Nerve Endings Firing Away

Conservative moralists in America are now preaching to the world. The US development agency, USAid had offered Brazil around $40m in their fight against aids. However, this ‘largesse’ came with strings attached.

“Washington says it is important not to promote prostitution, and does not want any of its funds to be spent on treating prostitutes. Much of the spending is being channeled to programmes that advocate abstinence, rather than condom use, and cannot be used for abortions or to treat prostitutes.”

So, let prostitutes die because they have sinned? Give aid to only those who believe in abstinence and not to those who use condoms? Everyone has a right to their moral views but, to tie financial aid for public health in order to propagate your moral views is downright reprehensible. Brazil declined their aid and rightly so, considering their current program is successfully bringing down the infection rate. Message to US — keep your morals within your border, the rest of the world is not a red state.