European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday november 18, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 13 commentary Barbara t. Roessner magic s message should focus on sex death two things about aids make us profoundly uncomfortable a sex and death. The fact that aids links the two sends us reeling into a state of such acute anxiety that we Are alternately hysterical with fear and numbed by denial. We needlessly bar an infected child from school then consign the disease to homosexuals and junkies. Its exhausting the Way we Careen Between these conflicting responses and then Back again with so Little Forward movement. Magic Johnson is supposed to have called a halt to this ricocheting Public attitude when he announced that he has tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Suddenly we were shocked into a crystallized vision of what aids really is a not divine retribution for deviant sexual practices or intravenous drug use but a dreadful illness that threatens us All and a killer that must be stopped. But if indeed the realization took hold a and in a not sure it did considering some Early howling about Johnson so a promiscuity a the hardest part is yet to come. We still must learn to abandon our squeamishness about sex and about dying. We still must find a Way to think about them and talk about them and Deal with them in a Blunt and effective Way. While the big Man with the big smile displayed enormous courage in announcing his tragic news even he found Candor elusive. Johnson vowed to be an advocate for a Safe sex a but he did no to say what the term Means. He professed Hope and espoused optimism about his future. He smiled. But docs aids Wear a smile perhaps in the coming months Johnson will Tell his thousands of adoring fans exactly How he contracted his beyond some vague reference to a heterosexual encounter. Perhaps he will explicitly explain what he should have done to protect himself and to ensure the safety of his pregnant wife. Maybe someday soon ton Brokaw will no longer preface news reports on aids with dire warnings of a graphic language a which turns out to be  and perhaps As time goes on and Johnson exhibits the symptoms of the disease the virus inevitably leads to we will see the real face of aids the True face. We will lose weight with him suffer night deteriorate and infections set in. And in the end a barring a medical Miracle a we will face his death. For now though most of us remain trapped in the Ricochet Mode. Fear which has its advantages has eroded some of the denial prompting thousands to Jam the aids information hot lines since magic s announcement. Parents who once avoided the subject Are talking to their teen agers about sex and condoms and How to protect themselves and others. Many More people Are getting themselves and their partners tested for the virus. But will we follow through will we face reality squarely permitting inner City schools for example to distribute condoms to students will aids education programs around the country continue to run up against those who Don t want kids learning about anything but abstinence will our Public service announcements assault aids As zealously As drugs will we invest in new treatments and the development of a vaccine the most important question is whether our compassion for magic Johnson will move from the exception to the Rule. As Long As we continue to subject aids patients to discrimination in housing employment and health care As Long As we continue to condemn and ostracize them Well never be Able to own up to the disease for what it is a not a metaphorical plague but a literal one not a moral Issue but a medical one. Fear and denial the twin tragedies that have enabled this disease to Advance at such a rapid clip Are equally irrational and counterproductive. The Challenge is to find a Point where we can balance the two mixing caution with compassion and charting a reasonable course. Instead of swerving from one Lane to the other we must learn to tread the Fine line a resisting the urge to blame aids sufferers for their risky behaviour while at the same time educating the Public not to engage in it. Magic has a unique Opportunity to prod us along this path to Channel fear into action by telling the re truth about sex and about death. C the Hartford con rant profile. In Oldrage sweats with him feel his immune system pick William the simple truth abstinence prevents aids More than a week has passed since magic Johnson called his devastating news conference. Days of debate and copious press coverage have followed. But the discussion has been one sided. Dangerously one sided. In just a few minutes the magic Man was transformed from Happy go Lucky sports hero to colossus a a giant straddling both the toy department of our dreams and the grim world of reality. Through his courage and Candor he became the Man All of us would like to be. Magic Johnson now proposes to use his life in the service of others. I say a use his life Quot with purpose in mind. Magic Johnson already has Given his life a Given it to the gods of pleasure and hedonism and sexual gratification. Such excess always has carried a Price a from unwanted pregnancy and venereal disease to busted relationships. In magic Scase the Price is tragic and excessive. Now he will use his life to teach others about Safe sex. On first hearing it sounds so right. For five Days it was echoed with Praise backed up by a chorus of Calls for More government spending for aids research and for awareness campaigns. Is there anyone willing to shout the simple truth that abstinence prevents aids that sexual relations contained within a marriage prevent All but the truly random infections Over five Days i heard one conservative commentator mention the word  a Liberal commentator urged magic Johnson to preach against promiscuity. And of yes a newscaster belittled White House response to the aids question dripping sarcasm As she suggested that vice president Dan Quayle hoped that Johnson would urge abstinence. This column will be the object of elitist scorn. Words such As a abstinence Quot and a sexual gratification a have an antiquated ring to them. Most men began laughing at abstinence in Junior High though sane men at 40 should View the matter differently. Done to charge me with hypocrisy. Charge me with experience. Sure kids Are going to have sex and magic a coming Public service announcements on condom use will be valuable. But can he not help ease the pressures on Young people by saying that its of to wait to say no to hold out for a committed relationship we done to urge Young people to be careful using drugs or to smoke crack safely. We remind them it Fries their brains. A a want your  was the Subtle title of a top billboard hit. The kids on prime time television programs such As Doogie Howser . Are casting off their virginity right and left but safely and responsibly of course for the network standards departments. Johnson has several special opportunities. He knows Well of the majority of Black children born out of Wedlock. He knows Day care centers Don t belong in High schools. As a megastar he knows Well of the promiscuity attendant to sports and entertainment. Wilt chamberlains new Book toting up his own sexual conquests Isnit news in professional basketball. A magic Johnson can be the antidote to the rappers like 2 live Crew who preach masculine Conquest and to the Madonnas and Chers who invite both Conquest and submission. Magic  be laughed at. Let us Hope that his Call for Safe sex was the Effort of a Rookie at Public and social policy. He is a Man who always has seen the whole court and its possibilities. Let him see the full Range of what he can contribute. C Cox news service