Pubdate: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Quesnel Cariboo Observer Contact: http://www.quesnelobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260 Author: Stan White Referenced: URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1745/a05.html STOP THE WAR ON ILLEGAL DRUGS Editor: Thank you for exposing the American war on drugs in your Wednesday, October 3 story: Schools Review DARE, in the Quesnel Cariboo Observer. But don't stop there. Society needs to review the the entire American war on drugs. The same group of individuals that support DARE, also support another harmful practice that compromises the compassionate need for education. That is the American Policy of withholding government education grant money to students found guilty of even a benign substance as cannabis, yet allow rapist, murderers, burglars and violent offenders those privileges. Further, it is a display of ignorance from Presidents, when they are directly responsible for this bias toward injustice, in our supposedly free country. Is America finally going to become aware of the implications of a War on drugs? People are racking their brains to figure out why minorities are grotesquely caged disproportionately to the population, in virtually every nook and cranny of our country. That the laws banning cannabis, and other drugs initially was brought about by racist and deceitful laws, is on record and a most embarrassing part of American history. It will be the minorities of America that will disproportionately bear the cost of this evil prohibitionist politician policy. That leaders of today lord it over their own constituents, becoming their own benefactors, instead of doing things for the benefit of those they serve, comes as an evil of no surprise. I challenge the ignorant to wake up. America, it is in God we trust, not prohibitionist politicians. Canada would do well to act intelligently while considering educational needs. Help end the war, not escalate it. Stan White Dillon, CO USA - --- MAP posted-by: Beth