Silence is Slavery.

There are two competing forces driving human behaviour, fear and love.
Fear usually wins the day.
The whole phenomenon of the worldwide Herpes Pandemic- possibliy the
largest Pandemic in world history, is a legacy of fear and shame.
Future historians will probably be aghast as to how a relatively minor
sexually transmitted skin disease produced so much emotional and
cultural damage.

Fear is everywhere with Herpes it seems. Most people are afraid to even
be tested for Herpes. Most don't want to know if they have it or not
even though it means risking spreading it unknowingly to their lovers,
children and other intimate contacts.

Too many people who know they have Herpes are afraid to warn their
lovers about it for the fear of rejection. This sad legacy seems to
apply more to men than women. Young men are particularly irresponsible
and callous when it comes to not admitting their Herpes status.

Most people with Herpes are afraid to tell their friends and families
about it even though it re-inforces a wall of shame and silence which
means they are not educating those around them about the risks of
getting Herpes nor are they empowering others who may see them as a
role model to come of the Herpes closet as well.

No celebrity will admit to the press that they have Herpes and serve as
a spokesperson for the disease, neither will any famous athlete or
politician or clergyman/woman.

No Porn Stars will admit they have Herpes. The Porn industry does not
even test for it.  Most in the BD/SM and Swinger communities will not
warn their play partners about their Herpes status. Prostitutes do not
warn their clients about their Herpes infections.

People with Herpes have been too afraid to start charities to raise
money for and awareness of Herpes prevention, research and treatment.

In all this fear where is the love? Where is the courage? Where is the
integrity?

If you truly love yourself, how would you act? Would you allow faceless
others to make you feel ashamed?
Would you hide away in some dark corner of the room while the Herpes
house is burning down or would you mobilize yourself and be counted in
the number of people who did something about this massive public health
issue?

If you truly love others, what would you do? Would you care enough
about others to reach out and teach them about Herpes and help dispell
this useless and ignoble stigma?

This is a call to action.

I am personally calling you out.

When all is said and done how will you be counted? As part of the
solution or part of the problem?

The slogan for AIDS awareness is "Silence=Death".

My slogan for the worldwide Herpes pandemic is "Silence is Slavery".

Don't let Herpes make you into a victim.

Don't let Herpes make you into a slave.

Christopher Scipio