''This Administration has been philosophically opposed to appointing people to any job on the basis of race or sex."

So says Gary L. Bauer, assistant to President Reagan, insisting that "it would be absurd to turn around and start appointing people based on sexual preference" to a public policy committee devoted to the AIDS epidemic. The committee has no openly gay members, and gay activists think it ought to have one. There is so much fear about AIDS testing. The most important thing is to find a cure, but, meanwhile, let's think carefully about the point of testing. What good does it do to learn you have a fatal disease when nothing can be done? Yes, you need to avoid spreading it, but everyone — especially anyone in a risk group — would do well to behave as if they or their partner is infected. I don't pretend to know what's best here, but isn't it a good idea to have representatives of the gay community on the committee? With so many people — young people — dying, is it really so important to make a philosophical point about affirmative action?

THE YEAR THAT BLOG FORGOT IS: 1987.