Angelina Jolie Criticizes U.S. Priorities

Here's an article I just finished reading off the web. I think the Tomb Raider makes some interesting points:

Angelina Jolie Criticizes U.S. Priorities
By Associated Press

Wed Jun 21, 11:56 AM

NEW YORK - Angelina Jolie says the U.S. government has "strange" priorities when it comes to spending money on war rather than on AIDS or refugees.

"Our priorities are quite strange," the 31-year-old actress said in an interview that aired Tuesday night on CNN. Jolie said spending money on war rather than "dealing with situations that could end up in conflict if left unassisted" could prove costly in the end.

"We're missing a lot of opportunities (to do) a lot of good that America used to do and has a history of doing," said Jolie, who is a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.'s refugee agency.

Jolie said that when she is in Washington to raise funds for AIDS orphans, she is often told the war in Iraq is the more pressing matter.

She explained that a tattoo on her upper back, "Know Your Rights," is a phrase taken from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the U.N. in 1948.

Jolie, who gave birth to her daughter, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt in Namibia, last month, said her older children, 18-month-old Zahara, adopted from Ethiopia, and 4-year-old Maddox, adopted from Cambodia, are adjusting to life with a new sibling.

She said Zahara is jealous of Shiloh "because she's still a little girl," but for Maddox, "it's like having this tiny little pet he can just hold and look at."

Jolie also told interviewer Anderson Cooper that she and Brad Pitt, Shiloh's father, plan to adopt their next child.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Peace.
_______
"The mind is like a parachute. It works best when it is open." - Rickson Gracie

 

hardly, we dont spend nearly enough on people over eating, they do it to themselves and we have to pay for it??? NOT, we spend way too much for AIDS and the men are still out doing what they shouldnt and barebacking at that. NO, our priorities are straight, Angelina are a bit backwards---marry the guy before having his kids. that would be a great example to people and set your priorities straight

that person preaching to us, ha

 

What does Angelina marrying before having kids have to do with anything.

Are you saying the war in Iraq is more pressing than AIDS and HIV infections around the world? It is possible that you are joking. If not, I am really disappointed. In that case, Google is a good place to start.

AIDS is one of those things that governments will look back and realize how stupid they were for not paying close attention.

There is this thing among Americans that HIV and AIDS isn't really our problem. This is nothing but pure ignorance. Any fairly educated (or anyone with literally half a brain) should realize that America and the rest of the world hasn't seen anything yet. India and China (being the most populated countries) denied the disease and its impact for a while. Well, now India has the largest number of people infected with HIV (more than any country). China is still denying the amount of people living with the virus. Need I say more. India, China, and the western hemisphere are going to understand what the disease is all about in the next few decades.

So........does Angelina know what she is talking about. You bet.

I hate it when people turn AIDS/HIV into a political issue (with republicans saying this, democrats saying that). This is a serious issue and are failing to pay attention!

 

Edit last sentence: People are failing to pay attention.

Also, "barebacking" isn't the only way to transfer the virus. A pregnant mother without antivirals will give birth to an innocent child infected with the virus. Blood transfusions, drug usage and other countless means account for the spread of the virus.

 

Infiniti, ol' boy how far now?

Speaking of AIDS/HIV, check out this US patent number 5676977 via google or go straight to the US patent office website.

 

Tucker:

I've seen you praise one Ann Coulter who has been very open about her sexuality in a not so conservative way.

I can say that Angelina has done far more in one day for what she believes in than Ann Coulter who only runs her mouth

 

Infiniti, the dems and gay community turned it into a political issue, saying Bush doesnt pay attention and Angelina turned it into a US has to do this and that. We have paid more to help the AIDS crisis, and Bush has given more than the previous administration.

It is a personal issue, if people continue to use intravenous drugs, have sex with prostitutes(which is killing millions in Africa), doing the DL and gay sexual practices, and no one should have to pay for it but those who have done it, if they wont at least admit that it is the behavior which has caused this.

 

what does Ann Coulter have to do with this? This is about AIDS and Angelina preaching to people. take her millions, since she wants to fight it, and have her liberal, hollywood friends, give their money.

this is a discussion not personal, so I am not addressing anyone here by name, I am addressing the issue.

 

The US government main priority is building and researching more weapons to kill people for war. We have the biggest defense budget in the world playing world police. Even if the US did increase spending on Hiv/Aids it would probably go to Pfizer to distribute or some other crap. We have enough people dieing in the US because of lack of medical coverage. If the government won't even really help them out. I doubt there will be huge help for people in other countries.

 

well, i guess thats that. So as long as our tax money isnt going to them that is fine, seems even when our budget says so, there are those denying it. guess we dont spend anything on defense, i am sure there are people denying that too

 

Most of are foreign aid goes to Israel(about a third of foreign aid). Defense budget is $400-$500 billion annually. Nobody is on enough drugs to deny are defense budget is the biggest expense. Eighteen thousand die a year in the US because of lack of health insurance-institute of health. Also more money is coming from poor countries to rich countries. By debt service,first world subsidies,Unequal trade,etc. Also large portions of this so called aid is tied with purchasing goods and trade with the donor.

 

please show stats that 18,000 die from no health insurance and please show in our spending that we give no money for AIDS.

If I dont work i dont get health insurance. If I were disabled I would get it as all of my clients do.

those working for a company without health insurance is a shame but its not a right that I get health insurance.

 

people dont want to be told they shouldnt or cant have an abortion, so we shouldnt be told to pay for ones health insurance. we already have to pay for public education against our will. you have to pay for defense against your will, so we are even

 

Explain what Bush has been paying attention to, other than the war, and vacations in Eastern European nations.

The last time I checked, we paid for the occupation of Iraq more than once.

It might interest you to know that all of this stuff isn't limited to Africa, in fact, it isn't limited to any black community in America either. Such things are far more prevalent in West Asia and throughout Europe...

and, if we are gonna be the world police, then shouldn't we be using our resources to better the world, rather than point fingers at those who don't live by our standards no more than the standards we preach?

 

what is the point of your question Sardonic? If President Bush is preoccupied with war, in the middle of the war, then so be it, i think i was talking about Angelina Jolie amd AIDS spending

 

sardonic , i didnt say it had anythign to do with Africa, but all places in the world

 

If you want states check out the US department of health and institute of medicine. I never said there was no money. There is a little money there that mostly goes to research but doesn't help alot of people. Are you talking about disabled people getting good or crappy insurance? Cause there is a huge life risking difference.

 

two different subjects, one is about national health insurance you brought up the other was about AIDS funding.

research money is good, and we also gave money to african countries to deal with health issues and even abstinence programs.

in the US federal govt has given millions in funding for AIDs treatments and research.

 

What does abortion have to do with anything? If you go to one of these abortion clinics you will pay. Defense isn't against my will. The government decides how to spend taxes. The government overspends on things we don't need. And that includes defense research that never makes it to market and other crap. Education and health are necessary. Plus I though this was suppose to be a christian nation. Whatever happened to the what would jesus do?

 

It's obvious what the point is. To see if you can understand that America isn't blameless about everything that's wrong with most of the world, especially when we try to tyrannize other parts of the globe, and yet, treat foreigners the way we don't want to be treated ourselves here in the states, and then blame them for all of their own problems. Being 'busy with a fake war' is no excuse for this country to stop caring about AIDS, so Jolie makes really good points. We can't always have our cake and eat it too, but then deny the same right to another nations, now can we?