According to the story on CNN.com:
HIV-infected Africans shouted down an American official Friday when she tried to defend the U.S. contribution to the fight against AIDS at a conference in Kenya.I find it interesting that not only would they like our help combating their AIDS problem, not only do they request that we help combat their AIDS problem, they demand that we solve their AIDS problem for them.
In their second protest at the week-long gathering, the activists from across Africa stood up and walked toward the podium, waving placards and whistling and jeering at Leslie Rowe, a diplomat from the U.S. embassy in Nairobi.
With the slogans "Aids treatment now!" and "Generic drugs now!" emblazoned on placards, they got up from their seats in an auditorium, panicking organizers at the closing ceremony.
Leaving aside, for a moment, the simple biological facts of how this epidemic came to ravage Africa in the first place (though I'll give you a hint: it wasn't through blood transfusions), any compassionate person would grieve for the families and the children who have been chewed up by this epidemic. But my question is, how is it that they expect the United States to solve the problem for them? Even if we, as a nation, decide that we should be extending a hand (which we have), doesn't it take some chutzpah to start complaining about the nature of the handout? It's as though Jerry's Kids showed up at his estate every Labor Day, kicked in the door, and said "Get off the couch, fatso! You owe us a cure!"
Here's my idea, Kenya. No. How does that sound? Solve it yourself. In fact, we demand that you get to work right now on solving our heart disease epidemic. We haven't seen one cent from you in all these years we've been struggling with it. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are dying every single year of heart disease, but the Kenyan government and people won't lift a finger to help.
It sounds a little odd when the attitudinal shoe is placed on the other foot, doesn't it?
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