AIDS Tent = Religion?

Taylor Atchison
FYS 08
November 4, 2007
Blog #9
The AIDS tent was an interesting experience. A Christian group put it up and ran it. As you go into the tent, a person sits down and talks with you about your current knowledge on Africa and the AIDS crisis. You are then handed a headset with one of three stories attached. The girl I became was Beatrice. She is a seven-year-old girl taking care of her older sister’s son because her sister died during child birth. This is an example of a family headed household. She is dirt poor and struggles to find food and water everyday. Luckily a very kind woman working for a relief program found her and she is doing much better off.
This tent was very eye opening. Of course many already know about the AIDS crisis however it is hard to make an emotional distinction to statistics. Being able to see pictures of real people who have died from AIDS, who have AIDS, and who are at least affected by AIDS adds an entirely new depth to the situation. There was a slight catch to the AIDS tent however. At the end a few people standing around a drawing greeting you. They ask you if you would like an interpretation of the drawing and they use this interpretation to bring up Jesus. What I disliked about the tent is the religious conversations going on after you exited the tent because I felt that it took away from the central issue – AIDS.

Christian Group, “AIDS Tent.” 4 Nov. 2007. University of Redlands, California.