BNASAA - HIV/AIDS

BNASAA

HIV / AIDS

The Universal House of Justice was saddened to receive your letter of 21 September 1993 conveying the fact that you have been diagnosed as having AIDS. It has asked that we commend the manner in which you have confronted this test in your life and your motivation to use the experience as a means to assist other Bahá'ís in dealing with homosexuality and AIDS. You are encouraged to offer your services to your National Spiritual Assembly in order that it may provide any guidance to you it deems appropriate in your proposed plan to assist others in the community in coping with these afflictions. You are assured of the prayers of the Universal House of Justice in the Holy Shrines for the realization of your aspirations to serve the Cause, and for the comfort of yourself and others who are afflicted with AIDS.

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 14 October 1993)

Your email of 18 September 1998 inquiring about the issue of condom use, as specifically related to health issues, has been received, and we are to provide the following reply.

Some years ago a Local Spiritual Assembly inquired as to the position Bahá'í institutions should take in respect of a campaign initiated in its country urging people to use condoms to assist in combating the spread of the HIV virus. The advice of the Universal House of Justice, as conveyed in our letter dated 11 January 1994 to that country's National Spiritual Assembly, seems relevant to your own inquiry:

Sooner or later Bahá'í institutions will be asked to determine their attitude towards this campaign and, therefore, it would be appropriate for the National Spiritual Assembly to write a letter to the Local Assemblies under its jurisdiction pointing out that as Bahá'ís we are urged to uphold chastity, which means that sexual relationships of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible. Before marriage one should control one's carnal impulses and lead an unsullied chaste sex life. After marriage, one should be faithful to one's chosen companion. Sexual intercourse is permissible only between a man and the woman who is his wife.

In this age of transition Bahá'ís must uphold Bahá'í standards, no matter how difficult this may seem, and however challenging it may be to convince others to follow such a course of upright conduct.

As to the government campaign urging the people to use condoms as a method of combating the spread of the HIV virus, Bahá'ís on the one hand see the importance of leading a chaste life as the proper and right way to meet the crisis, and of the need to educate the population in one of the fundamental requirements of the development of the individual and the welfare of society. Yet, on the other hand, they also see that the nation is facing an emergency, and any drastic method, even if found to be wanting, should be supported by them as a necessary measure to arrest the spread of a disease which threatens the very existence of the nation.

Such a letter issued by the National Spiritual Assembly will not only help the Bahá'ís in their own understanding of the issues involved, but can also serve as a statement which can be shared with the government and the public if they inquire about the Bahá'í position on the current campaign.

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 13 October 1998)

Statement on HIV/AIDS and Gender Equality

Transforming Attitudes and Behaviours

The relationship between the AIDS pandemic and gender inequality is gaining recognition globally. New HIV/AIDS infections are now increasing faster among women and girls than among males; therefore, last year half of all new cases occurred in females. At the recent 45th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where HIV/AIDS was one of the main thematic issues, the complexity of the challenges in addressing the issue were underscored by the undeniable association of AIDS with such an intractable problem as sexism. There is no denying the importance of research, education and cooperation among governments and civil society. However, awareness is growing that a profound change of attitude--personal, political, and social--will be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and ensure assistance to those already infected and affected. This statement will focus on two of the more significant populations who need to be represented in these global discussions: men, because of the control they have traditionally exercised over women's lives; and faith communities, because of the power they have to influence the hearts and minds of their adherents.

In order to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS among women, concrete changes need to occur in the sexual attitudes and behaviour of both men and women, but especially men. Fallacious notions about the naturally voracious sexual appetites of men must be addressed. The real consequences to women--and men--of the practice of satisfying one's sexual desires outside of marriage must be fully understood. Educating women and girls is critically important, but the current power imbalance between men and women can prevent a woman from acting in her own interest. Indeed, experience has shown that educating women without educating the men in their lives may put the women at greater risk of violence. Efforts are needed, therefore, to educate both boys and girls to respect themselves and one another. A culture of mutual respect will improve not only the self-esteem of women and girls, but the self-esteem of men and boys as well, which will lead toward more responsible sexual behaviour.

