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PRIMAL FEAR
In “Out on a Limb” (January/February 2009) Lucile Scott examined the ethics of using chimpanzees for biomedical research and asked whether primate testing is bringing us closer to a cure for HIV/AIDS. This piece inspired many responses:

It horrifies me that [chimpanzees] are on the endangered species list and are still suffering in laboratories. I’ve been positive for over 20 years and would gladly trade places with [one of them] in medical research if it would free a chimp to go to a sanctuary.

[Chimpanzees] don’t react to HIV as humans do. They carry the disease but don’t develop AIDS. The law should protect these majestic creatures. They feel pain, love, humiliation and all other emotions that humans do. They are like us and have paid a heavy price for it. I hope POZ can do a follow-up article in the future.

My spouse and I are both HIV positive, and we believe that the [chimps] shouldn’t have to suffer [in order to find] a cure for HIV. [Researchers] shouldn’t have to use any animals, really. They should really try to find another way. It is just plain cruel and totally against the animal’s rights. Why should the monkeys have to suffer?

This virus has finished most of my community, and you guys are worried about hurting a few monkeys? Where are your priorities?

GIRL POWER
Kellee Terrell’s article “Seeking Sisterhood” (January/February), about the American feminist movement’s silence around the AIDS epidemic, elicited many comments:

Until all women get tested and stop allowing the men in their lives to have power, this epidemic will continue to ravage women of all races and socio-economic backgrounds. Until non-profits start reaching out to all women, we will continue to die in vain and in silence. Maybe education would have saved me from contracting HIV from my abusive boyfriend in 1985.

Feminists have to include women of color [as well as] poor and working-class white women. Working-class white women have similar complaints about an elitist feminist establishment. As we saw, they didn’t run to [former] Senator Hillary Clinton’s defense during the gender-bashing blitz during this election. Abortion is their main focus, while other issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and equal treatment have fallen off their radar. I hope this feminist awakening will bring new blood and address other issues.

WHO’S NOSY?
In “The Sinus Monologues” (January/February) Bill Strubbe gave advice on how to ease the symptoms of sinusitis. Several of you appreciated his tips:

I am so grateful for “The Sinus Monologues”! I have suffered with chronic sinusitis for several years now. After many trips to my primary doctor and specialists with no significant suggestions for me to get better—I’m happy to see that I am not alone!

Great article. I have been doing a lot of [these techniques] for a long time; the validation was good; and I learned a couple of things. Breathing is like your spine: It can make you or break you.