Quoting:
They're only going to put this character on the South African version of "Sesame Street" and even if they weren't, I still think it's a great idea to have an HIV positive muppet. Children should know about this disease so they can be compassionate when they actually meet people with HIV or AIDS. Like cricket said, it's about time people stop being so scared of this disease and face the facts that it's here to stay until they find a cure.
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I don't really think a person should be compassionate when they meat a person with aids, I think they should be indiferent.

Quoting:
Why not just teach kids to be nice and have manners to everyone, regardless of disease/abilities/looks, etc.?  Why only worry about 1 thing?
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Very, very nicely said! I don't have a problem with teaching children compassion, but it should be for all people.

Quoting:
My cousin died of AIDS in 1994...and by the time he was at the end no one would have anything to do with him ...afraid they would catch it...that is just not right....you still shake hands with people with cancer or diabetes or are physically handicapped without fear...we have to teach our kids that you can do the same to someone with HIV...not everyone that has it got it "on purpose"...it does happen when you least expect it!!!!
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I'm sorry about your cousin, I don't believe anyone who has aids got it "on purpose" although most (not all), have gotten it by praticipating in situations that put them at risk.

Quoting:


I'm sorry about your cousin, I don't believe anyone who has aids got it "on purpose" although most (not all), have gotten it by praticipating in situations that put them at risk.
End Quote

and he did get it that way....but lots of people don't....there was a minister in Little Rock (Baptist btw) that got AIDS during an open heart surgery in the 80's and was in his late 60's when he died a few years ago...but while some of his congregation accepted him..many turned away..that is just wrong to me....nothing is worth losing your diginty over..no matter what it is!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quoting:


and he did get it that way....but lots of people don't....there was a minister in Little Rock (Baptist btw) that got AIDS during an open heart surgery in the 80's and was in his late 60's when he died a few years ago...but while some of his congregation accepted him..many turned away..that is just wrong to me....nothing is worth losing your diginty over..no matter what it is!!!!!!!!!!!!
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That is wrong that some in his congregation wouldn't except him, Not very "Christian" If you ask me.  I gues the screening process wasn't as good in the late 80's as it is today. Although I'm sure stuff Like this still Happens now.  Still the number of people that have HIV that put themselfs at risk far excedes the number that get it and have never put themselfs at risk.

Quoting:
I think it is a good idea.  AIDS has a huge stigma to go along with it.  Even though we have know about the disease for years...people still think AIDS only strikes homosexuals or drug abusers.  People don't look at someone with Cancer or in a wheelchair and think that it must have been something they did.  Those diseases don't have the same stigma.  I am not saying that they aren't as bad, just more understood (as in it is a sickness, not caused by behavior for the most part) by the general public.  
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I think that is a real good point, dagwood.  It can't hurt for kids to learn that even a disease as horrible as HIV/AIDS doesn't make anyone, I don't know, "untouchable" somehow.

Now, when I first read this, I was a bit taken back.  But, the more I thought about it, knowing how many people are infected with HIV, and that a lot of kids are going to know someone with it, I, for one, would HATE to think my kids are being taught or told only the negative things about people with the disease.  There is still a lot of stigma attached to HIV--that it is ONLY caught by homosexual and/or promiscuous people that "deserve" to have it.  I'm not denying that many people that catch it have put themselves at risk.  But we all do things from time to time, I'm sure, that put us at risk for something.  Smoking.  Overeating. Undereating.  Driving too fast.  Drinking excessively.  Having sex without protection.  Just think about that for a minute--now, would the thought of some that HIV positive people deserve to die still sound so cut and dried??

I don't know--maybe I'm crazy.  But, the point here to me is that Sesame Street has never shyed away from informing kids about "the truth"..remember when Mr. Hooper died?  No, he didn't move away, he didn't get a new job, he died.  Personally, though I don't watch Sesame Street anymore, I've gotta give them credit for being willing to take on the true "bummers" of the world and putting it to our kids in a way that will teach them something about it, and that will, hopefully, still teach them about compassion.