The denial of equality to women not only promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that affect their families, the workplace, political decisions and international relations; it also contributes substantially to the spread of HIV/AIDS and retards the progress of society. Notice how culturally accepted social inequalities conspire with economic vulnerability to leave women and girls with little or no power to reject unwanted or unsafe sex. Yet, once infected with HIV/AIDS, women are often stigmatised as the source of the disease and persecuted, sometimes violently. Meanwhile, the burden of caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and for children orphaned by the disease falls predominantly on women. Traditional gender roles that have gone unquestioned for generations must now be re-examined in the light of justice and compassion. Ultimately, nothing short of a spiritual transformation will move men--and women--to forego the behaviours that contribute to the spread of AIDS. Such a transformation is as important for men as it is for women, because "As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs"1.

Because the cultivation of humanity's noble, spiritual core has always been the province of religion, religious communities can play an important role in bringing about the change of heart and the consequent change in behaviours that will make possible an effective response to the AIDS crisis.

The leaders of faith communities are especially equipped to address the moral dimension of the AIDS crisis both in terms of its prevention and its treatment. The spread of HIV/AIDS would be significantly reduced if individuals were taught to respect the sanctity of the family by practicing abstinence before marriage and fidelity to one's spouse while married, as underscored in most faith traditions.

Religious leaders and people of faith are also called to respond with love and compassion to the intense personal suffering of those either directly or indirectly affected by the AIDS crisis. However, a tendency on the part of society as a whole to judge and blame those afflicted has, since the onset of this disease, stifled compassion for its victims. The subsequent stigmatisation of individuals thus afflicted with HIV/AIDS has fostered a profound reluctance on the part of infected individuals to seek treatment and of societies to change cultural attitudes and practices necessary for the prevention and treatment of the disease. Such judgments can be particularly pronounced in religious communities struggling to uphold a high standard of personal conduct. One of the seeming paradoxes of faith is the individual obligation of believers to adhere to a high standard of personal conduct while loving and caring for those who fall short--for whatever reason--of that same standard. What is often forgotten is that "moral conduct" includes not only personal restraint but compassion and humility as well. Faith communities will need to strive continually to rid themselves of judgmental attitudes so that they can exert the kind of moral leadership that encourages personal responsibility, love for one another, and the courage to protect vulnerable groups in society.

We see signs of hope in increased interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Among faith communities there is a growing recognition that, as Bahá'u'lláh states, "the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God". It is, indeed, the transcendent nature of the human spirit, as it reaches toward that invisible, unknowable Essence called God, which galvanizes and refines mankind's capacity to achieve the spiritual progress that translates into social progress. As dialogue, cooperation and respect among religious communities increase, cultural and religious practices and traditions that discriminate against women, no matter how entrenched, will gradually give way. This will be an essential step toward retarding the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Indeed, it is in the recognition of the oneness of the human family that hearts will soften, minds will open, and the attitudes of men and women will be transformed. It is out of that transformation that a coherent, compassionate and rational response to the worldwide HIV/AIDS crisis will be made possible.

1. Bahá'í Writings

BAHÁ'Í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Prepared for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS
New York, U.S.A.

25-27 June 2001

Guide to AIDS & HIV Infection

AIDS (which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a very frightening subject for many people. Part of the fear comes from not understanding or misunderstanding a lot of the information about this condition. That’s not surprising because so much of the information is confusing. To cut through some of the confusion, we will provide the facts in simple, straightforward language.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the organism that leads to the condition we call AIDS. It does this by attacking and damaging the body’s immune and nervous systems. The nervous system controls our movements (including the beating of our hearts and the pumping of our lungs) and the immune system fights off infections and diseases. Once someone becomes infected with HIV, the virus slowly destroys the immune system so the body cannot fight off even mild problems and the person is likely to get many different diseases. When the virus progresses to the point where the infected person is very sick, we call this AIDS.

