Politics & Plauge In The Heartland

A unique perspective still kinda misses the point . . .

For many, the legacy of the Heartland response to AIDS was that heroic faith communities ignored partisan, culture war garbage rhetoric and did the tough work of caring for sick & dying during a crisis . . . Somehow, the author seems to be saying that classic Christian goodwill can be "mobilized" for the sake of political alliances . . . Which might be EXACTLY the opposite lesson to take from selfless acts of goodwill.

Of course, here's a more optimistic perpsective . . .  

 “AIDS in the Heartland: How Unlikely Coalitions Created a Blueprint for LGBTQ Politics,” addresses this missing narrative. While histories of AIDS in the United States typically regard the largest urban areas as epicenters of the crisis, the Midwest heartland cultivated its own distinct strategies for survival.

The book’s subhead refers to the “unlikely coalitions” that created a lasting blueprint for an even more encompassing political movement beyond the epidemic. (Author Katie) Batza was shocked to learn how much religious communities played a part in the Midwest response – which was a far cry from places such as New York.

“I have folks in the book who say that without religious communities, there would not have been a response,” she said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Untold story of AIDS in the Midwest 'Heartland' revealed in new book