Okay, I'm done.   :)

Quoting:
All this support for the idea denies 2 true things:  a) there are already TONS of "positive" viewpoints on AIDS in all kinds of media, ie the impression of it as the only disease so worthy of both coverage and infinite amounts of compassion; I'm talking in movies, shows, newspapers, everywhere.  (Please tell me where there is any media "negative" "stigma" for the last 15 years.)  
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While I am willing to "agree to disagree", and fully expect people to do so with me, I will say this.
No one, I feel, is "denying" anything, true or not.  We all know how HIV is passed around.  All that is being said is that a long running children's program is ready to address it, at least somewhat, with the current generation of children.  And as far as "negative stigma" in the last 15 years...I, for one, wasn't even that aware of the disease 10 years ago.  In our town, at least, it was a small postscript to STD's.  Maybe that makes us too small town, not "in touch" with the rest of the land..maybe it's because I wasn't sleeping around or doing drugs that could put myself at risk enough to worry about it...
but I don't think so.  I DO believe there has been negative connotations with HIV in that period of time.  I sure don't remember "Philadelphia", released only 9 years ago, being "all positive".   ::)  And furthermore, even if you can find positive viewpoints "all over"--I sure haven't heard about it for kids, which is who Sesame Street is aimed at, and I think that is all that the people who are "supporting the idea" are talking about.
That's all.   :)

Quoting:


I haven't heard of too many people "shunning" someone because they think they might be gay since they have AIDS.  It's because they're afraid of getting it.
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Okay. First I must admit, as many here know, I get very very adamant about things that affect me personally, especially when I suspect the person making the statement has no first-hand knowledge of the issue.

EXCUSE ME? Oh yeah, I see how "shunned" Magic Johnson is. Yeah. Boy, he gets treated EXACTLY the way all, what, ten, twelve of my gay friends who have died of the disease were. And a couple of them had the finances he has, so that's not an excuse. Homosexuals are social lepers in most of this country and AIDS is one more excuse to keep them so. It is not a "gay" disease. But only gay victims are treated as pariahs.

People are still dying of this horrible disease, and sadly, one of the fastest growing segments of the population are HETEROSEXUAL CHILDREN BETWEEN 14 AND 19.

Also, it has been mentioned that this is being aimed specifically at Africa. WHERE THREE OUT OF TEN PEOPLE ARE HIV POSITIVE. It is killing their nation. They can't raise food. They can't get medication. If ANYTHING can help educate and inform these people and the world in general, then do it.

I am appalled at the idea that someone thinks there is "enough" education on this subject. It is still stigmatized and still rampant. That proves that it needs still more exposure.

Quoting:


People are still dying of this horrible disease, and sadly, one of the fastest growing segments of the population are HETEROSEXUAL CHILDREN BETWEEN 14 AND 19.

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This line is EXACTLY what I am talking about...HOW many children are born with the disease.....are they at fault that their parents used drugs or had un safe sex?...so these children should be locked away to die...without human touch and love of family and friends?... I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is time we get over it all...and embrace whatever life God gave us on this planet.....and all the many different people that we are...healthy or not....we are all equal..and should all be given a voice.....even if it is on some puppeted kids show!!!!

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This line is EXACTLY what I am talking about...HOW many children are born with the disease.....are they at fault that their parents used drugs or had un safe sex?...so these children should be locked away to die...without human touch and love of family and friends?... I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is time we get over it all...and embrace whatever life God gave us on this planet.....and all the many different people that we are...healthy or not....we are all equal..and should all be given a voice.....even if it is on some puppeted kids show!!!!
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Yup yup and amen, sistah. Stop the judgement and you stop most of the pain.

And what's even sadder is that most of these children, children, are contracting HIV via sex. The truth is, they are sexually active and if we don't educate them, they are going to die. As perverse as it may seem, yes, little people who watch Sesame Street DO need to know how to protect themselves. Welcome to the world.

Quoting:

I am appalled at the idea that someone thinks there is "enough" education on this subject. It is still stigmatized and still rampant. That proves that it needs still more exposure.
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I think there is enough aids education here in the US. Granted more couldn't hurt, but I think they do a fairly good job of covering the subject.  We had sex ed in fifth, seventh, and tenth grade, I remeber A majority of the class being on Aids.  We were always taught someone with AIDS is no different than you. Its just that certain situations have to be handled differently when your around an HIV positive person.

