Help From Around the World
George W. Bush / Stacy Dockin
George W.
Bush:
“My country is acting to help all of Africa in turning the tide
against AIDS. This is the deadliest enemy Africa has ever faced, and you
will not face this enemy alone.” –George Bush.
On July 10, 2003, President Bush arrived in Botswana to help stop the
devastating event of AIDS. The AIDS issue is shadowing over the young
and old in Botswana, and is ruining lives, families, and the whole country.
The problem is so serious that it is like a blink of an eye. But now,
Bush has developed an agenda to help fight AIDS.
“Over the next five years, we will spend $15 billion in the global
fight against AIDS,” Bush said in Africa. This isn’t a sudden
plan. Since Bush has been president, he met with 22 other African leaders.
Also, he has spent 2 ½ years in creating this project to help fund
AIDS.
One host of Botswana felt greatly appreciative for what George Bush has
done. Not only did President Bush increase funding, but programs for testing
HIV/AIDS and educational programs like the Peace Corps are being newly
reformed.
In Botswana, Bush has mainly pointed out that new standards must be raised.
He encouraged African leaders to promote more awareness about the HIV
connection with AIDS, and has put out more education towards understanding
treatments and medications for HIV/AIDS. To put it in perspective, President
George Bush hopes that this is a step ahead for the crisis of AIDS in
Africa (Kemper, Bob pp.1, 2, 3).
Stacy
Dockins:
“That’s probably what makes me so good for this. Me reaching
my hand in there and getting burned. It’s a plus when you’re
trying to help somebody. They don’t want to listen to someone who
don’t know what they’re talking about.”- Stacy Dockins
In Seattle, there is a barber shop called Strictly Cuts located in the Rainer Valley. This is the place where teenagers and kids come out with a refreshed haircut, but also with a refreshed mind.
Stacy Dockins is the stylist for Strictly Cuts, and every time a teenager
comes in, he says they will be given lessons and facts about the issue
of AIDS. This is to help get the awareness out the African community,
which is perfect at a barber shop when young and older men come in and
out. It’s a place where sensitive topic can be talked about where
other places may not be as suitable.
AIDS used to be known for White and gay people only. However, it has become
a crisis to African Americans. Knowing that the stats are high among African
Americans, barbershops are a great way to reach out to people.
“It’s just logical-it’s a place where most men have
to go, where everything is talked about,”says Brother to Brother’s
Derrick Harris. “The barber is seen as a leader. Those conversations
happen (Ramirez,Marc p2).
Right now, Stacy Dockins is among those who are reaching out to guide
teenagers through his past experiences. The shop has attracted many people
daily, and the conversations that happened inside the shop will just make
people come back in again (Ramirez, Marc pp. 1, 2, 3).