Today, we are at war. I am not speaking of the conflict in Iraq. The war I speak of has cost… Today, we are at war. I am not speaking of the conflict in Iraq. The war I speak of has cost millions of lives, destroyed the economies of almost one hundred nations, left orphans and the elderly as sole inhabitants of towns, caused the rape of countless virgins, spread poverty and destroyed the morale of two continents and has begun to destroy a third. The numbers of casualties of this war are unknown, and their names will be forgotten as their parents, brothers, sisters, children, aunts and uncles perish beside them. By 2010, it is estimated that an additional 45 million people will be directly involved as victims of this war. Already, over 12.3 million children have been orphaned. The war I speak of is the world battle against AIDS.

After World War II, support for aid programs was strong in our country. Without blinking an eye, $400 million was appropriated by congress at Truman’s request in order to repair the ailing states of Greece and Turkey. World War II only lasted six years, and the number of casualties will soon be surpassed by the conflict I am addressing. To cover the costs of this war, at this point billions of dollars would be needed. Our government knows this, and yet it is slow to respond to cries for help.

With this in mind, I am asking you, an educated group of individuals for whom I hold the utmost respect, to save the lives of the victims of this conflict. You have raised awareness of Darfur, cried out against injustices in sweatshops, led protests against the war in Iraq and made it known to our leaders that your voices must be heard.

I personally charge you to keep the victims of this war in mind, to write our congressmen and our president, to not just passively watch this battle unfold, but to fight in it. It is only by uniting against the disease that the battle can be won.

Christina A. Boyes [email protected].

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