From: dks@MIT.EDU (dks)
Subject: Elizabeth Glaser: 'A Race with the Clock'
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 92 21:44:03 EST
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Hello!

By popular request, here is Elizabeth Glaser's speech.


Cheers,
Dhanesh


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   Elizabeth Glaser's Speech:
     'A Race with the Clock'

                 --- 

    NEW YORK, July 14, 1992

Here is the text of the speech delivered
by Elizabeth Glaser to the Democratic
National Convention on Tuesday night:


        I'm Elizabeth Glaser.
              Eleven years ago, while giving birth to my first child, I
    hemorrhaged and was transfused with seven pints of blood.
        Four years later, I found out that I had been infected with the
    AIDS virus and had unknowingly passed it on to my daughter Ariel  -
    through my breast milk, and my son Jake  -  in utero.
        Twenty years ago I wanted to be at the Democratic Convention
    because it was a way to participate in our country. Today I am here
    because it's a matter of life and death.
        Exactly four years ago, my daughter died of AIDS. She did not
    survive the Reagan Administration.
        I am here because my son and I may not survive four more years
    of leaders who say they care  -  but do nothing.
        I am in a race with the clock.
        This is not about being a Republican or an Independent or a
    Democrat  -  it's about the future  -  for each and every one of us.
        I started out just a mom  -  fighting for the life of her child.
        But along the way I learned how unfair America can be today. Not
    just for people who have HIV, but for many many people  -  poor
    people, gay people, people of color, children.
        A strange spokesperson for such a group, a well-to-do white
    woman, but I have learned my lessons the hard way  -  and I know  -
    that America has lost her path, and is at risk of losing her soul.
        America, wake up. We are all in a struggle between life and
    death.
        I understand the sense of frustration and despair in our
    country, because I know first hand about shouting for help and
    getting no answer.
        I went to Washington to tell Presidents Reagan and Bush much,
    much more had to be done for AIDS research and care, and that
    children couldn't be forgotten.
        The first time, when nothing happened, I thought, they just
    didn't hear me.
        But, now I realize that they don't hear because they don't want
    to listen. When you cry for help and no one listens you start to
    lose your hope.
        I began to lose faith in America. I felt my country was letting
    me down  -  and it was.
        This is not the America I was raised to be proud of. I was
    raised to believe that others problems were my problems as well.
        But when I tell most people about HIV in hopes that they will
    help and care I see the look in their eyes. It's not my problem,
    they're thinking.
        Well, it's everyone's problem and we need a leader who will tell
    us that.
        We need a visionary to guide us ... to say it wasn't all right
    for Ryan White to be banned from school because he had HIV or a man
    or woman denied a job because they were infected with this virus.
        We need a leader who is truly committed to educating us.
        I believe in America, but not with a leadership of selfishness
    and greed where the wealthy get health care and insurance and the
    poor don't.
        Do you know how much my AIDS care costs?
        Over $40,000 a year. Someone without insurance can't
    afford this.
        Even the drugs that I hope will keep me alive are out of reach
    for others.
        Is their life any less valuable? Of course not.
        This is not the America I was raised to be proud of  -  where
    rich people get care and drugs that poor people can't.
        We need health care for all. We need a leader to say this, and
    do something about it.
        I believe in America  -  but not with a leadership that talks
    about problems but is incapable of solving them.
        Two HIV commission reports with recommendations about what to do
    to solve this crisis are sitting on shelves, gathering dust.
        We need a leader who will not only listen to these
    recommendations, but implement them.
        I believe in America, but not with a leadership that doesn't
    hold government accountable.
        I go to Washington to the National Institutes of Health and say,
    ''Show me what you're doing on HIV.''
        They hate it when I come because I try to tell them how to do it
    better. But that's why I love being a taxpayer because it's my money
    and they must become accountable.
        I believe in an America where our leaders talk straight. When
    anyone tells President Bush that the battle against AIDS is
    seriously under funded, he juggles the numbers to mislead the
    public into thinking we're spending twice as much as we really are.
        While they play games with numbers, people are dying.
        I believe in America, but an America where there is a light in
    every home  -  1,000 points of light just wasn't enough  -  my house
    has been dark for too long.
        Once every generation, history brings us to an important
    crossroads. Sometimes in life there is that moment when it's
    possible to make a change for the better.
        This is one of those moments. For me, this is not politics.
    This is a crisis of caring.
        In this hall is the future: women, men of all colors saying,
    ''Take America back.''
        We are just real people wanting a more hopeful life. But, words
    and ideas are not enough. Good thoughts won't save my family.
    What's the point of caring if we don't do something about it.
        A President and a Congress that can work together so we can get
    out of this grid lock and move ahead. Because I don't win my war if
    the Congress cares and the president doesn't  -  or if the president
    cares and the Congress doesn't support the ideas.
        The people in this hall - this week - the Democratic party -
    all of us - can begin to deliver that partnership, and in November
    we can all bring it home.
        My daughter lived seven years, and in her last year, when she
    couldn't walk or talk, her wisdom shone through.
        She taught me to love when all I wanted to do was hate.
        She taught me to help others, when all I wanted to do was help
    myself.
        She taught me to be brave, when all I felt was fear.
        My daughter and I loved each other with simplicity.
        America, we can do the same.
        This was the country that offered hope. This was the place where
    dreams could come true. Not just economic dreams, but dreams of
    freedom, justice and equality. We all need to hope that our dreams
    can come true.
        I challenge you to make it happen, because all our lives, not
    just mine, depend on it.

----------- End of text ------ Glaser, 7/14/92 p.m. ------------------