In 1980, 31 people in the United States of America died of a then-unknown disease that, when first discovered, was labeled "Gay Cancer" by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) due to the fact that all of those who lost their lives to the newly discovered disease were homosexuals. Even The New York Times thought the disease was only found in gays when it published a story entitled, "Rare Cancer Seen In 41 Homosexuals" in 1981. That same year, another 422 people were stricken with the disease - and 159 of them died. Seeing the disease's victims increase at an alarming rate, the CDC changed the name of the disease from "Gay Cancer" to "GRID: Gay-Related Immune Deficiency." Since then, the disease has claimed 28.1 million people worldwide over the last 23 years and today kills five people every minute - it has also been given another new name by the CDC - AIDS.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is one of the world's most crippling diseases. In the last 23 years, the death toll has increased each year and is now so much more than a "Gay Cancer" as it was once naively called. While homosexuals may have been the first "group" of people infected with the disease - people infected with AIDS now include heterosexuals, celebrities - and children. These days, AIDS is as lethal a killer as Cancer and Leukemia and kills most of it's victims before they reach the age of thirty-five.

Today is World AIDS Day. For the sixteenth time, the world will stop and focus on the disease and those that are stricken with it. At some point today, all of us will pause and shake our heads at the disease and it's victims - both living and dead - and wish there was something we could do. We might even wear a red ribbon in remembrance and recognition for those that are stricken with the disease.

Then tomorrow - we will go back to forgetting that AIDS is a worldwide epidemic until the 17th Annual World AIDS Day next year.

The problem with this country is that unless something impacts us directly - we adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. Sure it concerns us - but not enough to make it a top priority in our lives. Take the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for instance. Sure we all watch the telethon and even contribute a few dollars to "Jerry's Kids" - but how often do you think about those suffering from Muscular Dystrophy after the telethon goes off the air?

I am unfortunately guilty for this behavior as well. I do not personally know anyone suffering from AIDS nor do I know anyone who has lost someone they love due to the disease - and if this were not World AIDS Day - I probably would not have written this column. But perhaps that in itself is a red flag that all of us - including myself - should look at worldwide afflictions more closely than we normally do and do our part to prevent AIDS by protecting ourselves and contributing to those that are working day and night to find a cure.

I suggest that instead of simply putting a red ribbon on your chest this year - send a donation to an AIDS organization like AVERT or AMFAR. Get tested for the disease if you are sexually active with multiple partners and make sure that protect yourself from now on if you continue that behavior. Send a toy to an AIDS children's hospital - because more children have AIDS than you think - and most importantly - pray to God that one day a cure will be found for this horrible disease - before it God forbid effects you or someone you love - and before someone remembers you or them only one day a year too.