AIDS: Where Did It Come From, and How...

For this blog I will be comparing two theories on how AIDS entered the human race. The two theories are the "hunter" theory and the "conspiracy" theory.
The hunter theory believes that the virus, though simian to begin with, entered a human's body when hunters killed and butchered monkeys for food. The theory is that the virus mutated and adapted to the human's body, and became HIV-1. This theory is supported by the fact that there were several early strains of HIV, which were similar genetically, but not identical.
According to the conspiracy theory, a large percentage of African Americans believe that HIV was developed by the U.S. Government as a biological warfare program against African Americans and homosexuals. Though this theory has not been definitely dis-proven, it also has no significant evidence to support it, and actually ignores information that dis-proves it.
I think the most plausible of these theories is the hunter theory. I understand, especially after learning about the Tuskegee Study, where a lack of mistrust of the government comes from for many African Americans. However, I think evidence clearly supports the hunter theory. I have to say that I do not believe our government, currently, would do the things described by the conspiracy theory.
I think it is important to understand how the virus entered our species so we may know what paths it will take in the future. The more we know about a virus, the better. This is the case even more so because of the huge impact AIDS and HIV have made in this country and around the world.