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| Wisdom-Tool in the fight for HIV/AIDS |
6/10/2008 |
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Proverbs: 14 vs12- “ There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”.
Proverbs: 14 vs16-“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; but the fool rageth, and is confident”.
Men with the Robe (the clergy) have spoken from the pulpit (sermon on the mount), while others have counselled those within and outside their congregation that one of the error- proof methods of avoiding the contraction of the HIV/AIDS disease is sexual abstinence. But the die-hards still regarded such homilies as the ranting of the ant or an Apostle Paul of our time advocating for celibacy.
One thing worth noting is that-“We make our habits and our habits turn round and unmake us”.
This dreaded disease has been given names to portray its ravenous nature- hydra-headed monster or octopus, name it. It behoves us therefore, to adopt a multi-pronged approach to the fight if we expect any threshold of success. Thus, sexual abstinence is recommended to complement the tremendous efforts of the pharmacists and medical practitioners among other crusaders in the battlefield. If not for anything, at least, to severe some parts/heads of the octopus hoping that before it shoots out new outgrowths a cure might have been found.
The wages of sin is death
The wages of gin is debt
I also wish to add that,
The wages of AIDS is death also.
The maxim that prevention is better than cure is conspicuously applicable to the issue of seeking ways and means of tackling this endemic disease till a permanent cure is found.
Sexual promiscuity could metaphorically be likened to the butterflies perching from one flower to another and thrusting their probosces into the various anthers. Some regard it as testing which nectar is sweeter or exploring and exploiting the benefits of variety. It is a lot of fun when you observe these lovely creatures in their routine duty, especially in the horticultural gardens. They are simply playing their role in the nature’s ecosystem. However, when we consider the converse, like the biblical plague in the land of Egypt, such that the flowers’ anthers started producing poison in place of nectar. The fate of our butterflies, that beautiful insect family that artists and poets eulogised so much for their beauty would then join the group of endangered species in a short while. Of course, the butterfly that is able to keep to a plant that was not plagued has chances of survival. Time was when indiscriminate sexual behaviour, was associated with machismo. (Bodybuilding has displaced it on the scale). The HIV/AIDS has turned our hitherto nectar into poison with the result that such intrigue has turned into the poisoned nectar and next to suicide as the shortest way to answer the call from yonder/ agents of death. Even when the flowers’ anthers are not cursed, cross-pollination and the “inter-mix” or multiple sex relationships brings one to the proximity of those infected. Thus, the avoidance of the exchange of needles for the drug users, multiple sex-partnership etc, should be the beginning of wisdom and the first step of departure from evil.
It is of note that the African adage that a deaf fly always accompanies the corpse to the grave is still true today with respect to obstinacy in promiscuous sexual indulgence. The time for caution is now or it may be too late!
Addicts be it of sex, cigarettes or alcohol have proved difficult for ‘the men in robe’ whose duty included seeking and recovering the lost (sheep) and rejoicing when this task is fruitfully accomplished. It does not matter if is one in a hundred-1%.
There was this clergyman who was bothered and burdened by the high incidence of alcoholism among members of his congregation. He thus organised a seminar to enlighten them on and alert them of the inherent problems of alcoholism that ranged from health hazards, debts to family breakdown. In concluding the lecture at the seminar that was well attended by who is who in the ‘AA’ (alcohol anonymous) in his parish, he thought out a demonstration exercise to drive home his points.
The laboratory experiment went as follows: He brought two transparent glass bottles; one filled with Vodka/gin and the other with ordinary (H2O) water-as a control experiment. In the next step, he brought from a can, two live worms and dropped one into each of the bottles. After a few minutes, he raised the contents of the bottles to the public for affirmation. While the worm in the vodka solution was stone dead, the one in the water container was not only alive and kicking but also wiggling the ‘Shekirra’ musical rhythm. He was thumping his chest for having struck the Bingo with the outcome of the exercise, that is, emasculation of his audience. He asked the audience of preponderant alcohol anonymous, the lesson of his experiment? One of them was bold enough to respond to the clergyman “it showed that gin or whiskey kills/cures worms in our stomachs while water only nourishes them”.
This is to buttress the extent these addicts could go in justifying their actions and obsessive behaviours and why you should be your own best adviser and master. Since we were told the Satan quoted the bible though incorrectly. I have heard of those who said they could not go to the WC without a cigar as if they brought one pack of Benson and Hedges from their mother’s womb at birth. Those the gods want to kill; they first make deaf and mad. The HIV/Aids disease is real and no more fairy tales as people hitherto presumed. The idea that the soul is willing to say no, but the body is weak should be uncalled for in this issue. You must resist all temptations. In such a life-threatening situation, that one is weak and the other willing, such that osmotic pressure is required or that the weak body entering the magnetic pole to be propped up by the willing soul is out of the question. Both must be not only eager and willing (parity) to say a capital no, but also itching to shun all erotic and amorous affairs that trigger such desire/intention. Whatever might be the benefits derived from multiple sexual relationships, sharing syringes and needles, etc, please note that the opportunity cost is your precious life. What can it profit a man if he engages in ephemeral affairs and loses his life? If it comes now or a year or two later (after protracted illness), it is not worth the gamble. Go to the ants, you over-excited man, learn their way(s) and be wise and save your self and the next generation.
Experience is a bad teacher as it gives you the test first and the lesson later!
I am quite convinced this message will go down well with my dear audience, as I have not mentioned the purgatory as you often heard in the homilies, though I was within the runway. One thing I know for sure is that margarine/butter permeates quickly in the wheaten bread than in the cracker biscuits and so will this message. Be your own teacher and adviser so that we will join hands to conquer HIV/AIDS menace. A stitch in time……
*I.J.Mbachu is an Economist and Planner
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