There is no cure for HIV yet, but scientists hope to find one or to develop a vaccine that will protect people from HIV in the same way that measles vaccine prevents a person from getting measles. In the meantime, our only defence is prevention.

How does a person get infected?

HIV is passed from person to person through body fluids. A person catches the virus in the following ways:

By sexual contact with an infected person

By sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected

From tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture with unsterilized needles

A mother can pass the infection to her baby during the pregnancy, at the time of birth or through breast feeding

Health-care workers have become infected after being stuck with a needle containing HIV infected blood or after having an open cut come in contact with infected blood. Less commonly, HIV has been transmitted when infected blood comes in contact with mucus membranes of the eyes or nose.

Since November 1985, all blood products in Canada have been tested for HIV, so infection from blood transfusions has become rare.

A person cannot get infected by:

Casual contact with an infected person (such as shaking hands)
Hugging and kissing
Being coughed or sneezed on
Donating blood
Swimming in a pool
Sitting on a toilet seat
Sharing bed linens, eating utensils or food
From insect or animal bites

Testing for HIV infection

Once a person has been exposed to HIV, the body begins to produce antibodies to try to fight off the virus. A blood test will tell if someone has these antibodies. If so, it means that the person has come in contact with the virus and has been infected. However, it can take up to six months after the infection for the antibodies to show up in the blood, so a negative test result doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is in the clear. Remember, the test only tells whether someone has been infected with the virus; it does not mean that the person has AIDS.

The HIV test should always include counselling to help people understand the results, how to protect their own health, and how to keep from spreading the infection.

People who are HIV-positive (that is, people who have been infected with the virus) may look and feel well for years. Even during this time though, they can pass the virus to others.

Preventing an HIV infection

The best way to make sure you don’t get the virus is to avoid those things that put you at risk of coming in contact with it. Here are some tips:

Sex: The only sure way to prevent HIV infection from sex is not to have any. The next best thing is to have sex only with a long-time (several years) partner who is not infected and who is not having sex with anyone else.

In all other circumstances, you can reduce your risk of getting HIV by using a latex condom. When one of the partners is allergic to latex, two condoms can be used – one latex and one made of nature membrane. If the male is allergic to latex, he should put the natural condom on next to his skin and the latex condom on top of it. When the female is allergic to latex, the man should put the latex condom on first and cover it with one made of natural membrane. Using a natural membrane condom along may not protect you because the tiny HIV virus can pass through the pores in the natural membrane.

If you use a lubricant with a latex condom, make sure it is a water-based product, because oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly) weaken the latex and may cause the condom to break.

Needles: Obviously, injecting illegal drugs into your body is not a healthy thing to do, but sharing needles increases your risk of getting a disease. The best way to avoid becoming infected with any virus, including HIV, is just not to share needles or syringes. Many communities have needle exchange programs that trade new needles for old ones. Speak to your pharmacist to find out if your community participates in such a program. If such a program is not available in your area, you can reduce your risk by rinsing your needles twice in water, then twice in bleach for at least 30 seconds, then twice in water again.

Childbirth: A woman who is infected with HIV can lessen the chances of passing it to her baby by taking a drug call zidovidune (AZT) during pregnancy, labour and delivery and by giving AZT to her baby for the first six weeks after its birth.

Treating HIV & AIDS

At the heart of HIV treatment is a method called HAART, which stands for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. It is an intensive treatment that requires a lot of cooperation and active participation by the patient. To work successfully, the very potent, very active anti-HIV drugs must be taken according to very specific schedules and often must be coordinated with what food is eaten and when it is eaten. If the drugs aren’t taken in exactly the right way, the virus may become resistant to the drugs and, in fact, to other drugs that might be tried in the future.

