Thursday, January 12, 2012

Talking

I recently heard a story from the protagonist, which is as good an indicator of truthfulness as any I know of.


A young South African gay Jewish man got HIV, in the days when getting HIV was essentially a death sentence. The young man's doctor didn't know whether he should tell him or not, so he asked everyone he knew, including, as it turns out, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Now, I'm not sure exactly what they told the Rebbe, but I do know what the answer was: "Tell him he's got it." Or something along those lines.

What does this mean? I'm not sure. I guess it's not a surprise that the Rebbe dealt with questions like this, and I don't know that I'd expect a different answer, but still. It has to mean something, right?

39 comments:

e said...

The doctor asked a question. The rebbe answered. What's there to ponder?

Just like a guy said...

How does this effect Lubavitch's groupthink re: homosexuals?

e said...

not at all. If a guy has AIDS he ought to know it. that's all it tells us.

Grammar Nazi said...

It's "AIDS," not "Aids."

Just like a guy said...

e: You think? No fanciful extrapolation?

Yup.

e said...

What do you think I am? A lit major?

Anarchist Chossid said...

Are you sure he was a homosexual? There is more than one way to get AIDS.

Presumably, the Rebbe's philosophy was that one should face his problems and fears and have bitochon in Eibershter. Ties very well with this week's parsha.

Also, I would say the Lubavitch groupthink re: homosexuals should be the same as Lubavitch groupthink re: those who break Shabbos or someone who doesn't have a left arm, chv"sh. In the first case, a Jew commits an aveira; we don't support it, but we don't stop loving him. In the second case, a Jew is unable to do a mitzva, in which case we say that G-d loves him not for his mitzvos, but because he is a Jew (something the Rebbe once told an Israeli soldier who had lost his arm).

Just like a guy said...

e: No, but you're fairly good at making stuff up.

CA: http://ce.columbia.edu/Narrative-Medicine/Paul-Browde-Biography

Fair enough.

It should be, but it's not.

le7 said...

Sorry husband - you can't get AIDS - you can only get HIV.

e said...

TRS, thou hast been infected.

e said...

(I meant with spam)

menachem said...

you heard it from the doctor or the young jewish gay south african?

bonne said...

An old teacher of mine swore that all the seagulls in San Francisco are gay because all the people are.
Everyone started yelling and one girl cried.

Just like a guy said...

Menachem: The latter.

Sara: Which school was this?

e said...

No way! So he didn't die from AIDS?

le7 said...

No he did not - he was able to go on AZT (this happened in the laste 80's or early 90's - I heard the story also) and I'm assuming he is on protease inhibitors or something. Basically it seems he hasn't progressed to AIDS yet.

bonne said...

the Tzfat one.

Just like a guy said...

Sara: and what was your response?

bonne said...

I never went to her class. But I heard all about it afterward.

Just like a guy said...

And what was your reaction?

bonne said...

I felt validated for never going to her class. But I also laughed.

Just like a guy said...

Why did you laugh?

bonne said...

Because the situation was absurd.

Just like a guy said...

Which aspect of the situation was absurd?

bonne said...

This is beginning to feel like a therapy session.
The content of what the teacher said, and the context within which it was said.

Just like a guy said...

You're lucky I'm giving you a discount on my regular rates.

bonne said...

For which I'm grateful.
So can I get some Ritalin?

Just like a guy said...

I'll give the spammers your info.

bonne said...

suh-weet.
I was getting low on viagra.

Just like a guy said...

Darned Google spam filters, eh?

bonne said...

Seriously cramping my style.
Now re. AIDS, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CHMx9UWTI

Just like a guy said...

Is it worth watching?

bonne said...

it's about 1:30 min long

Just like a guy said...

That's ninety seconds I could spend playing solitaire.

bonne said...

But you wouldn't finish the game in 90 seconds. Unless you lost.

Just like a guy said...

My fastest win was 59 seconds.

bonne said...

damn.

Michael said...

Chanan update your blog on current events!

Anonymous said...

it's been a while. Saying Hello to my Lubab friends. Enjoy