Oprah aired a show last friday that was a follow up show from a story that appeared on her show years ago. A few decades ago, a man who was HIV postive and gay jumped into a public pool in a small town in Virgina. This created an uproar from the town`s members. Th public pool was shut down for sanitation. Oprah assembled the towns people together so they could voice their opinions on the matter. At the gathering on Oprah`s show, they ostraziced this man by using harsh and hateful words towards homosexuals and AIDS victims. They expressed strong animosity and contempt for what he had done. The man died a couple years later from AIDS. The follow up episode featured some of the most outspoken citizens and asked what they had thought about themselves and what they had said after watching the tape again. The man`s sisters appeared on the show on behalf of their deceased brother. The citizens said the tape was dificult to watch yet they seemed to defend what they had said in it.

This show was very difficult to watch. My heart broke for the man who experienced such cruel discrimination and for his family.


Did anyone else watch this show? What were your feelings/comments?

-Shannon Reilly