There are several different types of drugs used to treat HIV infection and they all work by interfering with the virus’s ability to reproduce itself. This may slow the spread 9f HIV in the body and lengthen the time before other diseases appear, but it will not prevent the spread of HIV to other people. Because HIV can become resistant to the drugs, many doctors use a combination of several drugs to decrease the amount of the virus in the blood.

A new drug designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to fight HIV infection, the Salk HIV vaccine, is currently being studied. It is a therapeutic vaccine, which means it helps the body fight the infection, but it does not prevent infection the way the measles vaccine does. Researchers are also studying several other treatment options that they hope will eventually lead to a cure.

Caring for an infected person

If you are caring for someone with HIV or AIDS, it is important for you to take care of your own health for two very important reasons:

Germs that may cause only minor sickness in you can have very serious consequences if transmitted to someone with a weakened immune system.

Staying healthy will give you the strength to care for someone who is likely to get sicker as time goes by. Make sure you eat a healthy diet, exercise and get enough rest. If you live with the person you are caring for, try to take time for yourself. This will help reduce stress and burnout.

Here are some other tips that will help.

Cook or peel all fruits and vegetables including organic ones because the germs on their skins can cause illness.

A person with HIV should not eat uncooked meat or fish, raw eggs, unpasteurized milk or organic lettuce.

Wearing rubber gloves, wet mop the floors with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water at least once a week and flush the dirty water down the toilet.

Never share a razor or toothbrush with someone who has HIV.

Wet garbage such as diapers, bandages and menstrual pads should be put into plastic bags to prevent leakage.

When handling needs, hold the sharp end away from your body. Put used needles in a sturdy plastic container that has a lid (not glass because it may break), and give it to your health care professional for safe disposal. Some municipalities have programs for the proper disposal of needles; ask your local health department if such a program is available in your area.

If you do stick yourself with a needle, don’t panic. Put the needle in the needle container. Wash the place where you were stuck for at least 15 minutes using warm, soapy water. Then call your doctor or clinic, explain what happened, and ask what to do next.

For more information

If you have any questions about HIV infection or AIDS, your pharmacist is always available to help you. Other good sources of information are:

Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research

165 University Ave., Suite 901

Toronto, ON M5H 3B8

Phone: (416) 361-6281

Toll free: 1-800-563-2873

Fax (416) 361-5736

Website: www.canfar.com

Canadian National AIDS Clearinghouse

1565 Carling Ave., Suite 400

Ottawa, ON K1Z 8R1

Phone (613) 725-3769

Toll free: 1-800-874-2572

Fax: 1-800-874-2572

Fax: (613) 725-9826

Website: www.cpha.ca

This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your doctor. There may be variations in treatment that your doctor may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

This document is based on a pamphlet prepared by Shoppers Drug Mart® www.shoppersdrugmart.ca

Guilty Victims: A Bahá’í Living with AIDS

By Marc Holcomb

As a “guilty victim” of AIDS, it has been painful to recall specific incidents of victimization or discrimination. I could discuss people who have called themselves my friends and who no longer call or visit since learning of my illness. I could describe how it feels to watch someone else’s eyes as they look at me and slowly realize with horror that I have AIDS. Finally, I could write about families who refuse to touch a dish that I have brought to a family picnic because the food was prepared with my own hands.

But while these experiences cut, some more deeply than others, they are not my problem. It will not be me who answers to God for these acts of unkindness. I will, instead, be judged on my response. I would like to write about the homophobia I had internalized and the sense of guilt that I had felt, first, for being gay and, secondly, because I have AIDS.

I have been a Bahá'í for most of my adult life and I have been gay even longer. I give myself the label of “gay” not because I believe it adequately defines me, but because society insists that I am gay due to my life experiences. “Gay” is a convenient label for this venue even though it carries with it meanings that do not apply to me. I prefer to define myself primarily as a spiritual being and by my Faith.

