidemic proportions because of that very reason. Just because people are living longer with it does not mean it's over or that a cure has been found, it just means we've ignored it into oblivion.

AIDS is a major problem in the south but particularly here in Montgomery and southeast Alabama. The African American population makes up 26% of the State according to the latest numbers from 2007 but we are 49% of the known, yes I said KNOWN AIDS Cases. 

There are four things I encourage you to do TODAY, TOMORROW, or at some point in the next few weeks:

1) Get tested and find out if you are as safe as YOU think you are; 2) Stay safe by practicing SAFE SEX. That means abstinence, celibacy, or using the proper precautions if you are active so you can protect not only yourself but those you claim you love; 3) Be aware of what your teenage children are doing, where they are and who they are with. The Teen pregnancy rate and AIDS for that age group is also up and as parents we need to do something sooner rather than later; and finally 4) TALK about it and know what it is. It's the only way to be safe!

Rose McCall