Photograpy and AIDS article

I really loved Simon Watney's Photography and AIDS article. His 8 page address on the problem with spreading information through visual images really opened my eyes. I had never thought about what was being communicated through photos of dying AIDS victims in a HIV positive mindset. What hope would these photos give me if I was living with this deadly virus? What about if I had infected friends--would this help progress the fight to find a cure and raise awareness, or just encourage others to feel sympathy in which nothing is done? I am in the process of changing my major from English to Technical Photography. I truly appreciated reading Watney's take on the intent of photography in the fight against AIDS. I am always taking in images and their meaning as a serious form of communication--as it should be. I loved that this article made me think in a point of view that was alien to me, but not the world around me. It is important to be aware of the messages being sent and, if they do not suit the need of the environment, being strong enough to stand up and change them.