Then I became a Bahá’í; my Faith became the most important thing in my life. In order to protect myself from condemnation, I fine-tuned the coexistence of my two selves. When I became a Bahá'í, I was told immediately that I could not reveal my homosexuality without jeopardizing my membership. And so, while I knew many gay Bahá'ís, most of us lived as two people. Whatever guilt or shame I felt before I became a Bahá'í intensified a thousand-fold after nearly twenty years of pretending to be a child of God and someone loved by Him.

At the point when I was ready to give up on the struggle, to give in to my label, I was diagnosed with AIDS. As much as I thought about acquiring AIDS before my diagnosis, as much as I figured if anyone deserved to have AIDS it was me, when my fears became reality, I still managed to feel more ashamed than I have ever felt in my life.

But ironically, almost immediately after my diagnosis I discovered that I did not care about the ramifications of this world knowing that I have AIDS. Having been ready to give in to the label, I instead gave in to my Faith. Quite suddenly I became secure in my love for Bahá'u'lláh. I accepted myself as a child of God and as someone loved by Him. I refused to struggle and die alone. Too many of my friends had done so already. Once I realized this, I saw no option except to be honest and to allow the Bahá'ís the opportunity to join me on this journey.

There exists in the Bahá'í community a lot of ignorance about AIDS and about homosexuality. The two are not the same: one does not necessarily follow the other. To make that assumption is nothing more than a bigoted judgment. Bahá'u'lláh strongly condemns prejudice and discrimination against anyone. Bahá'ís work very hard to eliminate discrimination between the races of mankind. We work hard to demonstrate the equality of women and men. A careful review of the sacred Writings reveals that prejudice against anyone is condemned and while the abysmal state of race relations in this country continues to be the most pressing issue, we can not fully be Bahá'ís if we harbor prejudice against any segment of society nor if we perpetuate the discrimination of those groups.

With AIDS, we have accepted the general perception of western culture that it is a gay disease. We forget that in the rest of the world AIDS has a different face. We forget also that Bahá'u'lláh has revealed His truth for all of mankind, especially those of us forced to the fringes of society by prejudice and bigotry. We must begin the process of acceptance so that others will not be similarly forced into a dual existence, an existence that puts them at risk of infection; so that others will not be forced into a life of needless pain, guilt and self-loathing that holds them back from their spiritual reality and the rewards of a life given in sacrifice to the service of mankind.

It is difficult to be a Bahá'í and gay. I am committed to the laws of my religion that prohibit homosexual behavior. I am committed to trying to understand what this means to someone like me. The predominant thought current in our culture is to accept a gay life-style and to condemn the religions that would prohibit it. I have accepted that God is All-Knowing and so I must believe that there are reasons for this prohibition in the Bahá'í Faith. I also think that there is too much about homosexuality that we do not understand. Somewhere between God's law and our ignorance, I must find a place to exist. I think I have found it, actually, but it is not a popular place to be. God never said life on this planet was easy.

It has been difficult for me to pull these thoughts together, so afraid have I been of painting my beloved Bahá'í community in a bad light. Much of my trepidation through the years was out of the fear of reprisal after years of conditioning. I will never know how my community would have reacted because I never before gave them the opportunity.

It took a long time for me to convince myself that the presentation of fact is something different from the passing of judgment. I do not judge my community. I say only that the time to act is overdue. It is time to draw on our strength, our infinite capacity for compassion.

We must move forward.

Author: Marc Holcomb

The ideas and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author.

The document has been reviewed to be consistent with BNASAA

guidelines, but the ideas expressed do not necessarily reflect the

opinions or thinking of the BNASAA Coordinating Committee.

The Journey through AIDS

How does AIDS, personally, affect you?

I've been very blessed in my life. God has granted me the bounty of loving and being loved by some incredibly beautiful souls. A number of the amazing people in my life have died of AIDS. A number are living with HIV. So, whether I'm personally HIV positive or HIV negative, I am a person who is living with AIDS.

