Nature of Love Is Her Objection to ‘Rent’

While I appreciate the gentleness and positive intent of Robert Sprayberry’s answer to my commentary on “Rent” (“ Prescription Results From an Under-Dose of ‘Rent,’ ” Counterpunch, Oct. 20), I would like to ask him to please take a moment and think about what love is.

Is it a fleeting, one-day-at-a-time feeling, or is love a powerful emotion that includes the actions of responsible behavior and commitment?

The story that I witnessed saw an HIV-positive teenage girl who was having sex with her HIV-positive boyfriend and her drug pusher, and she was abandoned by her boyfriend only to be found half-dead in the streets.

Since I firmly believe that love is defined by actions that include responsible behavior andtrue commitment, I find it easy to see how I “missed” the spirit of love and redemption in “Rent” and saw instead the glorification of careless and possibly deadly behavior.

AIDS is not a disease you can separate from human actions because it is transmitted mainly through careless and uncaring behavior, a consequence of the lack of love for oneself and others.

Which brings me to my final point: If we, as a society and as individuals, had the personal courage and sense to embrace the positive actions that real love brings, today’s AIDS epidemic wouldn’t even exist.

ALICE J. GLASSER, M.D.

Los Angeles