Preposterous Pentecostal Perspective

THE EDITOR: Normally, the columns written in this newspaper are of the highest standard, but the “Pentecostal Perspective” by Pastor Dr Winston Cuffie on January 10, 2004 gave me the incentive needed to question the choice of words used by the highly esteemed doctor.

Myself, an 18-year-old Pentecostal assure you that I fully understand the analogies given by the Pastor of the hypocrisy used by the ‘‘activists.’’ Let me, at the same time, say that I am one of the very activists and what I do disagree with, and even Dr Cuffie should be ashamed of, is his comment made that “the rate of transmission is far greater now with the heightened awareness and the widespread availability of condoms.” For a highly notable Pastor to make such an irresponsible statement is ludicrous and farcical (for want of better words). He has made it appear that the awareness and condom campaigns have raised the transmission rate, rather than the truth that the increased transmission rate has led to the widespread action by activists.

Don’t get the idea that I don’t support the view that abstinence is probably the only way to solve the fight against HIV/AIDS, along with fidelity, but at the same time I realise that human beings are not abstaining despite the best of efforts. The only thing which probably would scare man into absolute abstinence and fidelity is the actual rapture occurring before their eyes. Therefore, while we wait for that to happen, the distribution of condoms and awareness strategies are the best available method of reducing the HIV/AIDS transmission rate. Of course, since sex is one of the five appetites of man, like the others, we may not be able to perform them when we like, anywhere we like, but we will do them eventually.

MAURICE P ECKSTEIN
D’Abadie