I pray every day that I can do something about AIDS. If I can't find a cure, then hopefully I can help end the confusion AIDS often brings with it, or prevent some of the suffering it often brings. Or perhaps there's something else I can do. I spent nine days in Haifa praying at the Shrines for a cure. I pray for my friends every night. And one thing I've learned through all this is that prayer should involve listening to God as well as talking to Him. And I've learned that I stress out if I don't leave things to God, which doesn't mean I don't take action, but does mean that I can not let myself forget Who the Divine Physician is.

There's no doubt about it: AIDS offers us seemingly innumerable challenges. Challenges, which as we Bahá'ís know, are incredible opportunities for growth and advancement to the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. God promises us, promises, that He will "never cause tribulations to befall any soul unless" He desires "to exalt his station in" His "celestial Paradise." (Bahá'í Prayers, p. 194)

This pandemic is helping bring humility into focus for those affected. For we are not in control, and often don't have the answers we feel we need. This gives us an opportunity to say to God, "I lay all my affairs in Thy hand," (Bahá'í Prayers, p. 152) and examine the true meaning of those words.

Along with the challenges that AIDS sets in front of our faces are some incredible opportunities and some perhaps surprising insights.

But the challenges, as well as the opportunities, are on so many different levels. Some, when you think about it, seem quite obvious. Others maybe less so.

The thing is, though, that a Bahá'í response to AIDS is simply a reflection of the Bahá'í response to life...to humanity. Approaching AIDS related issues, responding to people living with AIDS, responding to people affected by AIDS is an opportunity for us to be true Bahá’ís - in a microcosm. We need, though, to be able to expand this and respond to all of humanity, in every context, as true Bahá’ís.

When we look at the microcosm that AIDS brings to focus, we're seeing so much more than simply an opportunity to reach out to the sick. All of a sudden we're faced with the opportunity to educate, to be examples of patience, and, most importantly, to love. "AIDS brings into focus the interaction between individual responsibility and societal responsibility for ethical living." (Living with AIDS, Miriam E. Cameron, p. XVII)

When I look at how AIDS has affected the world I see many pieces to an enormously complex and often frustrating puzzle. First and foremost I see a need for love, which of course means an opportunity to love. A bittersweet piece of the puzzle, for sure.

Think about it, what's going to motivate someone more than love? Motivate them in physical reality...motivate them in spiritual reality. After all, "until love takes possession of the heart, no other divine bounty can be revealed in it." ('`Abdu'l-Bahá).

A 1994 time magazine article reported the findings of various scientific studies which concurred that "...love rests firmly on the foundations of evolution, biology and chemistry," and that love (Anastasia Toufexis, The Right Chemistry, Time Magazine, Feb. 1994). No wonder 'Abdu'l-Bahá exhorted us to "...order your lives with the first principle of divine teaching, which is love."

‘Abdu'l-Bahá's example of love and service leave us with no doubt that we must reach out to those in need, and that we need to be compassionate and giving. We, as Bahá’ís, are told to visit the sick. We, as lovers of Bahá'u'lláh, are told to love each other. It's not simply a Divine suggestion. It's a requirement, at least, that we try.

So, keeping that in mind, how should we respond to someone who says, as a fellow Bahá'í said to a friend of mine, "AIDS is God's way of dealing with the perverts."

Keeping in mind that "the path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion," (The Báb) I don't think that any swear word, which comes to mind, is an appropriate response. And avoiding that person isn't going to help them or you in any way. Loving that person, however, might just help them in their process of spiritual transformation.

We were created noble. Bahá'u'lláh tells us that. "Noble have I created thee..." (Hidden Words, p.22.) So that means that we must recognize not only our own nobility, but also the nobility of each person we encounter. If I recognize, truly recognize, my own nobility, then I can't treat others with anything less than respect. And if I recognize that everybody shares that nobility with me then it goes without saying that I should treat them as I would anyone in whom I see a reflection of my Lord, remembering that "every good habit, every noble quality belongs to a man's spiritual nature..." (Paris Talks, p.60.)