As for the people in Africa, they are contracting aids at an alarming rate, I believe Two reasons:

1. They are not as educated in preventing Aids as we are here in the states.

2. They don't practice safe sex as frequently as people do in the states.  

Our goverment spends millions of $ a year trying to help the South African Aids crisis, and it hasn't worked.  So after thinking about this a little more, it wouldn't be a bad Idea to have some Aids related media down there.  However I think Maybe they should be aiming this at the older "Saved by the Bell" crowd and not the younger sesame street crowd.

As far as the media is concerned, aids does get more coverage than other Illnesses. No matter how rediculous the coverage is.      

Quoting:
They should have Ernie and Bert do an AIDS skit.It would be funny at first but then at the end,it would be sad.How do you like this idea? -howard- 8)
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(coughs up her water and says sarcastically)

yeah, because aids is just so funny.  

(and back to normal)

there have been many good (and not so good) points made here, so i'm not going to bother trying to make one because it would be so similar to several already mentioned.  i will offer my opinion, though.  at first, i had mixed feelings about this topic.  but after reading the article and the posts here, i've decided that it's not a bad idea.  yes, the sesame street audience may be very young and may not understand hiv/aids, but the point is to help them BEGIN to understand that anyone can have or get aids and that people are people no matter what.

Quoting:
Come on, does that mean we should have characters w/every disease and handicap known on all these shows?  I keep hearing about how "good" it is, but I haven't seen anyone champion putting other fatally-diseased characters on shows too much.  Why is that?  Because AIDS is "more equal" than others, I suppose.  And it's not the same as cancer in more ways than 1 - not only does cancer kill many, many, many more than AIDS, but cancer is not "talked about" like AIDS has been - including w/mere children.

Why not just teach kids to be nice and have manners to everyone, regardless of disease/abilities/looks, etc.?  Why only worry about 1 thing?
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Ummm I would just like to point out....lets say instead of putting an aids character (lets Just say) and they decided to put a cancer patient instead......you would still complain that there are other diseases to be descussed about and I'm sure you would have mentiond aids in the first place. and about teaching kids to be nice to people who are differ. or have diseases.......you should not teach them not to be to be nice but to treat them like they would treat anyone else and no different.

Quoting:
HIV/AIDS is a terrible disease, there is no doubting that. However, Screwball is right in that you can do a lot of things to lessen your chances of getting it. It's not like cancer in that regard... sure, some people smoke three packs a day and get lung cancer, and that is preventable by not smoking, but there are so many other cancers that get people and there is really nothing they can do to prevent it.
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Oh yeah you mentioning other cancers on a aids subject is like me mentioning other countries on an American subjuct which you seem like to bring up.  :)

Quoting:
I think it's a bad idea to introduce this character in the U.S., which, I did read in the paper that they were going to do.  I have nothing against AIDS/HIV, I just think it's REALLY inappropriate for this age group (in the U.S.).  

Let kids (the ages that watch Sesame Street) be kids.  Isn't it true that kids today don't have the same freedom that we did?  They can't go trick or treating by themselves, door to door to sell cookies alone, walk to a friends house, or even home from school without fear.  Today, you can't let your kids out of your sight for a second.  

These little ones already worry about things they shouldn't have to.  Why throw something else into the mix?

There are other ways to teach diversity.  I don't imagine this idea will fly here.

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Exactly, the Aids muppet is definately not comming to the US, Congress already told PBS that if that muppet shows up here, they will cut PBS's funding.

Quoting:
Exactly, the Aids muppet is definately not comming to the US, Congress already told PBS that if that muppet shows up here, they will cut PBS's funding.
End Quote

Hold on a sec - are we talking political interference with a channel's editorial independence here?

I'm shocked!   :o

Phil

Quoting:

Hold on a sec - are we talking political interference with a channel's editorial independence here?

I'm shocked!   :o

Phil
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PBS - is a public broadcasting channel here in the US,  It's funded by the goverment w/contributions from corporations and "viewers like you".  So they wouldn't do anything to loose thier federal $.  Because they are funded by the government, they don't share the same freedoms as other networks.

Quoting:
Has Sesame Street (In The U.S.) ever had an episode regarding the dangers of drug use?


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What, you don't remember Colby the Crackhead and Junie the Junkie. They used to sit against Oscar's garbage can and shake... or was that just in Langdonland?

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PBS - is a public broadcasting channel here in the US,  It's funded by the goverment w/contributions from corporations and "viewers like you".  So they wouldn't do anything to loose thier federal $.  Because they are funded by the government, they don't share the same freedoms as other networks.
End Quote

Even so - the BBC is publicly funded here, but one whiff that the Government of the day is trying to influence content causes enormous brouhaha...

