We are not all Conservative Republicans...Believe me.

Every day at work, I have to defend the American people who actually have brains. Unfortunately due to the media, my South African colleagues consistently see a skewed view of America. Daily I find myself jokingly saying things like, "No, those are the ideas of the red states", "In NY, people do not think like that" or "Only the people that voted for Bush would do something like that". I actually find this quite disturbing b/c at least my colleagues have me in their midst to dispel all the "myths" of America, while there are millions of people out there who are alone with warped perspectives.

For example, my coworkers showed me a NY Times blog post that featured how Senator McCain fumbled when a reporter asked him about HIV prevention. Please check it out at http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-prevention/
They came to me asked why are Americans so clueless about HIV prevention. And of course before I even read it I had to tell them about the political platform of a conservative Republican on HIV/AIDS and how this is in line with McCain and NOT all of America despite what they think.

I think as Americans we need to learn how we are viewed by our international friends. Because of Bush, many people believe that Americans are conservative Republicans. Technically this is true since "we" voted for him. Right?? I have no idea how to change this, because we obviously cannot change the media. However I do hope that with the new presidential elections that we, the American people, make a serious effort to make an EDUCATED vote. I believe that the next presidency will be a pivotal point in American history.

In addition, Americans need to reevaluate the stigma that we have of HIV/AIDS. For conservative Republicans to state the prevention should be the #1 priority in Africa or even America is ludacris! So you are telling me that the wife whose husband infected her with HIV, should abstain from sex? Does that make sense?

Disparity

Since I have been here, I have seen approximately 6 Lamborghinis...more than I have seen in the states. Three of them this week alone. I thought this was supposed to be a developing country?