‘AIDS Threat: How Serious?’

The poll regarding the treatment of potential AIDS victims (Part I, July 31) is frightening.

Have so many people already forgotten that taking away civil liberties from any group of people makes it easier to take them away from other groups or individuals?

As a mother of a gay son, my heart goes out to the number of my friends who have AIDS (my son does not) and who deal not only with the pain of this illness, but also with the pain that comes from fear and loneliness.

Since statistically, one in 10 people is gay, it follows that if everyone who is a homosexual would be able to admit it without worrying about the repercussions, each one of us would know and love someone who could come down with this illness or already has.

It is critical that needed funding to control this disease be forthcoming; that the federal and state government be more responsive to the massive economic, emotional and physical damage that AIDS is creating. Let’s remove the hysteria and fear and deal with compassion and love.

SHIRLEY EICHBERG

Sherman Oaks