How do we react to someone who has said something as hurtful as that fellow Bahá'í did? Thankfully, Bahá'u'lláh gives us direct guidance. "...An enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility." (Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitáb-í-Aqdas, p.173.)

This is not always an easy task. But definitely something to keep in mind as we find ourselves faced with the prejudices and fears that AIDS often brings to the surface.

What would you say?

AIDS brings to mind the question, "what kind of person should I be in an unjust society?" (Cameron, p.30) Certainly we can't complacently believe and not take action. "Humanity, through suffering and turmoil, is swiftly moving on towards its destiny; if we be loiterers, if we fail to play our part surely others will be called upon to take up our task as ministers to the crying needs of the afflicted world." (Bahá'í Administration, p.66) If we don't do anything that would be like our saying to God, "Thanks but no thanks." So we have to play our part. We have to love. We have to recognize nobility. But we also have to be proactive.

In my reading various studies, papers, commentaries, and the like about AIDS and AIDS-related issues, I'm amazed at how directly the Bahá'í Faith seems to address this pandemic

How do the Bahá'í teachings on economics directly relate to the pandemic of AIDS?

In some countries, as many as 15% of the population is suspected to be HIV-positive. (Statistics are not accurate because of the many people who are not able or willing to be tested for the virus.) The economic impact of AIDS on these countries is staggering: "economic growth in Africa and Asia is being threatened by the spread of AIDS, cautions the International Food Policy Research Institute. A new study from the group claims that economies are being impaired under the influence of AIDS, because money that would otherwise be invested in education, agricultural research, and other areas is needed to pay for health care. Also, productivity is being lost because the disease claims workers in their prime. 'AIDS will worsen the poverty of poor people by depriving them of their only productive resource--their labor,’ the Institute predicted." (Futurist [01/97-02/97] Vol. 31, Economic Impacts of AIDS, p. 4) "The private sector should get involved because it's losing money. Banks in countries like Uganda are losing out because AIDS is killing so many of the middle managers on whom they have spent money training." (David Ljunggren, Reuters News, 11:48 07-09-96) There's also the cost of raising thousands of children orphaned because their parents have died of AIDS. Until a world economy is established, until we recognize our interdependence on one another, until the realization that the solution to the world's economic crises is spiritual in nature, AIDS will continue to be a major factor in the destruction of the world's economy.

Worldwide, AIDS is striking mainly "adolescents, young adults, and people in early middle age: The very people on whom society depends for production and reproduction. These are the men and women who raise the young and care for the old. As they die of AIDS, their elderly are left without support and their children become orphans." Those living with and dying from AIDS "are the ones who grow the crops, work in the mines and factories, run the schools and the hospitals, even govern the country. Largely because of lost productivity... Thailand, for example, has estimated that the AIDS epidemic will cost its economy close to US$ 11 billion by the year 2,000." (Statement by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Stockholm, 28 August, 1996.)

How do the Bahá'í Teachings on the equality of women and men directly relate to AIDS related issues?

A factor that is directly related to the current spread of AIDS, particularly in non-Western societies, is the non-recognition of the equality of men and women. Until the rights of women are recognized, until they are given a voice, until they are allowed an education, the pandemic will not end. Reuters news reported that "AIDS experts...called for a broad-based campaign to fight the disease, saying more effort should be made to give women in the developing world more control over their sexual and reproductive lives.

"AIDS rates are highest in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa where prostitution is rife and women are traditionally seen as their husbands' property." (Reuters as cited by the CDC Clearinghouse, 1997)

To quote the chief of the UN Population Fund's UN office: "If we do not do something about correcting the imbalances between men and women, then we will not solve the problem and could waste a lot of money.'' (Statement, Stockholm, 1996.)

How are the Bahá'í Teachings on universal education directly related to the AIDS pandemic?

