Debate: All Tanzanian citizens should be legally required to test yearly for HIV/AIDS

Today we debated the topic "All Tanzanian citizens should be legally required to test yearly for HIV/AIDS". I figured that this could successfully pit societal health against potential discrimination with the added benefit of talking more about AIDS. It was probably the best debate that we have had and I have a good portion of it on video. However, nothing had prepared me for the complete and utter shock of having several students openly state that they would never ever get themselves tested and they would rather just spread HIV around since they had it given to them and they don't want to die alone. Most of them don't know about anti-retro-virals and they also don't believe that condoms offer any protection against HIV - they are apparently only to prevent pregnancy and therefore totally useless. Several students also suggested that it is better to not be tested because if you found out that you were HIV positive "you might die of pressure" (anxiety and fear). I almost hemorrhaged, but stifled my horror and gave them a lengthy and persistent lecture afterwards about the value of NOT GIVING OTHER PEOPLE AIDS. I might have also been a bit confrontational using statements like, "So are you afraid to be tested? Ah, I see...so since I have been tested for HIV does that make me more of a man than you?" and "So according to your morality is it ok to murder people?" These methods work surprisingly well here. I just can't explain how overwhelming this can be sometimes though. I guess it is good that they are so open about their ignorance - it makes it easier to teach them, but jesus christ...where do you start?

I have a few more posts coming from last night's dancing adventure, but this is all I can crap out right now.

I anticipate returning to JFK in NYC around 4pm on October 28th - I will be paying for the date change tomorrow morning and that will be my ticket if all goes well. I may be leaving for Zanzibar as early as Sunday.