Phil

Quoting:
I think it's a bad idea to introduce this character in the U.S., which, I did read in the paper that they were going to do.  I have nothing against AIDS/HIV, I just think it's REALLY inappropriate for this age group (in the U.S.).  

Let kids (the ages that watch Sesame Street) be kids.  Isn't it true that kids today don't have the same freedom that we did?  They can't go trick or treating by themselves, door to door to sell cookies alone, walk to a friends house, or even home from school without fear.  Today, you can't let your kids out of your sight for a second.  

These little ones already worry about things they shouldn't have to.  Why throw something else into the mix?

There are other ways to teach diversity.  I don't imagine this idea will fly here.
End Quote

You are spot-on, cs.  It's inappropriate, and yes, can't we stop "adult-izing" little kids?  Lord knows they are too "adult" as it is.  Maybe their INNOCENCE and consequent "ignorance" will be the key to cutting out alot of the nonsense in the world.

And when I referred to "too much education" and "plenty of positive views", didn't I say (or imply) w/respect to MEDIA portrayals?  I didn't say the populace in general (although I believe your idea of "stigmatization" is exaggerated even there, as if people in general were monsters), I said it is their MEDIA - in every form - which promulgates the positive.  (Yes "Philadelphia" is positive if the gist of the story is that we should feel sorry for the victims, and that those who "oppose" in any way are cruel monsters.  BTW I've not seen it and I won't; I don't like modern movies much w/all their agenda.)

Again, what is wrong w/just teaching people to be nice?  That it should be applicable regardless?  And as opposed to "treated like anyone else" (like garbage, Alicia?  is that good)?

Quoting:
We're talking about AIDS, not other diseases/handicaps. I do agree with the_OlLine_Rebel though about being compassionate to everyone and it would be nice if parents taught their children that. Of course, you do have the ignorant people who will teach their children to be just like them, so they grow up fearful of everyone who is different. The reason they picked a muppet to be HIV positive is because HIV and AIDS are so rampant in South Africa, not because it's a disease that's popular with the media.
End Quote

Agreed.

Quoting:


I think that is a real good point, dagwood.  It can't hurt for kids to learn that even a disease as horrible as HIV/AIDS doesn't make anyone, I don't know, "untouchable" somehow.

Now, when I first read this, I was a bit taken back.  But, the more I thought about it, knowing how many people are infected with HIV, and that a lot of kids are going to know someone with it, I, for one, would HATE to think my kids are being taught or told only the negative things about people with the disease.  There is still a lot of stigma attached to HIV--that it is ONLY caught by homosexual and/or promiscuous people that "deserve" to have it.  I'm not denying that many people that catch it have put themselves at risk.  But we all do things from time to time, I'm sure, that put us at risk for something.  Smoking.  Overeating. Undereating.  Driving too fast.  Drinking excessively.  Having sex without protection.  Just think about that for a minute--now, would the thought of some that HIV positive people deserve to die still sound so cut and dried??

I don't know--maybe I'm crazy.  But, the point here to me is that Sesame Street has never shyed away from informing kids about "the truth"..remember when Mr. Hooper died?  No, he didn't move away, he didn't get a new job, he died.  Personally, though I don't watch Sesame Street anymore, I've gotta give them credit for being willing to take on the true "bummers" of the world and putting it to our kids in a way that will teach them something about it, and that will, hopefully, still teach them about compassion.

Okay, I'm done.   :)

End Quote

Agreed.

Quoting:

Also, it has been mentioned that this is being aimed specifically at Africa. WHERE THREE OUT OF TEN PEOPLE ARE HIV POSITIVE. It is killing their nation. They can't raise food. They can't get medication. If ANYTHING can help educate and inform these people and the world in general, then do it.

I am appalled at the idea that someone thinks there is "enough" education on this subject. It is still stigmatized and still rampant. That proves that it needs still more exposure.
End Quote

Agreed.

There's a rising fear here in the U.S. about the fact that there's a sense of complacency with carrying HIV/AIDS because the sufferers are able to live longer lives due to the new medications available and some actually think it's curable. With this False sense of secutity some people are not as worried about getting AIDS.

More exposure and education about the disease is in order.