Universal education, without a doubt, is also a key factor to ending the AIDS crisis. Until people become educated about basic health issues as well as HIV and AIDS, spread of the virus will not slow. Unfortunately, as a UNAIDS statement reports, "…in the name of morality, culture or religion young people are often denied their right to education about the health risks of sexual and other risk behaviour, and to important social skills, tools and services for protection." (UNAIDS Statement for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, Lisbon, Portugal, 8-12 August 1998) This gives us a clue into why "…of the 30 million people alive today with HIV infection or AIDS, at least 10 million are young people aged 10 - 24;" and why "every day an estimated 7,000 young people world-wide acquire the virus. Of these (new and old infections), 85% live in developing countries, which is where more than nine tenths of the epidemic is now concentrated." (Ibid.)

Education will also lead to greater productivity, whether in the home or in the workplace, which ultimately leads to greater self-assurance, which can only help foster the recognition of our own nobility.

What is going on now in the world seems, so often, to demonstrate our blindness to and even disregard of the possibility of our reality as noble beings. In some countries, for example, there is a belief that HIV- infected men can rid themselves of the virus if they have (unprotected) sex with someone who is uninfected. As a result, young children, even infants, are being raped, and of course, are becoming HIV-infected.

On a less severe level, but still very important, AIDS can wear down a person's self-confidence and feelings of self-worth. Often, because of fear of the disease, fear of death, or fear of rejection, or even feelings of shame, some living with AIDS isolate themselves from their family, friends, or community. All this at a time when precisely what one needs is to feel accepted and loved.

Scientific studies have proven that acts of love and kindness stimulate the immune system.

Seems to me that the Bahá'í Faith is in agreement with that. On a greater level, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá even states, "The body of the human world is sick...Its illumination and quickening is love."

I find it interesting that the Bahá'í Writings state, "Anybody can be happy in state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility." (Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 363-364)

So how do we foster the recognition and understanding of nobility: our own as well as that of those we encounter? Both on a spiritual level and in the physical realm, what do we need?

"What you need on this journey is an open heart. When our hearts are open we're able to see past (the) physical...into the beauty of another person's soul. We can listen between angry words and hear a cry for help and love. When our hearts are open we are able to receive, to learn, and to accept the gifts that are laid before us. An open heart is a channel for healing love..." (The Journey Through AIDS, Debra Jarvis, p. 27) But this journey of AIDS isn't only for those who are infected, and those who care for and about them. It's really a journey that all of us are affected by.

Now yes, AIDS tends to heighten people's fears of death. It also reminds us how precious life is, and gives us an opportunity to focus on the reality of the soul. And it gives us an opportunity to examine whether we are living life and facing death the way we should be. But should AIDS be our focus, even when we're living with it and affected by it - as some of us are - every moment of every day? Shouldn't our focus be on the Divine, not on the difficulties of this world? "If the Bahá’ís could evaluate their work properly they would see that whereas other forms of relief work are superficial in character, alleviating the sufferings and ills of man for a short time at best, the work they are doing is to lay the foundation of a new Spiritual Order in the world founded on the Word of God, operating according to the Laws he has laid down for this age. No one else can do this work except those who have fully recognized the meaning of the Message of Bahá'u'lláh...The Bahá'ís are building a refuge for mankind. This is their supreme, sacred task and they should devote every moment they can to this task." (Directives of the Guardian, p. 67)

As Bahá'ís we have great responsibilities. To carry out our responsibilities we need to sharpen our skills of understanding, attentiveness and compassion. Our vision needs to be clear.

People living with AIDS are far too often identified by this illness: People see the disease rather than the person. That has got to stop! We are all noble beings and must, absolutely must, recognize this in each other, and perhaps even learn to identify others by their nobility. At the same time, we cannot hesitate in our walking the spiritual plane with practical feet. There are special needs for individuals as well as communities who are infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS. And we, the Bahá'í community, are a microcosm so affected.

Author: K.S.