Bloggers Unite

As some of you may know today is World AIDS Day. And on this day someone came up with a simple yet powerful idea to have all (or as many as possible) bloggers unite to help get the word out about AIDS. And as you may have guessed by now I am participating.



I know what your thinking "RenegadeFilmSnob, your blog is about movies and other trivial stuff. Why are you blogging about something serious like AIDS?"

Well kids, first of all I feel it's an important thing to do. AIDS is a very serious disease. There may be no cure for it, but there are ways of keeping it from spreading further then it already has.

Secondly, AIDS and HIV have had a definite impact on the movie and entertainment industries. I'm not just talking about "Philadelphia" and other movies about people living with the disease I'm talking about the actors and directors themselves.

Kevin Peter Hall is an actor who died of AIDS. His name may not be widely recognized but he played Predator in "Predator" and "Predator 2." Did you know that the Predator was originally supposed to be played by Jean Claude Van Damme. Can you imagine Predator being played by someone who wasn't 6ft 5, I didn't think so.

Rock Hudson was the first big celebrity to publicly announce that he had HIV. Rock Hudson starred in too many movies to name, was nominated for an Oscar, and won a few Golden Globes.

Anthony Perkins the actor most well known for playing Norman Bates in Psycho, died from complications with AIDS.

Robert Reed aka Mike Brady from the Brady Bunch was HIV positive.

Emile Ardolino the director responsible for the classic hits "Dirty Dancing" and "Sister Act" died from complications with AIDS.

Colin Higgins who wrote the amazing screenplay for "Harold and Maude" and directed the classic 80's flick "Nine to Five" died of AIDS.

Even The Muppets suffered losses. The characters Scooter, Beaker, and Sweetums were all originally played and voiced by puppeteer Richard Hunt, who died from AIDS.

What would have happened if all of these talented people had been able to live for just a bit longer. There are so many people who left this wold before they had a chance to show how talented they were, people who left the world before they could live up to their full potential because of HIV and AIDS. I'm writing this in their honor, because I'm sure they would not want anyone else to go through the same disease they did.

If it can happen to celebrities it can happen to you too. So remember if your going to be having sex use protection, get tested, and make sure your partner has been tested. If you use drugs never ever share needles. Be smart be safe, and if you want more information about AIDS, HIV, and how to keep yourself safe please go to one of the following sites

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv

http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/index.html

http://www.metroteenaids.org

Education is really your best defense against AIDS.