Here's an article about the Warning Over AIDS Complacency:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1406000/1406793.stm

Quoting:
Ok I've kept my mouth shut long enough on this topic. My kids are too old now to watch Sesame Street but if they weren't, I would encourage them to watch it and to ask questions about the new "character" I think that it's really sad that the news had made such a big deal out of the addition of an HIV positive monster to the show. Would they have done the same for an African-Ameican monster or a blind monster? I knew about this from watching the national news last week. I think that it is important for the children who were the unlucky ones to be born with or contract this terrible disease to have someone that they can relate to. They didn't ask to have parents who for whatever reason has HIV/AIDS. They want to be "normal" kids just like everyone else. They didn't want to be ostracized by other children and parents who are convinced that it can be 'caught' if their children play with them. This monster should be just like every other monster and hopefully teach the children that watch this program that HIV can be lived with and maybe even teach some parents something too!!
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Agreed.

Quoting:

Exactly, the Aids muppet is definately not comming to the US, Congress already told PBS that if that muppet shows up here, they will cut PBS's funding.
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Source of information, please. ? ? ?

Quoting:

You are spot-on, cs.  It's inappropriate, and yes, can't we stop "adult-izing" little kids?  Lord knows they are too "adult" as it is.  Maybe their INNOCENCE and consequent "ignorance" will be the key to cutting out alot of the nonsense in the world. End Quote

Has that kind of logic helped ever before?

Quoting:


Source of information, please. ? ? ?
End Quote

Right here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57904,00.html

Quoting:


Right here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57904,00.html
End Quote

Thanks Screwball.

Quoting:
This isnt being shown here as of yet.But South Africa society wise is very much different.To those kids this is nothing new.Their best friends,aunts,uncles,moms,dads,sisters,brothers etc.could have aids and more than one of them.
This country has plenty of awful diseases.When you glorify one by showcasing it,it minimizes all others.Not only children,some adults too figure "well I know all about AIDS,so its safe to go near ppl like that or think about it or show some concern".The other diseases like cancer,diabetes,TB,MS,ALS,on and on ad infinitum, are minimized and discounted.Why should they care?It hasnt been on Sesame Street yet.
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I respectfully disagree with this point of view.

Quoting:

I respectfully disagree with this point of view.
End Quote

Yeah, me too. To say that we're "glorifying" any disease is simply an oxymoron. And, unlike many diseases, there are direct and tangible things people can do to prevent getting or spreading this illness, so education is vital. Literally vital.

Next, I think there's a big disagreement here on what exactly "protection" is where children are concerned. Some of us feel that to protect our children we should shield them from danger and fear as long as possible. Some of us feel we should teach them to deal with danger and fear as early as possible. Fortunately, I think we all agree that the ultimate goal is raising a generation to follow us that is as healthy and happy as possible. Yes?

Quoting:
This isnt being shown here as of yet.But South Africa society wise is very much different.To those kids this is nothing new.Their best friends,aunts,uncles,moms,dads,sisters,brothers etc.could have aids and more than one of them.
This country has plenty of awful diseases.When you glorify one by showcasing it,it minimizes all others.Not only children,some adults too figure "well I know all about AIDS,so its safe to go near ppl like that or think about it or show some concern".The other diseases like cancer,diabetes,TB,MS,ALS,on and on ad infinitum, are minimized and discounted.Why should they care?It hasnt been on Sesame Street yet.
End Quote

Just so you don't feel alone, I agree with ya.

Quoting:


Yeah, me too. To say that we're "glorifying" any disease is simply an oxymoron. And, unlike many diseases, there are direct and tangible things people can do to prevent getting or spreading this illness, so education is vital. Literally vital.

Next, I think there's a big disagreement here on what exactly "protection" is where children are concerned. Some of us feel that to protect our children we should shield them from danger and fear as long as possible. Some of us feel we should teach them to deal with danger and fear as early as possible. Fortunately, I think we all agree that the ultimate goal is raising a generation to follow us that is as healthy and happy as possible. Yes?
End Quote

Oh I agree with that....I just meant all illness should be treated equally.I think though that "early as possible" Has a lot to do with whether the child understands what it means :)
I certainly dont live disease free,and I wouldnt wish it on anyone else.
I was not saying any disease is glorious.It was meant in the context as to be singled out and made more important than any other.